The Bulldozer
Read the story first: The Bulldozer.
Nugget of Wisdom
Necessity is the mother of invention. Necessity can drive you farther than you thought you could.
SOP (Addition)
As we continue, you’ll hear another story shaped by pressure, responsibility, and the need to push through. But again, I don’t want you to match my story—I want you to think of your own. Before group discussion, share a story with your partner where you pushed yourself—through joy, responsibility, or pressure—and how you handled it. Then, as a class, we’ll compare how different experiences shape personality. Stay grounded in your own story.
Questions
- What story did you choose where you pushed yourself, and what drove you in that moment?
- Did your determination help you, or did it push you beyond what was wise?
- How do you typically respond when responsibility or pressure is placed on you?
- When listening to your partner’s story, what differences did you notice in how each of you handles pressure or drive?
- Where might you need more balance between pushing forward and knowing when to step back?
SOP: Mission for the Week
This week, the two of you will work together on several problems before class discussion. Do not focus only on getting the right answer. Focus on how you think, communicate, and respond together. Pay attention to who leads, who analyzes, who acts quickly, who slows things down, and how each of you improvise, adapt, and overcome. Work through the problems as a team first, then come to class ready to discuss not just your answer, but how you got there.
Problem 1:
You have 30 Marines, a 30-foot gap that cannot be climbed down or around, and two 15-foot boards. How do you get everyone across?
Problem 2:
You have a 400-pound object in your house that must be moved across a vinyl floor without damaging it. You may only use what is already covering or immediately around the object.
Problem 3:
You are separated from someone by a 30-foot gap. You only have a 10-foot rope. The person on the other side needs that rope to get to safety. There are no fixed anchors, and you cannot simply hand it to them. How do you get the rope across?
When we come together as a class, we will discuss these one at a time. Do not just give the final answer. Talk through your process. What was the first thing you thought? What did not work? What made you change directions? How did you improvise, adapt, and overcome? If you do not solve every problem perfectly, that is all right. The goal is to understand how you and your partner think, solve problems, and reveal personality through the process.
Homework:
Your mission for the week is to take these same problems to a family member—a child, grandchild, parent, or someone close. Walk them through the same process. Let them think, listen to how they respond, and observe how they solve the problem. Do not correct them or give them the answer. Then reflect on what you learned about their personality and how they think.