Welcome to the Classy Problems weekly mash-up for Monday, December 16 – Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Classy Problems is a daily post of thinking in motion by Dan T. Rogers. Each post stands alone as a thought-provoking piece, yet together, they create a puzzle of ideas. They invite you to see things from a different angle, rethink what you thought you knew, and explore what’s beyond your current understanding.
December 23 – Constraint and Restraint
Constraints are the non-negotiable forces that are imposed on us, while restraints are the optional restrictions that we place on ourselves. Same effect, different source; the difference is in our ability to choose.
Constraints design and restraints define.
Constraints design. In a board game, constraints are the rules of how to play and what determines winning. They are the essential components of the game. We might not love every aspect of the constraints, but without them, there’s no game to play. The constraints design the game.
Restraints define. In a board game, restraints are the strategic choices we make based on our understanding of the game. They are the essential interactions in the game. We might not love our options, but to play we have to make decisions. The restraints define the player.
It’s an example of precious thinking to complain about constraints; instead, the most effective players intentionally align their restraints accordingly.
December 24 – The Opposite of Survival is Contribution
As a global species, we’ve never been so good at not dying. I’m not saying we’ve solved every horrific thing, but we have temporarily solved not dying.
If you’re reading this post, you have definitely, at least for the moment, solved the not dying problem.
The classy problem we face now is that we’re still hard-wired and soft-wired to be obsessed with survival. That obsession no longer serves us when we’ve already mastered survival.
What is life’s purpose if it isn’t survival? Contribution. The opposite of survival is contribution.
What could you contribute with your moment?
December 25 – Parts and Interactions
Everyone is a part of a system and is a system, at least one of each. The question then is, which is the focus?
The human condition loves to focus on the parts. It’s easy. It’s why we obsess over making to-do lists, cutting carbs, and counting likes on social media posts. We think if we get the parts right, the system will magically work. Spoiler alert: It doesn’t.
Parts are only as good as the way they interact with each other. Efficiency asks us to think of parts independently of each other, whereas effectiveness asks us to think of the parts in terms of how they interact with each other AND how they interact in relation to the entire system they are a part of.
Imagine a car with all its parts perfectly laid out on the ground. Everything is there—the engine, the wheels, the transmission—but you’re not going anywhere. It’s the connections, the way those parts fit and move together, that turn it from a pile of metal into a vehicle.
Same goes for life. Skills, intentions, and goals are the parts, but it’s the way they interact that determines whether there is forward movement, if wheels are spinning, or there is a stall out. Competency isn’t about having all the best parts—it’s about knowing how to make them work together.
Are you focusing on collecting shiny parts, or are you building the interactions that get you somewhere?
December 26 – Abundance and Complexity
Abundance isn’t the answer. It’s the problem.
When abundance comes in a form we don’t like, we call it complexity.
When complexity comes in a form we do like, we call it abundance.
Either way, it’s a classy problem.
December 27 – Waffles, Spaghetti, and Lasagna
The patterns in the way people communicate are like waffles, spaghetti, and lasagna.
Waffles are logical and symmetrical – squares inside of squares. This is the person who is neat and orderly and uses the oxford comma. They give reports.
Spaghetti is context and detail – strands inside of strands. This is the person who has us wondering if they have a point but somehow still captivates us. They paint pictures.
Lasagna is interconnected ideas – layers on top of layers. This is the person who resembles spaghetti but the layers have symmetry and are made up of intermingled components. They connect dots.
Most classy problems are complex. In the making of our classy problems we have made lots of decisions around complexity – sometimes with intention, sometimes without.
Classy Problems is lasagna.
In crafting Classy Problems, we’ve been intentional with our decisions. Like when eating lasagna, we hope you’ll let it rest so the sauce can set. We’ve also portioned it in a way that will leave you with leftovers. Revisit these ideas and combine them with others to create your own meal.
December 28 – Symptoms and Synergy
When byproducts come with consequences that we like, we call them synergy.
When byproducts come with consequences that we don’t like, we call them symptoms.
December 29 – Photographer and Astronaut
It’s estimated that there are 7.2 billion smartphones in use by 4.8 billion unique users – that’s a whole ‘nother post – but it’s reference for this one.
Each one of those devices is more powerful than the computer that powered the moon landing.
If our phones have that much power, Mars can’t be that far off, right? But, with profound respect to the visionaries who want to get us there, I ask, shouldn’t we have already made it back from Mars by now?
Owning a device capable of taking us to the moon doesn’t make us astronauts. It’s how we use it that defines what we become.
How we use all that power is another example of when theboss has afforded us the opportunity to figure something out – a classy problem.
And what do we do? We take pictures of our food and of ourselves.
All classy problems are the byproducts of unearned wisdom. That’s why I’m much closer to being a photographer than an astronaut.
Classy Problems is a daily post of thinking in motion by Dan T. Rogers. Each post stands alone as a thought-provoking piece, yet together, they create a puzzle of ideas. They invite you to see things from a different angle, rethink what you thought you knew, and explore what’s beyond your current understanding.
What is a classy problem? A classy problem is when we’ve been afforded the opportunity to figure out what to do. Time to figure it out. Time to practice. Time to discern. When faced with the time to figure out a classy problem, it is more effective to focus on what NOT to do than trying to figure out what to do. In a word: restraint. JOIN US in exploring the distinction between what to do and what not to do in the pursuit of clarity.
SPIRITUAL GANGSTER: Welcome to the ‘Spiritual Gangster’ wing of The Sober Curator, a haven for those on a sober journey with a twist of spiritual sass. Here, we invite you to plunge headfirst into a world of meditation, astrology, intentionality, philosophy and spiritual reflection – all while keeping your feet (and sobriety) firmly on the ground.
A Disco Ball is Hundreds of Pieces of Broken Glass, Put Together to Make a Magical Ball of Light. You are NOT Broken, Friend. You are a DISCO BALL!
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