Don't Hurry to Throw in the Towel / by Alexander Lyadov

I couldn't find the perfect workout towel. My criteria were compactness, quality, and face comfort.

“Amazon only has huge bath towels,” I told my wife. Marina shrugged, “At a tailor's, they'll cut it however you want.” I was amazed, “Of course! Why didn't I think of that myself?”

Then I realized that a tailor, as an option, wasn't in my experience. In our 28 years of marriage, I always got the thing ready after handing my fairy wife a "brief." Similarly, a novice will see a match differently than an experienced grappler. Where the first sees chaos, the second notes, "Here you can do a 'triangle,' here a 'kimura,' and so on."

My trivial case offers valuable insight. We more easily recognize new opportunities if they resemble those we've experienced in the past. Stress, by the way, worsens this ability.

In an extremely tough situation, it seems like there's no solution. Our usual methods either don't work or make things worse. But let someone shift our perspective, and we exclaim with joy: "Eureka!"

That's why it's crucial to broaden the range of experiences within your profession, sport, or hobby. An expert is someone who "has been there and done that."

But if you've been struggling with a problem for a long time without success, call in another person to spark the fire through friction. And if he knows how to ask the right questions, you'll be surprised at the possibilities where it seemed there were none at all.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander


About me:
As a business therapist, I help tech founders quickly solve dilemmas at the intersection of business and personality, and boost company value as a result.

How can I help you?
If you've long been trying to understand what is limiting you and/or your business and how to finally give important changes a push, then The Catalyst Session is designed specifically for you. Book it here.