If someone asks me about the film of my life, I unhesitatingly choose Dead Poets Society.
While many point to the iconic climax where Todd climbs onto his desk and shouts, “O Captain! My Captain!”, the moments that linger longest in my memory are slightly different.
The bleak, freezing snowscape reflected in the eyes of the boys as they ran out after hearing the news of Neil; the students breathlessly dashing across campus in their neat uniforms layered with duffle coats; Mr. Keating’s unconventional classes that sparked curiosity on the grass and staircases away from the rigid stone classrooms; and the heavy, quiet air of the old library.
I remember searching neighborhood clothing stores for days after watching the film, desperate to get my hands on the same duffle coat those students wore. Back then, I felt proud thinking I had found something similar, but looking back at old photos today, it was just a crude, ill-fitting duffle coat. Yet, even if I was merely imitating a coat, the impact that movie had on my core values was anything but superficial.
When Did We Trap Ourselves in the Illusion of ‘Model Answers’?
I often wondered during my school days: ‘If I had a teacher like Mr. Keating by my side back then, would the trajectory of my life have been different? Would I have gathered the courage to choose the road less traveled?’
After graduating and entering the professional world of projects and business, we are constantly pressured to “produce the correct answer.” Markets fluctuate wildly and technology shifts overnight, yet organizational leadership and legacy systems insist on past formulas for success, urging us to walk only the safe, well-trodden paths—claiming it is efficient and secure.
However, through countless project engagements, I came to realize one fundamental truth:
In a complex and uncertain reality, there is no such thing as a ‘perfect answer from the start.’
Guarding Against Hasty Assumptions and Learning Humility
Looking back at my early career when experience was sparse, my perspective was narrow, and I frequently fell into premature conclusions.
Believing the technology or domain knowledge I knew was everything, I pushed my own opinions forward. Consequently, I missed hidden variables and failed to empathize deeply with team members’ practical struggles, leading to unnecessary trial and error. Without accumulated experience, the depth of my insights was shallow, leaving behind moments of discomfort and regret.
The outcomes of this world rarely depend solely on our own efforts; uncontrollable variables like surrounding environments or sheer fortune constantly intervene. No matter how optimal a direction appears to my eyes right now, broadening our lens or looking from another angle often reveals glaring flaws.
Incomplete people exchanging imperfect opinions—that is the true, raw face of any real-world project.
Therefore, the most critical posture for anyone doing real work is to let go of the stubborn belief that ‘I am right,’ and humbly acknowledge the reality presented today. Rather than forcing persuasion on others, when we transparently and sincerely share our thoughts, our teammates’ minds begin to open and move together.
Redefining ‘Carpe Diem’ on the Execution Frontline
The phrase “Carpe Diem (Seize the Day)” whispered by Mr. Keating into his students’ ears was never just a romantic slogan to live carelessly for the moment.
It means unbinding ourselves from past inertia, refusing to worry prematurely about an unwritten future, and calmly facing the reality before us today to take that first step.
Brought into the context of software delivery and execution, this translates into three practical habits:
- Small Hypothesis Testing Over Grand Planning: Instead of debating months-long master plans behind closed doors, we run immediate, small experiments to harvest real-world feedback.
- Freedom to Be Wrong (Psychological Safety): Rather than hastily judging someone’s idea as incorrect, we respect diverse viewpoints so the team can inspect problems from fresh perspectives.
- Transparent Information Sharing & Honest Dialogue: As highlighted in Part 1, we stop filling out tool checkboxes for superficial reporting and instead create space to openly share where we are currently struggling.
Because There Are No Preset Answers, We Experiment Together
How a team navigates an imperfect world without losing its way is surprisingly simple.
It is not about blindly following one leader who claims to hold a perfect compass. It is about opening up honest thoughts, inspiring one another, and co-discovering the right direction as one unified team. If the trajectory drifts slightly along the way, we humbly admit it and adjust course.
Like the clumsy duffle coat I wore years ago, the steps we take today might look imperfect and awkward in the eyes of onlookers.
Yet, rather than walking down a pre-determined path without thought, stepping in sync with teammates to create our own meaningful step today—is that not the true ‘Carpe Diem’ we must seize every single day on the frontline?
Is your team relying on inertia today, or are you initiating a new experiment within today’s reality?