I went into the meeting feeling stuck and anxious. We had been experimenting with new video production methods for months, but none of them were approved yet. Therefore, I couldn’t start creating—and the longer I don’t create, the more I fall behind on my roadmap. Ugh!
I told my boss I felt frustrated, then ran her through our latest round of demos, tests, and budget estimates. She liked everything I showed her. “This is good! It works!” With every next piece I revealed, I realized how much work I had already done to solve the problem at hand. We we’re not 100% there yet but definitely most of the way. I told her about that, too. “It sounded a lot worse in my head!”
Our minds usually stick to the very edge of a challenge. The tip of the spear that’s always closest to the obstacle we’re trying to pass. We see what doesn’t work and how many blockers still need solving. But when we describe the problem to others, we’re forced to turn around. To recap how we got here—and that inevitably involves how we overcame many small hurdles along the way.
If you feel as if you’re sinking in a swamp, describe the problem to someone. Chances are, the rope you need is already wrapped around the nearest tree—and once you’re looking around together, there’s no way you will miss it.
