Day 37 – Inspired Collaboration and Serendipity

Have you watched those disaster movies where the main character just barely makes it to safety as the ground crumbles just behind them? I feel like this on a regular basis. Which is kind of a cool feeling.

There is something interesting/inspiring about making that extra push that propels you into a space where you can just make it. It is exciting to be on the edge of your ability and just make it to a place where someone can reach down and you can grab their forearm and they pull you up the rest of the way. But for giving it your all, they would not have been able to assist you to reach the goal.

This happened to me today at work. I’ve been pushing and moving forward with a difficult project . . . and today two people reached down and pulled me forward. And, they committed to further working sessions in the coming days. I’m not out of the woods yet, so to speak. Yet, their help was heartening and resulted in a significant advance in the quality of the work as we collaborated. I know their help would not have come had I not been driving up hill with my full effort. I think they were inspired to pitch in because they could see the momentum and the possibility of success. The win today simply would not have occurred had I given in to despondency or fear. Push forward and often times you will find help just over the next rise.

Many times I’ve read about a lost hiker who gave up and perished with help nearly within reach. Don’t give up. Your effort can and will inspire others to spontaneously help you. You see this phenomenon in sports; it shows up there often, however it can happen in many circumstances. It can happen within your family, or at work, or on a project.

Many years ago I was invited to join a crew building a straw bale house in the country, just for a day. Myself, and a friend, an experienced carpenter, really poured on the effort. The other experienced team, from Canada, caught the enthusiasm, and we all got into a rhythm. We started working with a relentless joy, for many hours. The inexperienced volunteers also caught the bug and got focused and in sync with us. By the end of the day, all of us together had far exceeded what was thought possible for the day. We enjoyed hot coffee as darkness fell and light snow descended, the owner of the property gave out generous cash bonuses to all. The cash was nice, but the joy of being a part of an inspired team of people was the most satisfying and memorable part. It was spontaneous, satisfying, and fun.

I hope to have more days where this kind of inspiration, a sort of magic, occurs. I hope that somehow this story of a particular kind of experience inspires you to find/create it in your life, to spark this kind of spontaneous joy. Giving your all and extending trust to those around you seem to be important ingredients. Perhaps this could be a habit of character one could develop? I think so.

Ben Wagner (43)

Member 365 Commitment

0 Comments

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Share the Post:

Recent Blogs

Day 310 – I Actually Love Opera

The author explores the reasons why people might hesitate to reveal certain aspects of themselves, using their love for opera as an example. They differentiate between privacy and concealment, arguing that while privacy is a healthy boundary, concealment stems from a fear of judgment and can be a burden. The piece concludes by advocating for the freedom found in being less concerned with labels and more comfortable with revealing one’s true complexity.

Day 309 – The Price Tag of Automation

The author recounts his frustrating experience with home automation after Google abandoned its Nest architecture, leading him to build his own system. He highlights the significant time and effort required for maintenance and the eventual abandonment of his automation efforts due to the high ‘economic life’ cost. However, with the advent of AI, the cost and effort of automation have decreased, making it more feasible and renewing his interest in deploying future automations.

Day 308 – Speed is The Champion

This article explores the concept that speed often leads to success in various fields, from business to technology and sports. It argues that systems capable of rapid action, feedback, and adjustment tend to outperform those focused on avoiding errors. The author highlights the importance of fast feedback loops, citing John Boyd’s OODA loop and its application in AI systems. The piece also discusses the speed-accuracy tradeoff, noting that while speed can lead to more mistakes, these are often recoverable, and the compounding effect of rapid learning ultimately drives better results.

Day 307 – Iterative Could be Insufficient

This article explores the contrast between iterative and linear thinking, highlighting their respective strengths and weaknesses. It argues that while iterative thinking is beneficial in many fields, it can sometimes be an excuse for insufficient upfront planning, and proposes a hybrid approach for more robust decision-making.