I am sure the title of this post is butchering some common saying about the tough instead of hard, but the sentiment is similar.

I had a fascinating conversation today about managing tough situations.  The discussion focused on an analogy about being given the impossible task.

Consider you have been given a task and it feels like you are riding a Tsunami on a small wooden board.  You have been given the objective of saving the village that is right in the path of the Tsunami.   You are at the crest of the wave on your small little board being swept along with the torrent wondering how it will ever be possible to meet the objective assigned to you (your job)

Don’t Give UP!!!!

In this analogy, as you are riding the crest and all looks bleak you whip out your cell phone, your US Air Force buddy, Colonel Fix-It is on speed dial.  He quickly agrees to dispatch a bomber to create a strategic blast just in the path of the wave causing it to dissipate and ultimately the village is spared.

It can be done

True, this is an exaggeration, that being said I will argue the point is valid.  Almost always there is a way around obstacles and success can be achieved.

The trick is to focus on the objective not on how to achieve it.  Of course the “how” has to be determined and executed before it is too late.

However, the first order of business   is to make sure you understand what success looks like and keep it simple.  Save the village.  Blowing up a nuclear device to do so might not be the first thought that comes to mind, but it got the job done.

In Closing

Thanks to my colleague today for a very interesting discussion, and oh yeah – Good Luck, you’ll need it.

Remember;