Blindsided

"Blind-sided." Someone who is blindsided is attacked or hit from their blind side. They are injured because they have not recognized a blind side or have been distracted.

Someone can be blind sided on purpose or by accident. There is an expectation of safety from the receiver. Either, being aware of what is approaching they do not expect danger, the one approaching wants to avoid any collision, or they do not see the danger because they are unaware or purposefully ignoring it. For the one approaching from the blind spot the expectation is to avoid or to attack.

While driving, the expectations are each and the other will obey the laws of the road and try to not hit one another. In sports, like football, the expectation is to use your opponents weakness to gain superiority and win. In war, or chess, the expectation is even more grave. One side wants to eliminate the other.

One of the problems in every life and every business is purposefully ignoring certain hazards by either viewing them as not hazards or suggesting they do not matter. Usually this happens because there is no certain direction and movement is erratic, like a rudderless ship in a storm.

Step One. Stop until everything is working correctly. If you cannot stop, at least slow down, so when the collisions happen damage is negligible.

Step Two. Establish appropriate velocity. Velocity is speed and direction. In other words, know where you want to go and how fast you need to go to get there. Be safe and responsible.

Step Three. Know why you're going where you're going. Just because isn't good enough. Does your destination, and the trip getting there, fit your established goals? If not, jettison anything which distracts.

Step Four. Check your blind spots often and critically. But don't let looking over your shoulder get you off track.

Step Five. Stay on target, or on task.

Yes, this discussion does have a lot to do with Libraries.

Gerald F. Ward