Figure it out…

Sometimes you find yourself in situations that require action. Maybe you’ve found yourself getting a promotion you don’t think you deserve. Maybe you spent hours designing a project but forgot you don’t have the tool that makes that cut. Perhaps you’re solo sailing through the Gulf of Mexico on a 32’ 1979 Endeavor Sloop and have an engine fire.

In each of those situations the world continues, people are counting on you to get the job done, the client needs your product, you must survive.

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received was from a hardened combat leader. He said; “SGT. Miller, when the bullets start flying, decisions need to be made, it doesn’t matter if you make the right one or wrong. What matters is you make a decision and move forward, figure it out.

That has always stuck with me in my professional life as well as personal. There is always going to be events that come out of nowhere, that take you off-guard, surprise you, but that’s when it’s most important to make a decision. Decide that your staff is counting on you and you have to perform, decide that you have to change the design to make your project work, decide that you’re going to put the fire out and survive. Make a decision, figure it out.