Continuous Improvement. Stan Lombardo. The Iliad.
What ties these three together?In an email exchange with Stan Lombardo, the renowned classicist and translator of The Iliad, I recall sharing my article that compared the movie Troy to the Iraq War. In hindsight, this analogy feels remarkably relevant. The Trojan War, much like the Iraq War, can be analyzed through the lens of costs and benefits. The Trojan War’s costs were immense—a years-long campaign with no clear siege tactics or blockade of Troy, as far as historical evidence suggests. The perceived benefit, encapsulated in a single word—"Helen"—hardly justifies the staggering loss of life. Similarly, the Iraq War cost the U.S. billions of dollars, with outcomes that remain ambiguous even today. All that loss of money and men for, perhaps, little to show for it.
This reflection on history and literature brings me to the concept of continuous improvement. As a poet and a professional, I’ve realized that growth comes from identifying areas of weakness and making incremental yet meaningful improvements. When I first started writing poetry, my initial pieces lacked the finesse they have now. Over time, I’ve refined not just the content but also the presentation—ensuring every post on LinkedIn uses high-quality templates and carefully curated formats.
Continuous improvement extends beyond the craft of poetry. For example, I’m currently working on translating my poems and even my Troy article—written over two decades ago—into Esperanto. This isn’t because the original works need rewriting, but because every product, no matter how complete, has room for enhancement and adaptation to new audiences.
I’ve also incorporated a new literary device inspired by Stan Lombardo’s translation of The Iliad: the concept of a “poem within a poem.” Lombardo’s approach of highlighting evocative verses as standalone poetic moments struck me as innovative and impactful, so I’ve started integrating a similar style into my own work.
This focus on improvement isn’t limited to personal pursuits. It’s a principle that applies across professional settings and even to organizations. Companies and communities that embrace continuous improvement stand out. It’s a philosophy I recommend to any entity striving for excellence—even our apartment complex could benefit from it!
Lastly, as a nod to creativity and innovation, I’ve been exploring Artificial Creativity technologies. Recently, I generated a playful rendering of “Deucalion and Pyrrha,” the Adam and Eve of Greek mythology. While the output turned out humorously imperfect (an arm where a leg should be), it serves as a reminder that no matter how advanced our tools—whether AI, data science, or big data—we’re all capable of making mistakes.
Continuous improvement is about embracing those mistakes, learning from them, and striving to create something better each time.
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