Do you believe it's possible?
It’s a mindset more than a question, I think.
We might say it’s impossible to fit all this information into a design with only 3 lines. It's too complex. We might say it’s impossible to run 5 threads in parallel. We might say it’s impossible to have just one simple flow instead of 2 complex ones. We might say it’s impossible to make this logo animate. Or we might say it’s impossible to align Product or convince Engineering, and so on.
Often when we say these, all we mean is we can’t see how to make it possible from where we stand and all that we’ve tried up to this point. This is a moment for a separation— between believing in the possibility and knowing how to make it happen. We don’t need to know how to make something happen to believe in its possibility.
Separating the if and the how allows us to believe in the possible. It removes doubt, creates hope, and reduces the pressure of making something possible. Leaving us only with the responsibility to try earnestly.
These are some scenes that capture this sentiment for me. I rewatch them every so often to remind myself of the difference. Hope you enjoy them as well!
Ford v Ferrari — Out there is the perfect lap. No mistakes. Every gear change. Every corner. Perfect. — Can you see it? — Most people can’t. Most people don’t even know it’s out there. But it is.
Top Gun — 2:15? That’s impossible!———Damn. (I love that there’s no dialogue from the class between the two mins between the two sentiments. Also, cool that the scene is as long as the timer!)
1983 — So now in 1983 we come here, and our captain says we’ll beat the West Indies. — I don’t think our captain is going to go back happy with the rather splendid job that he’s done.
Moonshot Factory — It’s the fact that Kennedy said we don’t know how to do it yet. But we’re gonna do it anyway.
Ted Lasso — Ted Lasso’s poster is meant to remind us to get past the if. Because before we can change and before we can win, we need to believe that we can. And then we can get started.
