I don't think a day goes by that I'm not asked to figure out how to accomplish something that I've never had experience in before. It could be something that others have done and I just have to learn. Sometimes it's even something that I don't think anyone has ever done before.
I love these challenges. I love the opportunity to stretch my brain. I love finding creative ways to solve problems. I especially love it when those problems are likely never going to be solved if I don't figure it out.
I think that, too often, most people have a tendency to throw their arms up in the air and say that something can't be done. It's as though they have a certain expectation of what is possible and then, when it doesn't fit into their little box of experiences, they simply say, "Nope, can't do it."
On occasion, my customers have business objectives that are in conflict with what is usually considered in the realm of possibility. Sometimes it's a technical consideration. Sometimes it simply goes against the moiré of society. Sometimes one objective they have is in direct conflict with another objective they have.
My first, natural tendency is to tell the client, "Nope, you can't do it that way."
I've started to catch myself when I can and say, "Let me figure that out for you."
I find that if I take the time to think through a problem and truly understand the real goal, I can come up with a solution that will accomplish their goals and fit within what is possible.
I've found many times that the best solutions are those that aren't usually immediately obvious.
Sometimes I think that my team reacts with frustration because they can't necessarily see where I'm going. Sometimes, I don't know where I'm going until I'm well on the path.
In order to do the impossible, sometimes we just have to take a leap of faith. We have to make an attempt. We have to be willing to fail. When someone gives us a problem that we'd normally reply with, "Nope, can't do it!" we should instead say, "Let me see if I can come up with a way to make that work."
If we do, we'll find the impossible becomes more possible than we could have ever thought. You may find that the solution is completely different than you initially imagined.