Plateaus and Dead-Ends

If you've ever been stuck on an idea, gone to sleep, and then woken up and seen an idea or approach in a new light, you've overcome a plateau. We hit plateaus all the time. You try to do more reps at the gym and are unable to move the needle. You want to increase the time you spend on a side project but are unable to do so, whatever you try. These are plateaus. There is scope for improvement but it's hard to figure out how.

If you're driving and you hit a dead end, you need to retrace your path or find another way. You can't park and hope that the dead-end will disappear on its own. A dead-end means there is no possibility, nothing else to try or look forward to. It means you've tried and are now tired of trying.

Plateau long enough and you hit a dead-end. You are unable to muster the motivation or energy to change.

Sometimes, we mistake a plateau for a dead end. And sometimes, it's the other way round.

If you're convinced you've hit a dead-end, don't waste time plateauing. But if you've plateaued and see scope for a work-around, don't let it drift and become a dead-end.