My Learnings: #30

I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned this in a previous post, but I stumbled across yet another example today that only deepens my conviction about this lesson. Four billion years of evolution have handed us solutions to so many challenges we face in business, if only we’d pay attention. Today, I encountered yet another project at work—and a job description, no less—lacking a clearly defined scope. Honestly, there’s almost nothing worse than something so vague and ambiguous it leaves you floundering. It’s like a living organism with weak or nonexistent cell walls—how can you possibly make progress?

Without those firm boundaries, it’s impossible to shield yourself from external pressures or push back against unwanted interference. Imagine you’ve poured your energy into something great—a standout project or a stellar role—only to find you can’t stop others from swooping in to claim credit or encroaching on your territory to puff up their own empires. You’re like a cell, tirelessly working to grow and thrive, but with no defenses to keep outside forces from wrecking everything you’ve built. I saw this play out today with a colleague who was struggling, caught in that exact trap—a cell with no walls, vulnerable and exposed.

This has to be a lesson worth learning from Mother Nature. Cells have evolved strong, discerning walls for a reason—they define what’s inside, what’s allowed in, and what gets kept out. Shouldn’t we do the same in our professional lives? Clearly defining your scope, your boundaries, and what you’re willing to take on—while knowing what to reject and what external threats to guard against—seems non-negotiable. Life’s been honing this feature for four billion years; I doubt we can afford to skip it.