On constraints.

Photo by Bench Accounting on Unsplash

Can you build a new car? A car with Italian design, German strength, Japanese technology and Swedish safety measures. A car that is faster and can go farther than anything else on the market. A vehicle as friendly to the environment as a bike-ride. An affordable car.

Can you use your non-dominant hand to compete in the best league of your craft, at the highest level, and surpass your outstanding average performance in doing so?

If anyone asked me whether these were possible, my reaction would be a sure ‘of course.’ I am positive that had I been asked on July 1st, 2003 (founding of Tesla) or February 14th, 1986 (Larry Bird’s historic left-handed night against Portland), I would have yelled ‘Are you out of your mind?’

Constraints are beautiful. They focus our attention and unleash our creativity. They channel our minds and efforts into solving a particular problem, removing all the potential could-be paths. If I define a problem well, I will push myself to search for solutions within a limited space. I will not get confused about which one of the world’s limitless resources I can use, thus wasting time and potentially settling on the most expensive, far-from-optimal solution just to be safe. Instead, I will ease my decision-making process, as there will be fewer choices to ponder. And the chances are, the solution will be more elegant, delightful, and exceeding expectations.

In an age of abundance, we have forgotten the powerful lessons of scarcity. Next time you are presented with a problem, don’t try to think outside the box. Come up with your additional constraints and push yourself to find a solution in an even smaller area. Counterintuitively, constraints grant you the highest degree of freedom.

…

I will leave you with a bit of homework. There’s a famous challenge to write a story in just six words. I can’t even make a point in numerous paragraphs, so I don’t believe one can write a story in fewer words than this sentence.

But it is possible. Allegedly Hemingway won a $10 bet by writing. For sale: baby shoes, never used.

What is your six-word story? What are your constraints?

No time like the present,

f.