On Down The Line

This writing is Certified Human

“You don’t look at the whole thing. You solve the problem that’s right in front of you. Then you move to the next one.” — Jonas Taylor

The Obstacle

You did the work
Thought it was right
Something is wrong.

Somewhere in the chain there is a failure
Causing the whole thing to be off.

What should work
Doesn't.

Frustration builds
Anxiety wells
Relationships strain
Looking for someone or something to blame.

There has to be a cause
It would be easier
It would relieve the pressure
If it was someone else's fault.

It would be simpler to just walk away
Give up
Let someone else handle it.

But the job still needs done
And it’s yours to do.

Performance suffers
Because focus is elsewhere
Excuses
Blame
Anger
Frustration
Judgment.

Something went wrong
On down the line. 

The Gift and Opportunity

It should work
But it doesn't.

Now what?

Take a moment
Choose to let go of anger
Frustration
Blame
Judgment
Toward yourself
Or anyone else
They will not help here.

Recalibrate
Restart.

Start at first principles
Back at the beginning
The most likely point of failure
The most obvious
Occam's Razor.

Start working one problem
Then another
On down the line.

Like all things, there is an end
Work through the problems with focus and attention
One by one
Until it is resolved.

Don't waste time
Energy
Emotion
Or damage relationships with misallocated energy.

We learn along the way
About the process
Each other
And ourselves.

This is an opportunity for problem solving
Teamwork
And leadership
A test. 

We start somewhere
And goon  down the line.

The Practice of Self-Mastery

• Notice the push to react
• Choose to let go of blame and judgment
• Return to what is most obvious
• Work one problem at a time

CHEAT CODE: NOTICE → RECALIBRATE → OCCOM’S RAZOR → SOLVE ONE PROBLEM AT A TIME