Captain Michael: WORK THE PROBLEM
Big problems have a way of becoming bigger in our heads.
We see the whole thing at once.
Everything
WORK THE PROBLEM
Big problems have a way of becoming bigger in our heads.
We see the whole thing at once.
Everything that could go wrong.
Everything that needs fixing.
Everything we don’t know.
Everything that might happen next.
Pretty soon we’re trying to solve problems that haven’t even happened yet.
At sea, that can get you in trouble.
When something breaks in bad conditions, you don’t solve the entire passage.
You solve the next useful thing.
Is anyone in immediate danger?
Make them safe.
Is the boat taking on water?
Stop the water.
Have we lost steering?
Get the boat under control.
Then look around again.
The situation has changed because you changed it.
Marcus Aurelius repeatedly brought himself back to the work immediately in front of him.
Not tomorrow’s work.
Not the entire campaign.
This thing. Done well. Now.
There’s wisdom in reducing a problem until it becomes something you can put your hands on.
Maybe you can’t fix the business today.
Maybe you can’t repair the relationship this morning.
Maybe you can’t solve the financial problem before lunch.
Maybe you don’t even know what the final answer looks like yet.
Fine.
What is the next useful thing you can do?
Make the phone call.
Write the page.
Check the numbers.
Apologize.
Ask the question.
Pick up the wrench.
Then reassess.
A hundred-foot chain doesn’t come aboard all at once.
You bring it up one link at a time.
Work the problem.
#WorkTheProblem, #Stoicism, #MarcusAurelius, #StoicWisdom, #Resilience, #ProblemSolving, #LifeWellLived, #SeekingAWellLivedLife, #CrypTok
Captain Michael: WORK THE PROBLEM Big problems have a way of becoming bigger in our heads. We see the whole thing at once. Everything tha
WORK THE PROBLEM Big problems have a way of becoming bigger in our heads. We see the whole thing at once. Everything that could go wrong. Everything that needs fixing. Everything we don’t know. Everything that might happen next. Pretty soon we’re trying to solve problems that haven’t even happened yet. At sea, that can get you in trouble. When something breaks in bad conditions, you don’t solve the entire passage. You solve the next useful thing. Is anyone in immediate danger? Make them safe. Is the boat taking on water? Stop the water. Have we lost steering? Get the boat under control. Then look around again. The situation has changed because you changed it. Marcus Aurelius repeatedly brought himself back to the work immediately in front of him. Not tomorrow’s work. Not the entire campaign. This thing. Done well. Now. There’s wisdom in reducing a problem until it becomes something you can put your hands on. Maybe you can’t fix the business today. Maybe you can’t repair the relationship this morning. Maybe you can’t solve the financial problem before lunch. Maybe you don’t even know what the final answer looks like yet. Fine. What is the next useful thing you can do? Make the phone call. Write the page. Check the numbers. Apologize. Ask the question. Pick up the wrench. Then reassess. A hundred-foot chain doesn’t come aboard all at once. You bring it up one link at a time. Work the problem. #WorkTheProblem, #Stoicism, #MarcusAurelius, #StoicWisdom, #Resilience, #ProblemSolving, #LifeWellLived, #SeekingAWellLivedLife, #CrypTok
WORK THE PROBLEM Big problems have a way of becoming bigger in our heads. We see the whole thing at once. Everything that could go wrong. Everything that needs fixing. Everything we don’t know. Everything that might happen next. Pretty soon we’re trying to solve problems that haven’t even happened yet. At sea, that can get you in trouble. When something breaks in bad conditions, you don’t solve the entire passage. You solve the next useful thing. Is anyone in immediate danger? Make them safe. Is the boat taking on water? Stop the water. Have we lost steering? Get the boat under control. Then look around again. The situation has changed because you changed it. Marcus Aurelius repeatedly brought himself back to the work immediately in front of him. Not tomorrow’s work. Not the entire campaign. This thing. Done well. Now. There’s wisdom in reducing a problem until it becomes something you can put your hands on. Maybe you can’t fix the business today. Maybe you can’t repair the relationship this morning. Maybe you can’t solve the financial problem before lunch. Maybe you don’t even know what the final answer looks like yet. Fine. What is the next useful thing you can do? Make the phone call. Write the page. Check the numbers. Apologize. Ask the question. Pick up the wrench. Then reassess. A hundred-foot chain doesn’t come aboard all at once. You bring it up one link at a time. Work the problem. #WorkTheProblem, #Stoicism, #MarcusAurelius, #StoicWisdom, #Resilience, #ProblemSolving, #LifeWellLived, #SeekingAWellLivedLife, #CrypTok
