Solve impossible problems

Posted by Ravikiran K.S. on January 1, 2006

Solve Impossible Problems

<note tip>Main problem in solving a problem is the problem itself.</note> Unless you correctly understand the problem, you are not solving the right one.

Often problems appear intractable, difficult, and some times impossible to solve. MacCready says: “If the problem you are trying to solve involves creating a magnum opus, you are solving the wrong problem.” That is, if the problem that you are trying to solve requires a lot of effort and time to create the problem itself in first place and/or to attempt a first hand solution, then you are solving a wrong problem.

In 1959, Henry Kremer presented a challenge to build an human-powered Airplane that doesn’t require any external energy to run. He also declared a prize of $50,000 for the first person who can fly his machine for a mile and a grand prize of $100,000 for the first person who can fly his machine across English channel. Nobody could solve it for 18 years, till MacCready came into picture.

MacCready realized that human-powered flight was a red herring that can’t be solved in reasonable time as it would require lot of effort (in spawn on years) to build a flight and lot more time to repair if the first trial of flight didn’t succeed. Hence he redefined the problem to build a flight that can be completely rebuilt in hours, and repaired in minutes. His mantra was:

Find a faster way to fail, recover, and try again.

He finally won both the awards in a span of mere 3 years. Read it further here:

On similar notes, I remember a personal experience where we friends set out to cycle 35Kms to a nearby place in Hassan. We left hostel early morning around 4AM and reached place by around 8AM. We didn’t feel very exhausted. We had taken a break in middle for coffee and nothing else. But while cycling back, it was a herculean job to ride the bicycle. We had to get down and push the bicycle 4 or 5 times. We took 3 breaks. Other than the obvious fact that throughout the day our energy could have drained out, it caught me as to why we felt so exhausted while returning back.

In the morning, it was all dark and had poor visibility. We could only see stripes on road only as far as few feet. We followed stripes on the road, few feet at a time. Since uphill and downhill weren’t visible to us, it didn’t fear us. But while returning, it was day light and we could easily see the magnum of effort in front of us. The feeling of effort estimation itself would weigh us down and we get down the cycle thinking that we can’t climb that on cycle pedaling.

The important lesson that i got that day was:

  • not to get frightened by magnitude of work. taking small steps would finally lead you to destination.

    • Remember the chinese person who built a 10 mile lengthy road all by himself on a mountain with bare minimum tools at hand.

  • embrace uncertainty and try to follow small leads to triumph uncertainty and reach destination.

  • have faith in yourself that you can make it.