When Plans Fail, Authenticity Flows
Hey Collective Crew, Shaun here.
Well, this week’s Goldmine didn’t go exactly as planned. Our scheduled guest had a last-minute cancellation (look forward to seeing that one in the near future), and Chance was deep in the trenches battling a frustrating (and ultimately faulty) high-end computer build. The result? An unplanned, free-flowing conversation between Chance and myself, fueled by caffeine, technical difficulties, and the raw reality of navigating unexpected challenges.
Sometimes, it’s precisely these moments – when the script gets tossed, and you’re forced to adapt on the fly – that the most genuine insights emerge. We talked about troubleshooting under pressure, the surprising depth in a cup of coffee, learning curves, and the crucial difference between tough love and genuine care.
This Week’s Unplanned Conversation Between:
Chance Burles: Reporting live from the front lines of workstation warfare, sharing the struggle and the learnings.
Shaun Taylor: Navigating the chaos, offering perspective from past tech battles and life lessons.
Key Takeaways from Our Free-Flow Session:
1. The Crucible of Frustration: Learning Through the Struggle
Chance’s multi-day ordeal building his new beast of a workstation became a live case study. Facing failing components, endless troubleshooting, and the pressure of needing the system now pushed him to his limits. It highlighted a universal truth: confronting difficult challenges, while exhausting, is often where deep learning occurs. It forces you to understand systems (like the “Tron” analogy we discussed for grasping flow), identify your limits, and crucially, figure out when to push through versus when to ask for help or pivot strategy. My own story of building 30 servers to teach an MCSE course (back in the day) echoed this – doing it the really hard way taught me a better way of setting up my second classroom full of MCSE students. The struggle itself builds capability.
2. More Than Just a Bean: Set, Setting, and the Depth of Experience
Chance’s question about coffee headed in a tangent – specifically the difference between varietals – illustrated a broader point about perception. Yes, the bean varietal and terroir matter, creating unique flavor notes. But the real depth comes from the set and setting. Sharing a coffee with intense focus and thoughtful conversation creates a vastly different experience than goofing off while sipping, even if the beans are identical. The environment, the company, the vibe you bring and engage with – these dramatically shape how we perceive and appreciate any experience, whether it’s a cup of coffee or a crucial conversation.
3. Creating the Right Room (and Knowing How to Enter It)
How do you foster environments for deep, meaningful exchange? We contrasted just “punching people in the teeth” with difficult truths versus intentionally creating a space where such conversations can land effectively. It’s a learned skill, like our own podcast evolution. Sometimes you need to explore the boundaries, maybe even get it wrong (like being a loud guy spilling coffee in a chill room), to understand the right approach. This led to discussing the importance of asking people what/why they are doing (or not doing) something, the “Why?” – just as Chance recently challenged a young martial artist to do. Understanding your ‘why’ is fundamental to navigating complex interactions authentically.
4. Boldness, Correction, and “Never Pass a Fault”
Effective groups require honesty. This means someone needs the boldness to check inappropriate behaviour or flawed thinking. But just as importantly, the person delivering the correction needs to be open to being corrected themselves. The military principle of “Never Pass a Fault” is powerful, demanding accountability first from yourself, then outwards. However, applying it requires nuance – knowing when a fault needs addressing versus letting something unfold or trusting others to handle their own process. It’s a constant balancing act learned through experience (and mistakes).
5. The Power (and Necessity) of the Reboot
When hitting a wall (like Chance with the PC build, or me after several hours of writing), the ability to consciously reboot is critical. This isn’t just distraction; it’s a centered pattern interrupt – stepping away to recalibrate, regain perspective, and re-engage with fresh energy (like my 18 seconds on the heavy bag example). It’s recognizing you’re off-balance and intentionally taking action to find your center again before proceeding.
6. “No One Cares, Work Harder” – A Necessary Revision
We tackled this common motivational slogan. While the “work harder” part holds value (and the realization that excuses don’t build computers or win campaigns), the “no one cares” part often rings hollow and dismissive. The truth is, we should care. We care about the struggle, the effort, the person behind the work. Dismissing the struggle entirely can breed resentment and misses opportunities for connection and genuine support. The nuance is key: Acknowledge the difficulty, offer support if appropriate, but still demand the effort and accountability. Don’t accept whining, but don’t dismiss the human element of the grind.
Final Thought: Embrace the Process, Faults and All
This unplanned episode was a microcosm of life itself: things rarely go exactly to plan. We can hit roadblocks, face frustrations, and question our capabilities. The value lies not in avoiding these moments, but in how we navigate them. It’s about showing up, doing the work even when it’s hard, learning from the failures (both technical and interpersonal), knowing when to reset, seeking understanding (in systems, in coffee, in ourselves), and extending grace – both to others and ourselves – throughout the messy, unpredictable, but ultimately rewarding process.
Keep troubleshooting, keep learning, keep rolling with it.
Listen to the full impromptu Goldmine chat here: Impromptu Chat
Keep learning, building, and growing,
Shaun & The Collective Crew
