Walls are a static challenge. Getting to the other side may be difficult, but there is clarity around the magnitude of the task. We can measure their hight, assess their composition, look at the ground they are built on, and from there plan how we might go over, through or under.
Oceans are a dynamic challenge. Not only is getting to the other side difficult, but the environment changes from moment to moment, throwing at us unforeseen variables that demand an immediate response.
When planning how to get to the other side of a wall, you only have to do so once. This is a technical challenge.
Crossing an ocean requires a near constant reassessment of your situation, your internal state, and the appropriate response to both. This is an adaptive challenge.
Our personal lives, our work, the culture at large, technology is profoundly accelerating the speed of change in our environment. The way we interact with each other. How, where and why we work. Social norms and expectations. These are all profoundly different from what we experienced ten years ago, and we have little conception of what the world will look like in the next 10 years. The only certainty most of us have is uncertainty.
When considering your personal development, it’s worth thinking about whether you’re arming yourself to deal with tactical challenges or enhancing your adaptability.