False dichotomies

Hi all –

When we face big problems, many people think that means we’re going too fast and we need to slow down. They think that if you go fast you ship garbage, and if you go slow, you show quality.

They’re wrong. That’s a false dichotomy.

Desmond Tutu once said, “there is only one way to eat an elephant: a bit at a time.” THAT is how you need to think about big problems.

The key is to have a clear goal.

If you want to eat a big sandwich (which I know all about) — it’s not about eating it really slowly. It’s about taking small bites. Maybe you can do it all in one sitting. Or maybe you need to finish it over multiple sittings.

But it’s all about dividing that task up into as many small, concrete steps that lead you in a progression towards achieving your goal.

How do you break down big problems to achieve your own goals?