Welcome to the Classy Problems weekly mash-up for Monday, August 12th – Sunday, August 19th, 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.

August 12 – The Story of We

The stories I tell myself establish the direction of how I interact in all my relationships. My belief is that sharing in stories is one of the three most important skills that we possess as humans.

String two or more of those interactions together and that exchange is more accurately described as navigating relationships, which I believe is the second of the three most important skills that we possess.

Classy Problems is a Story of We.

When we share in stories with each other, we connect. In making those connections we are building bridges, which I believe is the third most important skill.

Lastly, I don’t believe in perfect gurus or special snowflakes.

How does that story establish a direction, help us navigate, and connect?

It means there are no gurus or snowflakes in the story of we. If I’ve chosen to write ‘we’, I am sharing an aspect of the story of the human condition. When I use ‘we’, that’s me politely reminding us that this is our story – that it’s not my unique experience.

No gurus or snowflakes, just us.

So, I’m going to use the word ‘we’ because we are definitely in this together and you’ve opted in.

August 13 – A Tale of Two Survival Stories

Our biology AND psychology are predisposed to survival. It is nothing short of a miracle when we slip on the stairs and catch ourselves without thinking. Our self-preservation or survival instincts work; we want them to, and we can’t overstate the benefits of survival. But there is something subtle to be learned in the not slipping. Our instincts kick in before we mentally realize we’re in danger.

Why, then, do they kick in when we’re not in a life-or-death situation? Why is above my pay grade but my experience seems to suggest a single word: fear.

My experience with fear is that all fears are rooted in one of two survival stories. The first story is that we are going to lose something we think we already have. The second, we’re not going to get something we think we want.

They are two variations of our obsession with ourselves and what we can get.

There is only one problem with surviving a non-life-or-death moment, we’re stuck with what we get. Sometimes that works out. Sometimes it doesn’t.

August 14th – Good Finishes and Wins

Guaranteed wins of consequence don’t exist, but good finishes do. The key is to distinguish the difference between the two results.

Winning requires determining what is required to finish. Defining when to stop or the finish line is vital to winning.

A good finish is when we can reflect on AND be happy with the result. Isn’t that really a win? Getting the trophy is cool, but being happy with the result pays way better in the long run.

Trying to determine when to stop after starting can be a complex problem to solve. My biggest wins and best finishes have been when I have defined stopping before I got started. Sometimes, it even helps me figure out that a win is not to start at all.

Guaranteeing a win is difficult, but structuring a good finish before starting is the way to guarantee winning.

August 15th – 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.

August 16th – Opinions and Assumptions

An opinion is a belief or judgment that rests on insufficient grounds to produce complete certainty.

An assumption is an unarticulated opinion built into a context.

Said another way, opinions are stated assumptions and assumptions are unstated opinions. Both are stories.

The implication with the unstated – we’re unaware of how it is impacting our story.

August 17th – Efficiency and Effectiveness

Efficiency is doing things right. It is determining how to do something the right way in the right amount of time.

Effectiveness is doing the right thing. Effectiveness is determining what to do at the right time.

Efficiency is focusing on one thing, whereas effectiveness is focusing on when to do one thing in relationship to a sequence or the system.

It is possible to do the wrong thing right. It is usually more efficient to start by focusing on effectiveness.

August 18th – Criminal Acts and Works of Art

Graffiti walks the fine line between a criminal act and a work of art.

The verdict of all creative acts is rendered at the intersection of vision and execution.

What distinguishes a criminal from an artist is found in the alignment of vision, intent, and action.

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Resources Are Available

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