Mike Michalowicz describes a team challenge where groups race to reach increasing heights on a wall. When one team finally solves the hardest level by lifting their smallest member, he uses it to show how clear goals, breaking assumptions, and creative problem-solving unlock what seems impossible.
The second experiment I did, which I think was interesting, I said, who can reach the highest on a wall? So this was the next contest. And so I have someone come up, I say, how high can you reach? And they put their hand up there. I said, okay. I said, who can reach higher? So now there's a comparative, right? So we put a mark. Well, the second person, even though shorter, found a way to stretch higher. Then I said, well, who can go higher than that? And they're kind of sitting and someone's like, oh, and they come up and they jump and slap a piece of paper. I'm like, okay, now we got it. I said, can anyone go higher? And people are jumping. No one can do it. I said, well, what if we have to go really high? And I get on a stepping stool, ankle up, and I put a $20 bill up on the wall. So now there's an objective to get to, right? And they're sitting there. The tallest kid is your son by far. So they're like, John Henry. Everyone's cheering, John Henry. He jumps. He can't get to it. I'm like, thank God, because he'd ruin this experience. I said, well, what can we do about this? And then all of a sudden, John Henry grabs the lightest person in the room, picks them up, and they stretch and they grab it. They high-five and they share the money. And I'm like, that's how you break the rules. Yeah. So what happened is There's a sequence of failure. We set a standard and say, I think it's good enough, until someone beats you and is like, oh, I can go further. And so we have to see the outcome we want to get to with some clarity to navigate through these failures. And it was interesting when we hit the hardest roadblock, that's when this team mentality came in. And that was just a profound learning. When we face failure, I challenge people, first identify where do you want to go? Because maybe a direct route is not going to get you there. Mm-hmm. And maybe you're going to have to team up and someone's going to have to carry you or lift you at some point, or you're lifting them. But there's always a way around, over, through, in between the obstacle, but we have to identify where we're going first, not just look at the obstacle.
