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To Struggle Is A Gift

Written by: Andrew Rondeau

Article Overview: Recently my wife and I started to learn Ballroom and Latin dancing.

To Struggle Is A Gift

I love to learn new things and I have always thought I was a decent dancer. In my teens, friends and I were always out dancing and I really enjoyed those times.

“It must be easy”

So Ballroom and Latin can’t be that hard, can it?

Well believe me, it is, but it is great fun.

My wife and I have attended six lessons and covered The Waltz, Cha-Cha-Cha, Foxtrot and Jive. Not to any great standard, I add.

Last week we were learning a complex part of the Waltz. We just couldn’t get the move right. We did struggle.

We asked the dance instructor and she wasn’t that helpful – or so we thought.

“That Instructor Is Useless”

After the class, we went home, cursing the instructor and practised for another hour. We still struggled.

For the next few nights, we practised some more and finally last night it all came together. We came through the pain barrier. We did it! We are happy.

The dance instructor had purposely not helped too much. She wanted us to go home and practise, which we did. Her approach of not helping too much had worked.

“Let Them Discover”

Sometimes, when I am mentoring and my clients have a question. Instead of just giving them THE answer, I would
ask questions and help them to "discover" the solutions on their own.

Let them struggle a bit. Challenge their minds a bit. Make them work a little.

A few years ago, my career mentor asked me, "Andrew, what do you think is the most important quality for a successful Manager?"

"Relationships" I replied.

"No."

"Delegation Skills"

"No."

"Hmm... Enthusiasm!"

"That's important, but not the most important."

Then my mentor said, "Persistence. It's the ability to carry on when the chips are down"

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Article Tags: career mentor, cha cha cha, chips, dance instructor, dancer, delegation skills, foxtrot, latin, pain barrier, persistence, practise, relationships, struggle, waltz



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