Lessons from opening the cupboard that could not be opened
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We’ve all been stuck between a rock and a hard place. But have you ever had to open a cupboard that cannot be opened? This is the story of a mission impossible, the Internet to the rescue and the power of simplicity.
One woman’s conundrum sent the internet into a frenzy back in 2016. It was a simple question but an impossible situation. How can I open the cupboard without breaking the plates?
A pile of fine porcelain plates had slipped off a shelf and was leaning on the glass door. If you opened the door the plates would come crashing down!
Her friend posted the picture on Facebook and wrote “This is a cupboard that can never be opened”. Soon thousands of people chimed in with suggestions. There were some really creative ideas.
One of my favorites was to sell it to a museum and name it the "Frozen in Time" series. Another person said she should break a pane of glass of the cabinet door and take the bowls out that way and avoid trying to open the door entirely.
So what happened in the end? All the plates were saved! The friend told reporters that she simply opened the one door ever so slightly and used her other hand to hold the plates. Then she pushed the door further.
This story illustrates three principles that I’ve come to value dearly:
A pile of fine porcelain plates had slipped off a shelf and was leaning on the glass door. If you opened the door the plates would come crashing down!
Her friend posted the picture on Facebook and wrote “This is a cupboard that can never be opened”. Soon thousands of people chimed in with suggestions. There were some really creative ideas.
One of my favorites was to sell it to a museum and name it the "Frozen in Time" series. Another person said she should break a pane of glass of the cabinet door and take the bowls out that way and avoid trying to open the door entirely.
So what happened in the end? All the plates were saved! The friend told reporters that she simply opened the one door ever so slightly and used her other hand to hold the plates. Then she pushed the door further.
This story illustrates three principles that I’ve come to value dearly:
- The Hive Mind: If you’re stuck, ask for help or google it.
- Mission Possible: Many things that look impossible at first glance are actually possible.
- KISS: Often the best plan is the simplest plan.