Work has kept me pretty busy the last couple of weeks - and most of it is my own doing. I'm trying to push a boulder up a really steep mountain and every time I make a little progress, it feels like someone is pushing in the other direction or the mountain is gettting bigger. My trouble at this point is I can't seem to articualte the boulder in terms that anyone else understands...
There is a part of me that want's to rush in to one of the big bosses office and shout like a lunatic - but I've stopped short of that drastic action.
Hopefully I'll be able to blog about this at some point.
In the meantime, I'm off to read Seth Godin's new book - All Marketers are Liars - which came in the mail today...
So, question for you: tell me about some big challenge at work, that involved getting a bunch of other people to see your vision of a better future... and how you went about it.
Hey Jon. I've been there. For your sake and those around you, I'd change the metaphor in your mind's eye. Think of your problem as a tangled bird's nest of fishing line. Instead of pulling tighter, loosen your grip. Or step away and relax for a minute. And if all else fails, take a pair of scissors to it. ;)
Stay well my friend.
Posted by: Tom Asacker | March 08, 2005 at 08:51 AM
Jon, I am pushing that same boulder. I understand how you feel - these struggles can come in the form of difficult employers, team leaders, colleagues, clients. For me, one of the most difficult tasks is patiently explaining my ideas to people who have already made up their minds about something they know little about. In this regard, they aren't letting people (you) do the best job you know you are capable of...
My only answer is to seek fulfillment thru a project entirely your own. Anytime you bring others into the picture (unless they are likeminded or friends) this situation rears its ugly head. Extroverts have a better time of 'bull-dogging' their way through closed minds. But for us introverts, it can be an exhausting and somewhat futile process.
Hang in there!
Posted by: Aleah | March 08, 2005 at 09:39 AM
Jon, you may have just answered your own problem: Pushing a boulder. (I seem to recall art on this somewhere. ;-)
Put your metaphor in motion. Crystalize the problem, or better still, the solution/result in visual terms. Everybody can argue with words, they can waffle on priorities and roles, they can't fight feeling tagged by a right brain jerked aware by a crystalline visual for their challenge/hope. I'm expensive, but call me if you need help. [grin]
Posted by: fouro | March 08, 2005 at 09:50 AM
Mark, I've always heard you were cheap and easy. ;-)
Posted by: Aleah | March 08, 2005 at 11:03 AM
Jon,
I know you're a big Seth Godin fan. What does Free Prize Inside tell you to do?
P.S. I really enjoyed Fouro's wordy argument for the power of pictures...
Posted by: Mike | March 08, 2005 at 02:45 PM
I had a similar problem this morning with my boss.
My boss does not understand why something looks right in Internet Explorer 6 but does not in Internet Explorer 5.
How do you explain a technical problem to a non-technical person, whom just wants it to work?
Ah, the fine art of communication.
Dale Carnegie had some sound advice on this subject:
Posted by: Chuck Conway | March 08, 2005 at 03:47 PM
Thank you very much everyone!! I really appreciate the kind comments.
Stepping away from things last night cleared my mind... I'll be posting the results shortly. ;-)
Posted by: Jon Strande | March 08, 2005 at 05:29 PM