My last couple of weeks have followed a similar style, at the start of the week, I have my goals set out. By Wednesday or Thursday, I feel totally lost and my objectives are lying in ruins.

On Saturday, when I take time to reflect, I can look back on and see that progress has been made.

I then document and strategize the path ahead ready for Monday to come around.

It is learning I took from my previous job that had rigorous accountability due to the established product deadlines that are engrained within the company.

I often think if this is the right strategy in a land where there are one hundred problems in front of your face.

Should I dive in and tackle what is right under my nose?

I see people at all levels of the organization being very effective at this. And when I look back at what they have accomplished, I think, wow that is more than me.

But I have seen this before, people that are super effective firefighters but as the company evolves, they are less able to plan and see the problem down the road and work to mitigate it.

Overall, I think my strategy is right. But that doesn’t mean I should not be more effective solving the problems that are affecting the company today.

I need to simplify how I frame, analyze, and solve the issue. Then I can reflect to build better systems in the future that can identify and prevent problems from occurring.

Overcomplicating is a barrier

By overcomplicating the issue, I recognize that I spend too much time in the analysis phase. I plan complex studies without getting my hands on the problem to physically understand it.

I have a fear of practical problems, which is embarrassing to say as an engineer. But I must recognize, I am not as strong as other people with my hands.

However, over the years I have developed instincts, and I intuitively know if I am doing something right or wrong.

The fear of judgment strikes again

I have acknowledged this in previous articles, but there are constant blind spots where I don’t realize where it is inhibiting my growth.

Physical mechanical work is one of those blind spots and I get hesitant in my thought processes and execution when engaged in this type of work, especially when people are around.

I must not be afraid to discover

This is the difference between the kid that encounters a new challenge and views is excited by it, versus the child who avoids the challenge all together and simply says ‘I can’t do it’.

I am not a ‘can’t do it person’ but I must view challenges as an opportunity for learning. Not as an assessment of my ability, or as a waste of time if it fails.

Inevitably, whatever happens there will be new ideas as a result.

People have different ways of working out problems

my process of discovery is different from others. I am not very good at thinking out problems on the fly in my head.

I need to take the time and draw it out and play out certain scenarios. What happens, if this occurs, or this moves this way.

If there is data involved, I am stronger, I can contextualize what is happening, simplify and communicate to others in a simple diagram or concise sentence or two.

This is how a potential weakness has developed into a strength and I get complimented on being able to tell stories with data.

And so, we come to the point of the article, and that is everyone has their own style of discovery.

Some people prefer to fiddle with their hands, others like me prefer to draw a diagram, others need to talk it through with others.

You should not be afraid that your style is different, or that maybe you won’t have the answer at the end.

What you get is something you won’t necessarily expect, for instance, an insight that would not be revealed if you did not engage with the activity.

If you shy away from the problem or hide your style away from others you will get exactly what you expect – nothing.

This article is itself a discovery process. It starts off the same, me staring at a blank screen. I then mine my thoughts and jot down ideas and sentences begin to form.

Soon the ideas develop into paragraphs and different concepts I have been playing about with form into a coherent point, and the article takes shape.

In the end there is always learning. There is always progress in my viewpoint or a jolt in the right direction in where I want my life to head.

Whatever you are skeptical about, try giving it a shot. One thing is guaranteed, you will learn.