The old line is that leaders are expected to “think outside the box.” Today, with quickly changing rules and tools the new line is that there is no box. Give up the old assumptions about how things should work, have worked, or will work. Give up assumptions all together and make your new task work.
A great model for moving with no assumptions is Cliff Young. Here is his story.
Each year between 1983 and 1991 a marathon race was held with entrants running from Sydney to Melbourne, Australia. The distance is 544 miles; the runners typically ran for 18 hours and slept for 6. This was not a rule; it was simply the practice the runners had always used.
Runners came with all the proper running shoes and shorts and experience and expectations. They were all in their 20’s and 30’s.
In 1983, Cliff Young, a 61 year old farmer also entered the race. He came in overalls and wore rubber work boots. Cliff had no knowledge of the sleeping/running practice and simply ran as he had on the 2000 acre farm to bring sheep or cattle in. He ran until the job was done. He used to run the sheep for 3 days and figured that he could run a race which was usually 5 days. He ran with a shuffling gait and just kept on running. He ran through the night when others slept. With a slow, steady, 544 mile shuffle, Cliff beat all the others. He broke no rules; he just ran and won. Cliff didn’t know there was prize money to be won and gave the money to all the other runners.
The next time you face a challenge, remember Cliff Young. Give up all the assumptions and keep working until you reach the finish line.