In the movie Crimson Tide, at some point there’s a fire in the submarine’s galley. While some are firefighting, the captain (Gene Hackman) orders a drill. After a while though, the drill is interrupted because the cook didn’t make it.
Later, the XO (Denzel Washington) expressed his objections about running a readiness drill at a time of real crisis.
After their intense argument, Gene Hackman says “it was not the fire that killed him, it was his 300 pounds“.
Problems persist when people are dealing with the wrong issue.
For instance:
- Coronavirus is not the real problem, our immune system is the real problem
- High cholesterol is not the problem, poor nutrition is
- Anxiety is not the problem, poor thoughts are
Remember, a problem well defined is 50% solved.
Always focus on the root of what you can actually manage.
In other words, you cannot quiet down the sea of life but you can surely become a better captain!