Finding a Way: A Story About Creative Grit
Photo by Vigo Jansons
There’s always a reason not to do something.
Not the right time. Not enough resources. Not in the scope. Not your job. Not what you expected.
There’s always a version of the story that ends with, “Let’s just try again later.”
But the ones who move the story forward are the ones who pause, look around, and ask,
“Okay—but what if we tried this?”
“Finding a way” isn’t about forcing something. It’s not about sugarcoating or pretending everything’s fine when it’s a mess. It’s about deciding that you’re not going to stop at the first sign of resistance. It’s about tapping into courage, creativity, and clarity, especially when things are falling apart.
Sometimes it means doing something no one asked you to do, because you knew it would help the bigger picture.
Sometimes it’s reworking a plan that was months in the making, because reality changed.
And sometimes, it’s just quietly choosing not to give up.
A few times a year, I get to do a lifestyle shoot with my boyfriend somewhere tropical—a mix of work, creativity, and a shared love for capturing stories in beautiful places. Most of the time, it’s the kind of dream setup you feel lucky to experience.
But dreams don’t always come with clear skies.
Not too long ago, we were shooting a project for a five-star luxury hotel—Rosewood Phuket. The location was stunning, the story was solid, and the team was aligned. But there was one major challenge: we were shooting in June, in Thailand, right in the middle of monsoon season.
We had heavy skies when we needed light. Unforecasted downpours right in the middle of key scenes. We were working against the kind of weather that makes you wonder if you should’ve rescheduled altogether. Logistically, it shouldn’t have worked.
But we did what we could with the weather we had—constantly watching for those minute, fleeting glimpses of the sun. And when they came, we moved fast. Every sliver of light became a signal to reposition, shoot, and capture what we could. We reworked parts of the storyboard on the fly. We stayed open, agile, and grounded.
It was far from the original plan—but we learned to work with the conditions instead of wishing them away.
We found a way.
And what came out of it was something we’re truly proud of.
Was it what we envisioned at the start? Not quite.
Was it still impactful, elegant, and emotionally resonant? Absolutely.
Because we didn’t just show up—we adapted. We moved. We made it work.
What This Means for Us at Momentum
Here’s what “finding a way” means to me at work:
It’s choosing ownership.
It’s being solutions-oriented, yes—but also being willing to move first. To try. To make progress over perfection.
Sometimes it’s a messy Google Sheet.
Sometimes it’s that one idea that unlocks flow for someone else.
Sometimes it’s offering a workaround when the expected path isn’t working.
It’s taking initiative without waiting to be told.
For Anyone Feeling Stuck
If you’re in a season where you feel blocked—at work, in life, or just in general—I want to say:
It’s okay to feel tired. It’s okay to be overwhelmed. But don’t settle into helplessness. Don’t make a home out of it.
Take a breath. Get creative. Ask around. Try something new.
Even a small step is better than none.
The next time you’re tempted to say “we can’t,” ask yourself:
Have we really tried everything yet?
Because maybe the breakthrough isn’t waiting for the perfect conditions.
Maybe it’s waiting for you to decide to go first.
Quote to carry this week:
“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”
– Arthur Ashe
Let’s keep showing up for each other—and for the challenge—by finding a way.
Always learning with you,
Fundamental of the Week #13: FIND A WAY
Look for how we can do it rather than explaining why it can’t be done. Take personal responsibility. Be innovative, assertive, and take initiative.
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