Getting both sides
When you take one side, you're getting the other too. When you avoid one side, the other's left on the table at the same time.
Every sword is double-edged; you can't possibly have one side without the other. Every coin has a heads and a tails - one is an automatic flip side of the other. It turns out though that our expectations often are that we can somehow have just one side. It's not so.
Being great friends with all your staff : Finding it more difficult to gain respect and traction
Being authoritarian : Finding it more difficult to make friends with your staff
Working all weekend to create wealth : Giving up the value of your freetime
Creating stunning design : Vocalising the non-believers who don't like it
Innovating for success : Failing some of the time
There's a sense of power in understanding this. Whenever we seek something positive, we should be aware of the flip side of our actions. What's being given up. This is easier for us to see.
More importantly, when we seek to avoid negative situations, you should ask yourself what positive outcome you're giving up for that.
You'll never create great design by trying to please everybody
You'll never avoid failure and innovate
You'll never create one life for yourself without giving another up
What are you avoiding that's holding you back?







