"Where your fear is, there is your task."
- Carl Jung
Professionally, I’ve often shied away from exceptionally technical tasks. I’m sure to many people, a lot of what I do everyday may seem very technical but there areas I’m more comfortable and I noticed some things I would just avoid. It’s the kinds of things where the progress is hard to notice and a lot of getting into it is finding every dead end.
It’s specifically been the complexities of software build systems until about two years ago that I just let stump me. Finally, I got fed up with having that hold me back and I switched my attitude and my approach to that type of challenge. It wasn’t immediate but the wins did come and it became easier. Since progresing there I’ve been able to multiply my impact in creating high quality products. I wish I’d started sooner.
Same with testing and automated validtion. I had tollerate not going anywhere for a bit while getting into it. That’s not a comfortable situation to be in when you have customers depending on you and a family to feed. It’s tempting to rest on your existing proficiencies but that is a good way to famine.
Personally, I’d accepted falsities as a fixed part of my personality. It limited my impact. It’s also very frustrating. Growth in those areas needed a mindset shift. Some were immediate and other things take time, developing new skills and practice to reform habits. Belief that the work would be worthwhile and clarity on the opportunity were the catalysts that turned constraining shortcomings into growth.
Sometimes we can’t avoid the things that require us to change. The past few years have given me little choice. Fate intended to introduce me to my strengths through adversities. I have grown. I’m still very much a work in progress and expect to always be. Each summit is the vantage point to the next horizon.
Are there any areas in your life that could use this type of approach? Maybe you haven’t started to put the work in yet because you know it will take time or you’re not sure it can be done at all. It’s fine to start small. That thing you put off too long, do it now.