63: Difficulties

All projects run into difficulties from time to time and the wise project manager knows that by expecting problems he will not suffer from them. He does not dismiss any problem as insignificant, but neither does he become anxious about it.

Lao Tzu tells us:

Practice non-action.

Work without doing.

Taste the tasteless.

Magnify the small, increase the few.

Reward bitterness with care.

See simplicity in the complicated.

Achieve greatness in little things.

In the universe the difficult things are done as if they are easy.

In the universe great acts are made up of small deeds.

The sage does not attempt anything very big,

And this achieves greatness.

Easy promises make for little trust.

Taking things lightly results in great difficulty.

Because the sage always confronts difficulties,

He never experiences them.