Captain Michael: There are three words some capable people have an astonishingly difficult time saying:
I need help.
We like being the
There are three words some capable people have an astonishingly difficult time saying:
I need help.
We like being the person who knows what to do.
The one who fixes things.
The one other people call when something goes sideways.
That’s useful.
Until pride convinces us that competence means doing everything ourselves.
It doesn’t.
I’ve been aboard boats where the smartest thing I could do was find somebody who knew more about the problem than I did.
I’ve commanded people who could do things I couldn’t.
I’ve worked alongside chiefs, technicians, mechanics, sailors and plenty of others whose experience in a particular moment mattered far more than the title somebody had put beside my name.
That’s not weakness.
That’s using the resources available.
And people are resources too.
The Stoics understood that we are not solitary creatures.
Marcus Aurelius repeatedly reminded himself that human beings were made to work together.
There’s a lesson in that for anybody trying to solve something difficult.
Sometimes working the problem means knowing the answer.
Sometimes it means knowing who might.
Ask the mechanic.
Call the friend.
Listen to the person who has done it before.
Hand the wrench to somebody with better hands for the job.
And here’s the harder part:
When they tell you something you didn’t want to hear—
listen.
Self-reliance is valuable.
But there is a point where self-reliance quietly becomes ego.
A good problem solver doesn’t need to be the smartest person in the room.
He needs the problem solved.
So use what you know.
Use what you have.
And when that’s not enough—
use who you know.
Work the problem.
#WorkTheProblem, #Stoicism, #MarcusAurelius, #StoicWisdom, #Leadership, #Teamwork, #ProblemSolving, #LifeWellLived, #SeekingAWellLivedLife, #CrypTok
Captain Michael: There are three words some capable people have an astonishingly difficult time saying: I need help. We like being the pe
There are three words some capable people have an astonishingly difficult time saying: I need help. We like being the person who knows what to do. The one who fixes things. The one other people call when something goes sideways. That’s useful. Until pride convinces us that competence means doing everything ourselves. It doesn’t. I’ve been aboard boats where the smartest thing I could do was find somebody who knew more about the problem than I did. I’ve commanded people who could do things I couldn’t. I’ve worked alongside chiefs, technicians, mechanics, sailors and plenty of others whose experience in a particular moment mattered far more than the title somebody had put beside my name. That’s not weakness. That’s using the resources available. And people are resources too. The Stoics understood that we are not solitary creatures. Marcus Aurelius repeatedly reminded himself that human beings were made to work together. There’s a lesson in that for anybody trying to solve something difficult. Sometimes working the problem means knowing the answer. Sometimes it means knowing who might. Ask the mechanic. Call the friend. Listen to the person who has done it before. Hand the wrench to somebody with better hands for the job. And here’s the harder part: When they tell you something you didn’t want to hear— listen. Self-reliance is valuable. But there is a point where self-reliance quietly becomes ego. A good problem solver doesn’t need to be the smartest person in the room. He needs the problem solved. So use what you know. Use what you have. And when that’s not enough— use who you know. Work the problem. #WorkTheProblem, #Stoicism, #MarcusAurelius, #StoicWisdom, #Leadership, #Teamwork, #ProblemSolving, #LifeWellLived, #SeekingAWellLivedLife, #CrypTok
There are three words some capable people have an astonishingly difficult time saying: I need help. We like being the person who knows what to do. The one who fixes things. The one other people call when something goes sideways. That’s useful. Until pride convinces us that competence means doing everything ourselves. It doesn’t. I’ve been aboard boats where the smartest thing I could do was find somebody who knew more about the problem than I did. I’ve commanded people who could do things I couldn’t. I’ve worked alongside chiefs, technicians, mechanics, sailors and plenty of others whose experience in a particular moment mattered far more than the title somebody had put beside my name. That’s not weakness. That’s using the resources available. And people are resources too. The Stoics understood that we are not solitary creatures. Marcus Aurelius repeatedly reminded himself that human beings were made to work together. There’s a lesson in that for anybody trying to solve something difficult. Sometimes working the problem means knowing the answer. Sometimes it means knowing who might. Ask the mechanic. Call the friend. Listen to the person who has done it before. Hand the wrench to somebody with better hands for the job. And here’s the harder part: When they tell you something you didn’t want to hear— listen. Self-reliance is valuable. But there is a point where self-reliance quietly becomes ego. A good problem solver doesn’t need to be the smartest person in the room. He needs the problem solved. So use what you know. Use what you have. And when that’s not enough— use who you know. Work the problem. #WorkTheProblem, #Stoicism, #MarcusAurelius, #StoicWisdom, #Leadership, #Teamwork, #ProblemSolving, #LifeWellLived, #SeekingAWellLivedLife, #CrypTok
