Dealing with Difficulties (Achievement Nudge)
Last Updated on April 24, 2025 by Bill Truby
Are you facing something insurmountable? Dutch people can teach you how to deal with it.
I wonder if there is anyone who knows how to face an insurmountable difficulty better than the Dutch people. I say that because (queue background story-telling music)…
Once upon a time, long, long ago, there was a land of people who grew to be too many to fit into their homes. More and more children were being born, but all the houses were filled up. New families and their children had nowhere to live. What’s worse, there wasn’t any more land on which to build houses on. They were surrounded by the North Sea. It was a big problem.
One day, a young man named Kees was taking a bouquet of tulips to the girl he planned to marry. He wanted to give her a home, but knew there was no land left. His downcast eyes took sight of his wooden shoes. They reminded him of boats. And that reminded him of the ocean. And THAT sparked an idea. Spurred by the “no-problem-too-big” optimism that burns in the young, Kees turned and ran to the elders shouting, “I have the solution to not enough land!”
“What is it?” said the discouraged and aged leaders. With unbridled enthusiasm Kees said, “LET’S MOVE THE OCEAN!!!”
After a stunned silence, they took his suggestion and did it. They actually, literally, unbelievably, MOVED THE OCEAN! (Fade music).
So goes my made-up legend about how Kees saved the Netherlands. But the story IS based on fact. The Dutch people have been holding back the North Sea for over 2000 years. Using dikes and, originally, a windmill pumping system, they hold back trillions of tons of water. Now, over a quarter of their country’s dry land is below sea level, and nearly 50% of the rest of their land is less than three feet above sea level, but they won! Additionally, to prevent disaster, Amsterdam’s buildings are all built on wooden poles. In fact, the Royal Palace, at Dam Square, is built on no less than 13,659 wooden poles.
Are you facing a seemingly impossible, challenge? If so, let’s learn from the Dutch. First, be solution-oriented. Don’t let anyone, no one, nobody, not one soul…take away your potential to find a solution. Read. Research. Talk to someone. Talk to everyone. Talk to the young. The situation is NOT impossible until you declare it so. FIND A SOLUTION, then stick to the plan and you’ll win just like the Dutch people did. And don’t give up. The history of Holland’s dike system is filled with failures. But it is just as much filled with people picking up their shovels…again. They found a solution, and never gave up implementing it!
That’s your nudge. YOU are in control of naming your situation. Is it an “impossible problem” or an “incredible challenge?” What you name it becomes what it is. And here’s some good news. If you can turn the problem into a challenge, find a solution, and stick to the plan…YOU will be better for it. EVERY difficulty grows us. Come to think of it, it may have literally done so for the Netherlanders.
Here’s an interesting fact: Dutch people are the tallest people in the world with an average height of nearly six feet. Maybe dealing with their “underwater” problem in such a positive and consistent way has literally grown them. Now, if the dike breaks, they certainly can still keep their head above water.
This article is part of our ongoing Achievement Nudge series—short, witty, and often inspirational articles to spark your personal and professional growth. Explore more nudges on our blog, or sign up for our weekly Nudge and News email. Each edition includes an Achievement Nudge plus leadership, professional development, and personal growth videos and articles to keep you inspired and on track.
Bill Truby
Founder and President of Truby Achievements
