“If it breaks, we’ll know how to fix it.”
Old cars had an oil light, and that was about it.
Often, we build things hoping they’ll work. But complex systems are more resilient when we build in the diagnostics for failure from the start.
A multi-unit retail chain, a medical practice, a school–they need a dashboard and process for finding and fixing things before the entire enterprise fails. A personal finance plan and a career probably need one too. It’s easier to do that well if we plan for it.
They don’t use canaries in coal mines any more, but you might need a few.
PS if you’re already doing this, you know. If you’re not, this is the moment to begin.