Constraints allow us to move forward with what we have, in order to create what we will need in the future. Even if that future feels foggy and unknown.
Constraints are necessary to provide focus and help us think creatively to solve problems. Winston Churchill said “kites rise highest against the wind, not with it.” Embracing constraints sounds counterintuitive. Why would we want constraints? Don’t we want wide open space to create? Endless resources to grow future endeavours?
The surprising answer is no.
Researchers have found that people’s happiness actually decreases when they are presented with too many choices, known as choice overload, or having “overchoice.” Too many options can lead people to make no choice at all... A number of hugely successful firms have started during periods of economic hardship including Proctor and Gamble, IBM, FedEx, Disney, CNN, Apple, and my personal favorite, Toll House Cookies. These companies that many of us love are now part of our everyday lives started during periods of severe hardship. A study by the Kauffman Foundation found that 51% of the Fortune 500 companies began during a recession or a bear market, or both.
— Whitney Johnson (One of the 50 leading business thinkers in the world as named by Thinkers50. She is an award-winning author, world-class keynote speaker, frequent lecturer for Harvard Business School’s Corporate learning and an executive coach and advisor to CEO’s, with 1.7 million followers on LinkedIn, where she was selected as a Top Voice in 2018).
In other words, this global pandemic and lock down may actually be presenting us with the time and structure to think, and think outside the box. The world is changing right in front of us, with some businesses disappearing, sadly, and others thriving (think Shopify, Amazon, Zoom). What’s to say that we can’t come up with that next great idea. Just sayin’ :) Hugs. XO
Blessings,
Chatgirl
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