This is a well-known story. We will use it here to create our own twisted interpretation.

 

In one of his public gatherings, Churchill turned to a lady seated in the front row and asked her - "Would you sleep with me if I were to give you a thousand pounds".

 

The woman blurted out in anger. "No, Never".

 

"For ten thousand pounds" ?

 

"No way", but the voice softened.

 

"For ten million pounds" ?

 

"Well ... may be .... "

 

"A hundred pounds" ?

 

The lady fumed in rage. "Mister, what do you think I am ?", she asked, to which Churchill replied calmly "We have already established what you are. I am only negotiating".

 

That is the Art of Sneaking Through. Compromise on the initial conditions to first get through, and once you are there, you can negotiate.

 

The biggest hurdle in the whole process of problem-solving, innovation and most other tasks is getting started. It arises not just when you embark on a new problem, but it shows up again and again and prevents you from even taking the first step forward. Like any other machinery or mechanism, the Automatic Innovation Mechanism has its own "starting problems". It takes a higher voltage to start, but once started can run through very smoothly.

 

We miss out on several things because we could not get started. So many times we want to start working on a problem, trying out a new idea, doing a literature study regarding the problem, but we feel a lot of resistance in getting started. Then we somehow convince ourselves, push ourselves to get started and soon after we realize that we are enjoying it so much !!! But the next time, the starting trouble comes up again ...

 

There are several factors that present themselves as the "explanation" for the starting trouble  :

 

Lack of Time

Lack of Motivation

Lack of energy

Lack of discipline

Lack of confidence

Lack of information

Lack of intelligence

 

and so on  ...

 

The traditional way to get yourself started is - use "fictitious" resources like  willpower and discipline .... literally pick yourself up and drop yourself at your workstation. aaahhhh !!!

 

The TENEX way is simple - just sneak through. Just like Churchill !!!

 

Whenever you feel like "not doing" something that you are supposed to do and you are about to present an explanation for it - STOP !!! Realize that this is just a "starting trouble" for the Automatic Innovation Mechanism and it can be handled. And then suggest something to the Automatic Innovation Mechanism which IT WILL NOT RESIST and allow you to get started.

 

For example,

 

If the possible "explanation" is lack of time, you can start with :

 

"I will just spend 5 minutes (or whatever is appropriate) doing this".

 

If the possible "explanation" is lack of confidence or lack of ability which prevents you from starting to work on a problem, you can start with :

 

"I am not looking for a solution to this problem, but I will only spend 5 minutes thinking about the various solutions to this problem". OR something similar. OR something different. Whatever works for you. Whatever allows your Automatic Innovation Mechanism to drop its defense and let you get started.

 

If you ever come across a salesman on the roadside who hands you a product and says "Dont buy it Ma'm, just take a look at it and return it to me", and you finally end up buying it - REMEMBER, that is precisely how you need to sell "problem-solving" or "innovation" to your Automatic Innovation Mechanism.

 

As an exercise, take a look at the long list of things that you have not started off with. Look at the explanation you have for each of them.

 

Are you willing to stop asserting the reality of that explanation ?

Are you willing to try out sneaking through the starting barrier of AIM  and get started ?

 

Just sneak through. You can always negotiate later. Just like Churchill.