Untangle the Knot or Cut the String?

A few days ago, I was having a discussion with a friend and she commented that people approach a task, a job, or almost any situation like a knot to be untied.?Some people work to unravel the knot; others just snip it with the scissors.?My friend stated that she tended to be a snipper while I confessed that I'm more of an untangler.

As I thought about it later, it occurred to me that the snipper is typically concerned with achieving an outcome while the untangler is focused on the process.?I don't think one is inherently better than the other, but there is another way to look at this:?What are you trying to do?

If your goal is to get the box open as quickly as you can, then snipping the string is obviously the better choice.?But if your objective is to recover a good, useful piece of twine??Well, untying is the best thing.?It all boils down to "what are you trying to do?"

As is true of most things, probably none of us are all one thing or all another.?Sometimes the snipper takes time to untie the knot and the untangler pulls out the scissors.?But we generally default to one or the other.??

A better approach might be to stop and ask the question: "What should the finished product be?" [Main]?Is it more important to get the package open or to recover a good piece of string??Is it more important to get the garden weeded or to spend the time with your child, showing her how to do it??Is it more important to get the chapter read or to learn something new you didn't know before??Again, there is no right or wrong answer.?It depends on what you are trying to do.?What should the finished product be??Outcome or process?

As the new year begins, think about your approach to most situations.?Are you a snipper or an untangler??Outcome-oriented or process-oriented??Being aware of your default tendency is the first step.?Then, when you are faced with a task or a new situation, take a moment to ask yourself, "what should the finished product be?"?Knowing the end result you are after before you start can help you ensure you get it.?What are you trying to do??Ask the question, decide the answer, and then move accordingly - snip or untangle.?That is one step in embracing your Excelerated Life?!

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Resources:

Main, Kelly. “Want More Time In Your Day? High Achievers Use the 2-Second Rule to Save 2 Hours.” Inc. Mansueto Ventures, January 5, 2023. Web. January 7, 2023.