He says, “The mind adapts and converts to its own purposes the obstacle to our acting.

他說：「人們的想法能適應障礙，並將其轉換成目標。

The impediment to action advances action.

阻礙會促進人的動力。

What stands in the way becomes the way.”

而阻擋我們之物將會化作道路本身。」

On the surface, this sounds like a contradiction.

從表面上來看，這聽起來是一個矛盾的論述。

How can something that stops action advance action?

阻礙行動的東西怎麼反而能推進行動呢？

How can what stands in the way become the way?

擋在道路上的東西怎麼能成為道路？

If I come across a road block, an obstacle to my action, how does this further my action?

如果我遇到一個路障，也就是一個阻礙我行動的障礙，它如何能促進我的行動？

The simplest way I know to explain this is that understanding the problem is the solution.

能解釋這個論述最簡單的一句話就是，理解問題本身就是解決問題的方法。

Let's say I'm driving my car, and I come across a blocked road.

假設我正在開車，然後遇到了被封鎖的路段。

So I have a little conversation with myself.

於是我便和自己進行了一次簡短的對話。

Question: “What's stopping me from reaching my destination?”

問：「是什麼阻礙我到達目的地？」

Answer: “The blocked road.”

答：「被封鎖的道路。」

Question: “What's stopping me from overcoming the blocked road?”

問：「是什麼阻礙了我克服這段被阻擋的道路？」

Answer: “Nothing. I have to take a different path.”

答：「沒有。我必須走一條不同的路。」

So by understanding the problem, I arrive at the solution: I have to take a different path.

於是通過瞭解問題，我得出了解決方案：我必須走一條不同的路。

But now I have a new problem: I don't know what path to take.

但現在我有了個新問題：我不知道該走哪條路。

So I have another conversation with myself.

所以我又和自己進行了一次對話。

Question: “What's stopping me from finding the right path?”

問：「是什麼阻礙了我找到正確的道路？」

Answer: “My knowledge of the area.”

答：「我對周邊地區的瞭解。」

Question: “What's preventing me from obtaining knowledge of the area?”

問：「是什麼阻礙我瞭解周邊地區？」

Answer: “Nothing. I can ask someone or use GPS.”

答：「沒有。我可以問別人或使用 GPS。」

And again, by understanding the problem, I arrive at the solution.

同樣的，通過了解問題，我便得出了解決方案。

So this works for simple navigation problems, but does it work for more complex ones?

所以這對簡單的導航問題有效。但在面對更復雜的問題時，這個方法也會有效嗎？

Quincy works at a big media company where he has to do a lot of presentations with co-workers and upper level management, but he has a fear of public speaking.

昆西在一家大型媒體公司工作，他必須面對同事們和上層管理人員做大量的簡報，但他十分懼怕公開演說。

Quincy might question himself like this:

昆西可能會這樣質問自己：

Question: What's stopping me from public speaking?

問：是什麼阻止了我進行公開演說？

Answer: My fear of embarrassment.

答：我對丟臉的恐懼。

Question: What's stopping me from not being embarrassed?

問：是什麼讓我害怕難堪？

Answer: I care what people think of me.

答：我太在意人們對我的看法。

Question: What's stopping me from not caring what other people think?

問：是什麼讓我不得不關心別人的想法？

Answer: I need people to think well of me to survive here.

答：我需要人們對我有好感才能在這裡生存。

Question: What's stopping people from thinking well of me?

問：是什麼阻止了人們對我的好感？

Answer: My ability to satisfy their expectations.

答：我無法滿足他們的期望。

Question: What's stopping me from satisfying their expectations?

問：是什麼阻礙了我滿足他們的期望？

Answer: Understanding their expectations.

答：不夠瞭解他們的期望。

Question: What's stopping me from understanding their expectations?

問：是什麼阻礙了我瞭解他們的期望？

Answer: Nothing. I can ask them, or I can send a company wide survey through e-mail.

答：沒有。我可以問他們，也可以通過電子郵件給全公司發送問卷調查。

So by understanding his problem, Quincy arrives at a solution.

所以通過了解自己的問題，昆西得出了一個解決方案。

He sends a company wide survey through e-mail, asking his co-workers what they expect from him.

他通過電子郵件發送了一份全公司範圍內的調查，詢問同事們對他的期望。

Most of them say they want a list of the top 10 TikTok trends of the last quarter.

大多數人都說，他們想要一份上一季度的 TikTok 十大趨勢清單。

Quincy knows he can easily deliver this information, and so he no longer feels stressed about speaking publicly.

昆西知道他可以很簡單的傳遞這些資訊，因此他不再因公開演說而感到壓力。

He knows what his co-workers want, and he knows how to give it to them.

他知道他的同事想要什麼，也知道如何給他們。

In his mind, the presentation is no longer a presentation: it's more like a conversation.

在他的心目中，演講不再是一場簡報，而更像是一場對話。

But this process unfolds differently if Quincy's problem is different.

但是，如果昆西的問題不同，這個過程的展開就不同了。

What if Quincy doesn't have a list of the top 10 TikTok trends of the last quarter?

如果昆西沒有上一季度的 TikTok 十大趨勢清單怎麼辦？

What if he knows their expectations, but doesn't have the relevant information?

