The path was not taken Seth’s Blog

And vs or

Leading a project is to kill a million ‘ends’.

There was a long line at the ice cream stand, but the person at the front wasn’t moving. The customer had narrowed the choice down to four flavors, but they were paralyzed, unable to choose.

That’s not to say that any flavor wouldn’t be good. They were all well liked. Because choosing a flavor had meaning no There are three remaining. Getting an ice cream turned into a dance with regrets.

You can’t make a luxury car that’s cheap, and drives well off-road, and is super fast and super safe. You cannot create an event that is intimate, open to all visitors, proven, resilient to any weather, held outdoors and unique.

We focus on the frustration of losing an ‘and’ when we’re nervous about the decisions we’re being asked to make, when we’re hesitant about commitments. And we obsess over the limitations we’ve already accepted because it slows us down and increases our fear.

Instead of focusing on what we are building, we focus on the paths that are no longer open.

If we’re going to create something, if we’re going to do the work, the positive way is to look for limitations and seize them. They are the point. No obstacles, no projects. When we see them as stepping stones on the way to the work we hope for, they’re not a problem, they’re a sign that we’re on to something.

Managing a project is the art of making this ‘or’ choice. ‘And’ is often not welcome because ‘and’ is a trap.