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In most projects, there comes a moment that can be termed as the “eye of a needle.” This is the point where you are stuck, facing a stalemate, or a Mexican standoff. At such points, you have to shed a lot of baggage before you can move forward.

If you are stuck in the workplace, look for the following in your baggage and shed them:

• Assumptions on which you based your decisions.
• Terms you thought were non-negotiable.
• Constraints that are not really constraints.
• Bad decisions you are trying to hide.
• Bad news you don’t want revealed.
• Mistakes you are trying to cover up.
• Your ignorance and incompetence/lack of skills.
• Personal grudge or dislike for a co-worker.
• Need to be in control and “build kingdoms.”
• Your specific baggage goes here…

Shedding baggage is not easy. Ask any film maker who has to edit the footage down to fit the film in the target time. Ask any writer who has to write within a defined number of words. Ask any executive whose big bets did not work out.

Above all, ask yourself, “What baggage do I need to shed before I can move forward?”