如果他雖然知道他們的期望，但手邊卻沒有相關的資訊怎麼辦？

The questioning process looks like this:

提問的過程會像是這樣：

Question: “What's stopping me from satisfying their expectations?”

問：「是什麼阻礙了我滿足他們的期望？」

Answer: “I don't have the relevant information.”

答：「我沒有相關資訊。」

Question: “What's stopping me from getting the relevant information?”

問：「是什麼阻礙了我獲得相關資訊？」

Answer: “Nothing. I can e-mail the right peers and get it from them.”

答：「沒有。我可以給合適的同行發電子郵件，從他們那裡獲得這些資訊。」

So this time, Quincy arrives at a different solution.

所以這一次，昆西得出了一個不同的解決方案。

He reaches out to people that do have the data and no longer feels stressed.

他向那些擁有數據的人詢問資訊，並且不再感到壓力。

Again, he knows what his co-workers are expecting, and he knows he can deliver it.

同樣，他知道他的同事們在期待什麼，也知道自己能夠為他們實現。

But what if the data was actually not accessible?

但是，如果這些數據實際上無法取得呢？

The questioning process might look like this:

提問的過程可能會像是這樣：

Question: “What's stopping me from satisfying their expectations?

問：「是什麼阻止了我滿足他們的期望？」

Answer: “I don't have the relevant information.”

答：「我沒有相關資訊。」

Question: “What's stopping me from getting the relevant information?”

問：「是什麼阻礙了我獲得相關資訊？」

Answer: “It's completely inaccessible. No one can get it in time for the presentation.”

答：「我完全無法獲得這些資訊。沒有人能夠在簡報前及時獲得這些資訊。」

Question: “What's stopping me from changing their expectations?”

問：「是什麼阻止了我改變他們的期望？」

Answer: “Nothing. I can send an e-mail out right now.”

答：「沒有。我現在就可以發一封郵件過去。」

So in this case, because Quincy knows he can't get the information his co-workers are expecting, he sends an e-mail out and changes their expectations before the event.

所以在這種情況下，因為昆西知道他無法得到同事們所期望的資訊，他於是發了一封電子郵件，在簡報前改變了同事們的期望。

He lets them know that the data their expecting won't be available, and he prevents them from being massively disappointed at the presentation.

他讓同事們知道他們將無法得知本來期望的數據，並避免他們對之後的簡報感到非常失望。

This takes stress off of Quincy and allows him to focus on meeting their other expectations.

這為昆西減輕了壓力，使他能夠專注於滿足他們其他的期望。

I went over three variations of Quincy's problem, but this process could be continued indefinitely for any problem.

我剛才講了昆西問題的三種變化，但這個過程在面對任何的問題時，都能無限地延續下去。

Every problem is unique to the individual and requires an individual process of questioning.

每個問題對每個人來說都是獨一無二的，並都各自需要一個單獨的提問過程。

Marcus Aurelius wrote that, “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”

馬庫斯·奧勒留寫道：「阻礙會促進人的動力。而阻擋我們之物將會化作道路本身。」

By understanding our problems clearly, we arrive at a solution.

透過清楚地剖析我們的問題，我們便能得出解決方案。

By engaging in a genuine process of self-questioning, of asking ourselves “what's stopping me” over and over, we eventually arrive at an answer where nothing is stopping us from taking the next, appropriate action.

透過真誠地進行一連串的自我質問，不斷反覆詢問自己「是什麼阻礙了我」，我們最終得到一個解答，沒有事情能阻擋我們做出下一步行動。

Or in other words, understanding the problem is the solution.

或者換句話說，瞭解問題的本質就是解決問題的方法。

But that's just my opinion and understanding of Marcus' words.

但這只是我對馬庫斯的話的看法和詮釋。

I'd love to hear your perspective in the comments.

我也想在評論區中聽聽各位的看法。

I'd like to thank this week's sponsor: Skillshare, for giving away a free one-month trial to the first a thousand people who click the link in the description. And after that , it's only around 10 dollars a month.

我想感謝本週的贊助者：Skillshare 送出了一個月免費試用機會，前一千名點擊影片敘述欄中連結的觀眾都能使用。在試用期結束後，每個月只需付費約 10 美金。

Skillshare is an online learning community with over 25000 classes in design, business, and more.

Skillshare 是一個有著超過 25000 個關於設計、商業等各種領域課程的線上學習社群。

My favorite class is the Productivity Masterclass with Thomas Frank, where he helps you construct your very own productivity system.

我最喜歡的課程是來自 Thomas Frank 的生產力大師課程，在其中他會幫助你建構出屬於自己的生產力系統。

He goes over task management essentials, digital and physical file organization, how to take and keep notes, email tips and tricks, and how to stay organized for the long-haul.

課程內提到了工作管理必要觀念、數位與實體檔案整理法、如何記下並整理筆記、電子郵件的技巧與訣竅，以及如何在長期下來保持井井有序。

Whether you want to fill your curiosity, creativity, or even career, the ad-free environment on Skillshare is the perfect place to keep you learning and thriving in 2021.

不論你是想滿足自己的好奇心、創造力或是充實職場能力，Skillshare 的無廣告環境是幫助你在 2021 年繼續學習並成長茁壯的最佳場所。

As always, thanks for watching, and I will see you next time.

一如往常的，感謝各位收看，下次再見。