There are some sections of river that are absolutely choked with boulders, hydraulics, foaming pillows of water and chaotic waves. You can almost always hear them coming and when you do it’s best to get out of your boat, walk down stream and take a look to see what you’re in for. With some perspective you can spot the nastiest holes and other obstacles and plot a course that avoids them. One of the things to look for is the fast water that flows along the side of a hole. If you follow the seam, you can pick up speed to help you move through the places you don’t want to be. In a minefield, you know you will hit some holes straight-on. It’s unavoidable. The best you can do is paddle hard and fast, avoid the biggest monsters, and punch through or hop over the smaller ones with enough momentum that you keep on going to less chaotic waters.
The same is true in business. Every project has its complexity, and there will be points along the way that feel like minefields. You need good fundamental skills and enough momentum to keep moving through the field. It’s only temporary and the very same water will eventually quiet down if you can keep moving downstream.
A big nasty hole might be a challenging customer, employee, co-worker or process. These are situations where energy is focused intensively in one place. If you can figure out how to take advantage of that energy without being overwhelmed by it, you will gain momentum. Follow the seams on the sides of big holes and never stop paddling. Your goal is the same as the water’s — to move downstream.
