St. Petersburg, Russia was the vision of Peter the Great. It was his declaration of a new vision for the country; a showcase of imperial splendor. While this 18th century city was completely planned out before a shovel of dirt was turned; a major problem stood in the way of fulfilling the vision.
To accommodate the plan, numerous large rocks had to be removed. There was one particularly large boulder that was right in the middle of a major avenue. The administrators solicited bids for the it's removal and because modern equipment and explosives did not exist, the bids were too high. As the official wondered what to do, a peasant presented himself and offered to get rid of the boulder for a much lower price than the other bidders. Having nothing to lose they gave him the job.
The next day the peasant showed up with a small army of other peasants carrying shovels. Right next to the rock they dug a huge hole deeper than the boulder was high. They then pushed the boulder into the hole, covered everything up, and carted off the extra dirt.
"You cannot solve a problem using the same level or basis of thought used to create it."
-Albert Einstein
The difference between excellence and mediocrity is what we do when we come upon the rocks and large boulders that represent the problems that block our path. Mediocrity reflects trying to solve new problems with same level or basis of thought used to create them.
Three ways to break through old ways of thinking about problems so you can achieve more.
- Identify people who have successfully overcome a similar problem or achieved similar goals. This follows a simple rule; if you want to be successful, find other people who are succeeding in your area of interest and do the same things.
- Study what they did to be successful.
- What skills and knowledge did they possess?
- Who did they enlist to help them?
- What failures did they have and what can you do to avoid making similar mistakes?
- What was their strategy or process?
- What personal habits did they consistently demonstrate.
- Seek to be in the company of achievers.
- Read books or articles they have written. You can read 21 books in the last nine months of this year by reading only 15 minutes a day.
- Seek to meet with them over coffee or a meal. If you don’t ask the answer will always be no. Try to meet with someone you can learn from at least once a month.
- Attend seminars or conferences they are speaking or presenting at. Attend one or two meetings a year with the sole purpose of personal learning.
- Be curious! Develop the ability to ask effective questions. Be ready with a great question. Build a list of 10 to 15 questions you would like to ask an expert by the end of the month.
Success leaves clues.
Mediocrity will be reserved for those who have formed the habit of looking at problems without fresh perspective.
“The illiterate of the 21st Century will not be those who cannot read or write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn.
-Alvin Toffler, futurist & visionary
What advice would you offer for solving problems?