229: Looking Differently at How to Confront an Obstacle
The seed of a solution to a problem often resides within the problem — and within the people trying to solve it.
“This thing in front of you. This issue. This obstacle—this frustrating, unfortunate, problematic, unexpected problem preventing you from doing what you want to do. That thing you dread or secretly hope will never happen. What if it wasn’t so bad?”
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Summary
Obstacles standing in the way of progress often seem insurmountable. Leaders who remain adaptable, flexible, and pause to give themselves time to assess options increase their likelihood of breakthroughs.
“With the current at our back, we moved along rhythmically. And then we came to an abrupt stop.”
Takeaways
√ The seeds to a problem’s solution are usually contained in the problem itself.
√ Effectively problem solvers work within the constraints of limited time and budget and ask a question of curiosity: what can we do differently right here with what we have?
√ Overcoming obstacles, according to author Ryan Holiday, requires that we take three steps:
1. Change our perception to the problem — our attitude and approach to it.
2. Use our energy and creativity to uncover the opportunity within the problem
3. Cultivate and maintain an inner will to overcome setbacks.
Here’s Ryan Holiday briefly describing the three steps