Problem solvers get punched, so wear a helmet

But don’t let a few good shots stop you from getting to the bottom of why things are not working.

Do your homework, throw away assumptions. The goal is not to be a hero, but to learn, fix, improve, and solve problems. Everybody is happy in the end, as long as you don’t go too far…there’s a fine line between pissing everyone off and saving the day. Push too hard and the whole thing blows up - go too soft and nothing changes.

Understanding, improving, fixing – not easy, but definitely worth it. And not just for the sake of the company you work for or for the countless customers and beneficiaries you will likely never meet, even though that should be more than enough. It’s the most fun you will ever have despite the pushback, the resistance, the jabs, and the friendly fire.  

All you can do is to roll with the punches and wear a helmet so that when you do get hit, you stay on course and live for another day to do great things.