I am a big fan of the Solitaire game that is on my phone. I can complete a round in just a few minutes, and it has provided numerous moments of mindless fun while waiting in line or for appointments. Somehow, I get lost in it and the time seems to go by much faster.
I have noticed that often there are times when I feel completely stuck, then I discover one more move, and it triggers a whole series of additional moves. Frequently, it makes the difference between winning a round and losing it.
I wonder if there are moments like that at work when I am ready to give up, but if I looked a little harder, I could find that next step that leads to a solution.
As Kenny Rogers said: “You’ve got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em.” You also have to know when to avoid the temptation to fold ’em too fast and re-deal. Take a second look at your problem and see if you can’t find the one more move you can make.
Originally published in modified form on June 26, 2013
