How Embracing Constraints Can Take You On New or Improved Adventures

Sam Horn , CEO and Founder of The Intrigue Agency , was a young girl living in a small town. She was more acquainted with the landscape of mountains and horses than bustling city life.?

One day, she rode her horse to the new Cuyama branch of the Santa Maria Library in Southern California.?She walked into the library and picked up a new book—a book that changed her life.?

Filled with stories of far-off adventures, The Black Stallion series ignited a passion for an adventurous life. The local library was her gateway to the world.?

Books are magical in that way. They come alive on the page. They prompt our imagination. No matter how long ago they were written, because they bring people to life, we experience the story in the present.?

Just like a pianist riffs off chords to make new music, when we read books, we riff off the stories and make new worlds.?

When I interviewed Sam Horn on the Disrupt Yourself podcast, she revealed how the library sparked a passion in her and started her on the path to becoming the thought leader she is today.?

Sam spoke of the moment she discovered "Pattern Interrupts," a concept that resonates with the idea of Embracing Constraints, one of the Seven Accelerants of Growth.

In Sam’s personal and professional life, she uses this powerful cognitive tool to disrupt the rhythms of conflict and transform them into experiences of growth. By using Pattern Interrupts, she refocuses within the confines of the current situation—she embraces constraints.

What does this look like?

Sam gave an example of a time she was on a hike with her son and his kids (her grandchildren!). They were enjoying it, but the day was hot and, on the way back, the kids (as kids are known to do) began to whine. They were hot and tired. As a parent, Sam’s son was facing significant constraints. He couldn’t teleport his kids back to the house. He couldn’t make the summer heat turn down.?

Instead, he interrupted the pattern.?

He stopped, looked at the kids, and said, “I have a question for you.” It shifted the moment in a way that placating or yelling never could.?

He asked, “How fast can you run? Slow, medium, fast, or really, really fast? I’ll race you!”

Then he took off running.?

And the kids took off after him, giving them energy and excitement that they hadn’t had 60 seconds before.?

Sam’s son didn’t remove any of the constraints for his children, he simply shifted the kids’ focus.

As a concept, Embrace Constraints is about recognizing boundaries as tools that guide rather than restrict. They're not just limiters; they're also signposts towards untapped opportunities, much like cliffs guiding a river on its path.?

Think about it this way, constraints are the words written in the books that your “riffed” story must be based upon. The Black Stallion’s written words create a boundary—they make it so that your adventure doesn’t include an alien invasion or a trip to meet Santa at the North Pole. But, by narrowing your options, the boundary provides one key aspect—focus.

Disruption and personal growth are rarely about disregarding or trying to eliminate constraints. Instead, they are about using constraints to narrow your focus so you can choose your adventure, to go where you’ve never been before.?

To what extent are you perceiving constraints as opportunities for growth rather than limitations?

Can you identify a recent situation in your life where you could apply the concept of 'Pattern Interrupt' to transform a challenge into an opportunity?

How are you planning to leverage the power of your constraints in your journey of personal or professional growth?

Are you looking to accelerate your growth and invest in others? The Smart Growth Certification program gives you the tools to start meaningful conversations about growth with your direct reports, teams, coaching clients, and anyone else you care about in your life.