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Jeremy Zick | 12 April 2024
Eli had been a dedicated architect for over 25 years. His days were spent running endlessly on his hamster wheel. Despite his hard work and long hours, including midnight sprints, his efforts seemed to only keep him exactly where he was—trapped inside his glass cage.
One night, Eli encountered an outsider hamster, gazing curiously into his cage. Eager for companionship and help, Eli invited the new hamster to join him on the wheel, hoping they could both find a way out together.
However, to Eli’s surprise, the new hamster declined to run. Instead, he pointed out, “You run and run, yet you go nowhere. You’re busy, but are you really achieving what you dream of?”
Annoyed, Eli retorted, “This is the only way! More running, more hours—that’s how we’ll break free!”
Unconvinced, the outsider hamster instead focused on peeling off an old piece of glue from the glass. Eli scoffed at this, seeing it as a pointless distraction.
Time passed, and while Eli continued his relentless running, the outsider hamster slowly loosened the glass of the cage. Alarmed, Eli criticized the new approach, clinging to his familiar routine.
But then, something unexpected happened. The glass that had confined them fell away, revealing a path to the world beyond. The outsider hamster was ecstatic, “Look! The way out isn’t through running harder, but by thinking differently and removing the barriers in our way!”
Eli hesitated, unable to let go of the wheel. “Maybe someday,” he muttered, half-convinced. But the next morning, curiosity got the better of him, and he peeked outside. Amazed, he stepped out into the world, realizing that freedom was possible with a different approach.
Despite this revelation, Eli occasionally returned to his wheel, still partly attached to his old ways. He justified, “All that running must have helped in some way!”
Meanwhile, the outsider hamster ventured into the world, embracing freedom and new possibilities. He looked back at Eli, who was content with occasional freedom, and said, “Some love their wheels too much to leave them behind entirely.”
“Goodbye, Eli,” he called as he disappeared into the horizon. “May you find your path in your own time.”
What Am I Talking About?
As we follow Eli’s journey on his hamster wheel, the story becomes a poignant reflection of a common dilemma in many workplaces. Just like Eli, professionals often find themselves trapped in cycles of hard work that promise progression but lead nowhere substantial. The arrival of the outsider hamster symbolizes the infusion of new ideas and perspectives that are often necessary to break these cycles.
In the architectural world, where traditional methods dominate and the pressure to deliver is high, it’s easy to keep spinning the wheel without noticing the glass walls coming loose around us. Eli’s initial resistance to new approaches is a mirror to our own hesitance to adopt change, especially when it challenges the norms we’re comfortable with.
The Takeaway
This story is not just about questioning the status quo but about the courage to embrace innovative solutions that might initially seem counterintuitive. It’s about recognizing that sometimes, stopping the relentless running and focusing on the sticky glue that holds the barriers in place can lead to greater breakthroughs than any amount of conventional effort.
Which Hamster Are You?
At WeCollabify, we believe in stepping off the wheel and pushing against the glass. We offer outsourced architectural staffing solutions that introduce fresh perspectives and expertise to your team, enabling you to think outside the cage.
If you’re ready to explore how new approaches can liberate your projects and bring impactful innovation to the forefront, reach out to us. Let’s discuss how we can help you peel off the glue holding you back and step into a world of new opportunities.
Contact Us Today
Discover the freedom of innovation with WeCollabify. Contact us to find out more about our services and how we can tailor them to meet your unique needs.
Jeremy Zick is the founder and CEO of WeCollabify, a pioneering offshoring firm dedicated to transforming architectural and engineering practices. With over a decade of experience managing international teams and integrating global talent, Jeremy has become a leading voice in the industry.
Jeremy’s passion for innovation and efficiency led him to establish WeCollabify, with the mission to empower firms to leverage global resources for enhanced project execution and competitive edge. When he’s not driving industry change, Jeremy enjoys exploring new cultures and finding creative solutions to complex business challenges.