A few years ago, I flew to Singapore on a business trip. I had planned a stay for a week and accordingly, packed a suitcase. However, on reaching the hotel, I couldn’t open my suitcase. I tried all possible permutations and combinations but to no avail. It was then when it hit me that the suitcase has an emergency key as well. Well, the second thought to hit me was that it was back in India. I kept trying the code I knew must definitely work but it was all in vain. I tried the same couple of possibilities numerous times but the suitcase did not budge.
In my game-based learning training sessions, I often tell our participants about the Rule of Cause and Effect. It basically says that if you change the cause, its effect will change. It’s a fairly simple and candid rule but equally profound and meaningful. I looked up for some videos on Google and learned that lots of people have faced the same problem before me. It also made me realize that whatever you go through in life, you are not alone. And that alone gives courage to the masses. I quickly found a solution and my suitcase was opened in no time. No matter which city or country you’re at, the basic human tendency is quite akin. We’re all in this together and it means, many of us are facing the same problems. If only we could reach out for help, we’d be leaping over the obstacles faster.
It was a seemingly insignificant incident but edified in me a deeper sense of ‘wise pirates’ around me. Often times, we encounter a situation where we lack the answer to a particular conundrum. The first instinct of most people is to keep trying to figure it out or give up after a few tries. However, when we face such situations, the best possible alternative to find the answer is to ask for it.
Regardless of what you are stuck at, you MUST maximize your productivity and the results. It means filling the gaps in your abilities. There is always one person who can perform better where you’re stuck at. Reach out for their help. Ask And Ye Shall Receive. Otherwise, you’d end up trying the same thing over and over again and face the same results since you’re not changing the process. Just what happened with my suitcase. Had I given up after trying the same numbers over and over again, I’d never have opened it. But, I reached out for help and I received it. It’s a simple life lesson which makes a significant difference in one’s life.
Efforts do not equal productivity. Indeed, it is important to put your maximum efforts into everything you do but if it is not working for you, change your efforts. Figure out a way to get the best results and improvise on the way. Build productivity.
