The "Kobayashi Maru" at Work

Sometimes a freelance work assignment will lead to new learning opportunities or propel your career to higher levels. Then there are some assignments that seem like the unbeatable test similar to to a "Kabayshi Maru" type of moment. These are the projects, people and environments that test your professionalism to its very core.

Some days you will walk into the assignment and realize that no matter your level of expertise, you are being tested. Staff may not show up, software may not work or it is the wrong version or simply a general lack of support from all employee and leadership levels.

What do you do when you find that every tactic you take to move a project forward, you are blocked from achieving success? There are the usual resolutions:

• whine
• stop by the bar after work and take the Metro home
• complain to others about your plight (they will not be sympathetic because it was your idea to freelance to other departments at work)
• let the project go and move on
• Tempt fate

While most of the suggestions above sound like a great escape route, they may not curb your focus to support amazing projects.