THE DANTZIG FACTOR
In 1939 a young man by the name George Dantzig was a graduate student in mathematics at the University of Berkerly in the United States of America. George was renowned for being a prodigious student as well as a hard working one. By every account he was not the best in his class and certainly he was not considered to be better than Jerzy Neyman, his professor. One night in 1939 George worked on his mathematics assignments well into the night. The following morning George woke up late and arrived for his lecture fifteen minutes late. When he arrived for the class, he found three mathematics problems written on the blackboard. Assuming that the problems were the homework for the day George quickly jotted them down.
After class George went to work on the problems. A few days later George brought his completed homework to the professor. In his own words George later said, "I apologized to the professor for taking long to complete the homework because I found the problems to be a little harder than usual." Three weeks later Jerzy Neyman informed George that he had actually solved two of the mathematics problems to which no man, Einstein included had managed to find a solution. What had happened is that before George had arrived for the lecture the class had a discussion on unsolvable maths problems. Jerzy Neyman had written two of these on the blackboard. George, having been late for the class had missed this part of the lecture and therefore assumed the problems on the board to be the homework. By his own admission if he had known these problems to be examples of unsolvable problems he, like the other students, would never have attempted to work them out.
Let us pause here and ask a question-What is stopping you from attempting to achieve greater things?
In a space of a few days George Dantzig shot to fame and greatness. George went on to become one of the most celebrated mathematicians of our time. From his work and life many lessons can be gleaned.
In Every Problem There Is An Opportunity For Greatness
Generally people are averse to problems. This is because of the negative connotations that are always attached to problems. Problems have an uncanny way of rocking our worlds and hurling us out of our comfort zones. However, problems are never meant to destroy anyone. Challenges are not meant to sink organizations. How we see problems is far more important than their actual complexity. Problems are actually an opportunity for achieving greatness. No one has ever achieved greatness in a condition of comfort and ease. The unsolvable maths problems that George met that day in 1939 were his opportunity to achieve fame and greatness. Just like George in 1939 today you too are faced by serious challenges. They may be personal, or work related or may even be world or regional problems-their source is not important. The most important thing is that there are problems; and those problems represent your greatest opportunity to achieve greatness, fame and wealth. Problems represent the best opportunity for people to differentiate themselves. Before the problems George was just a graduate student. After solving the problems George was a mathematician of world renown. Here is the eternal cardinal principle of achievement-Great and successful people do what other people hate doing. Ordinary people hate facing problems. Great people also hate facing problems but they face them never the less. It is a fact of life that you can never make progress by shying away from your challenges and problems. Hidden in your current problem is your best opportunity to achieve greatness.
EXAMINE YOUR ASSUMPTIONS
The difference between George and the other students that morning in 1939 was that the other students had inside knowledge. Unfortunately, this so called knowledge was not knowledge at all. They had been told by the professor that these problems were not solvable, and George did not know this. George assumed that the problems were solvable, while the other students assumed that were insoluble. That assumption was the defining factor. Often we assume to our own downfall that our problems or challenges are much more complex than they really are. Often we assume that our challenges are greater than we are. These assumptions dissuade us from applying ourselves wholeheartedly to our tasks everyday. Yet it is in applying ourselves fully and diligently that we have our best chance to become the very best that we can become and achieve more. It is very important to constantly challenge our assumptions. The fact that something has never been done before does not mean that it cannot be done. The fact that a task seems difficulty, does not mean that it is impossible. The fact that you are experiencing problems does not mean that there is no hope. The fact that you are down does not mean that you are out for good. One of our greatest enemies as human beings are overgeneralizations that are not supported by facts. Our assumptions in a sense are fetters and chains by which we enslave ourselves.
The greatest problem does not lie in the complexity of the problem. The real problem lies in the assumptions that people have conceived about the problem itself. Successful people have a success presumption. They begin every task with the assumption that it can be done and they can do it. They have an assumption about the situation and also an assumption about themselves. They assume the situation is not beyond redemption. They also assume that they are not incapable of coming up with the right solutions. They believe that they can plan, strategize and execute actions that we deliver the goods. This is what is called self efficacy. Failures on the other hand often begin with the assumption that it cannot be done, and they cannot do anything about it. What a wicked lie! It does not matter how complex the problem is; there is something that you can do about it.
Your problem is your opportunity.
winningmantra
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