What do you do when you get stuck? Work the problem.This past weekend I made a quick stop to pick up one of the kids and left unexpectedly inspired. Here's how.Quick setup: kid birthday party at someone's house. Dad is an ex-Navy SEAL, Mom is battling cancer. He recently lost his job in financial services and the family is in the process of selling their house and moving out of the area in June (before school ends so their kids can get jump start on making new friends). No doubt this has been the subject of gossip, whispers and texts in social circles -- people mostly just feel bad for them. In the backyard was a decent sized "shed" that inside they converted into, of all things, a rock climbing wall from floor to ceiling -- outfitted with huge padded mats on the floor. They had helmets and gloves for the kids. I was both impressed by how surprisingly elaborate it was and a little self-conscious that his kids got that from their dad while I thumped my chest after setting up the Xbox at Christmas time...What caught my eye, however, were the various writings covering the wall in marker between the footholds. Some were obviously done by kids and some adults. There were arrows and instructions: "This one is tricky", "Get going!", "Super easy." Then I found one that captured my attention in large bold block letters close to the ceiling in one of the more difficult sections: "Work the problem."Think about it: you are a kid trying to conquer this rock wall and you have gotten yourself almost to the top. But you get stuck. What do you do? Cry for help? Give up? Drop down to the nice cushy mat on the floor? Ask for an adult to point out where to go next? Nope. Not in this shed. Here you take what is given to you, understand your strengths and your limitations, and you muster up the courage to create a solution. Maybe climb down a few steps and regroup. Whatever you choose, you must work the problem. Isn't this something we all face from time to time? Whether it is in our personal or professional lives, we all find ourselves in situations where we are climbing a wall and we get stuck. We ask ourselves "how did I get here?" or "why am I in this situation?" or "what do I do next?" We seek pity or relief because, damn, this just sucks and we are far from stable ground! It's so easy to feel sorry for ourselves, blame others or simply want to quit because it all seems insurmountable. But none of that is constructive nor will it get us out of the situation. You have to trust that if you were able to get yourself to this point, a solution exists to get you past the obstacle. Work the problem.As I walked back to the car and left the scene, it was not lost on me how this directly applied to what that family must be experiencing right now. Adversity and setbacks seem to be compounding for them yet, in the face of it all, they themselves are working the problem. That is all they can do. I don't know them well, but feeling sorry for them is no longer my primary emotion when I think about their situation. Something tells me they will be okay no matter what else is thrown their way.A little longer preamble than normal, but I hope that inspired you as it did me (I've been thinking about it all week). Got a bunch of new subscribers this week, so welcome! Working on another podcast too. In the meantime, enjoy the articles below and have a great weekend.XOXODave
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Friends of Dave #68: Work The Problem
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What do you do when you get stuck? Work the problem.This past weekend I made a quick stop to pick up one of the kids and left unexpectedly inspired. Here's how.Quick setup: kid birthday party at someone's house. Dad is an ex-Navy SEAL, Mom is battling cancer. He recently lost his job in financial services and the family is in the process of selling their house and moving out of the area in June (before school ends so their kids can get jump start on making new friends). No doubt this has been the subject of gossip, whispers and texts in social circles -- people mostly just feel bad for them. In the backyard was a decent sized "shed" that inside they converted into, of all things, a rock climbing wall from floor to ceiling -- outfitted with huge padded mats on the floor. They had helmets and gloves for the kids. I was both impressed by how surprisingly elaborate it was and a little self-conscious that his kids got that from their dad while I thumped my chest after setting up the Xbox at Christmas time...What caught my eye, however, were the various writings covering the wall in marker between the footholds. Some were obviously done by kids and some adults. There were arrows and instructions: "This one is tricky", "Get going!", "Super easy." Then I found one that captured my attention in large bold block letters close to the ceiling in one of the more difficult sections: "Work the problem."Think about it: you are a kid trying to conquer this rock wall and you have gotten yourself almost to the top. But you get stuck. What do you do? Cry for help? Give up? Drop down to the nice cushy mat on the floor? Ask for an adult to point out where to go next? Nope. Not in this shed. Here you take what is given to you, understand your strengths and your limitations, and you muster up the courage to create a solution. Maybe climb down a few steps and regroup. Whatever you choose, you must work the problem. Isn't this something we all face from time to time? Whether it is in our personal or professional lives, we all find ourselves in situations where we are climbing a wall and we get stuck. We ask ourselves "how did I get here?" or "why am I in this situation?" or "what do I do next?" We seek pity or relief because, damn, this just sucks and we are far from stable ground! It's so easy to feel sorry for ourselves, blame others or simply want to quit because it all seems insurmountable. But none of that is constructive nor will it get us out of the situation. You have to trust that if you were able to get yourself to this point, a solution exists to get you past the obstacle. Work the problem.As I walked back to the car and left the scene, it was not lost on me how this directly applied to what that family must be experiencing right now. Adversity and setbacks seem to be compounding for them yet, in the face of it all, they themselves are working the problem. That is all they can do. I don't know them well, but feeling sorry for them is no longer my primary emotion when I think about their situation. Something tells me they will be okay no matter what else is thrown their way.A little longer preamble than normal, but I hope that inspired you as it did me (I've been thinking about it all week). Got a bunch of new subscribers this week, so welcome! Working on another podcast too. In the meantime, enjoy the articles below and have a great weekend.XOXODave