Problems


Work is about problems and solving them. That’s how it should be.

Previously, I’ve been working to “solve all the problems”, clearing out all todos and reaching some kind of end-state where all is done. Obviously, this is an impossibility, something something I’ve realized gradually.

What I’ve found is that instead of trying to get rid of all problems, it’s better to strive for more sophisticated problems. Since it’s neither realistic nor wanted to reach a state where all problems are gone, a better sign of progress is if the problems I’m solving are gradually becoming more sophisticated, or more advanced if you will.

Cyclist Greg Lemond phrased this eloquently, saying that: “It never gets easier, you just go faster”. My alternate version is that you always work towards more sophisticated problems.