You know the drill: You sit down to tackle a task, feel like you have endless time, and somehow—or maybe precisely because of that—you stretch it out like an old piece of chewing gum. And then there are those other moments when the deadline is breathing down your neck, and suddenly you’re hitting superhuman productivity levels. Welcome to the universe of Parkinson’s Law (see sidebar for details). This "law" states: Work expands to fill the time available for its completion. But how can we harness this effect for our own benefit?

Have you ever heard the story of the crabs in a bucket? It goes like this: A fisherman catches crabs and throws them into an open bucket. He doesn’t put a lid on it. Why? Because he knows that every time one crab tries to climb out, the others pull it back down. There’s no need to worry about escape—the group ensures that everyone stays put.

This isn’t just a fascinating natural phenomenon; it’s also a perfect metaphor for peer pressure, fear of change, and the dynamics in many social groups. Anyone who dares to rise above the crowd, boldly try something new, or leave old patterns behind often faces resistance.

This time, we’re diving into an intriguing question and challenge: “What do I do when I feel motivated, but my colleagues are completely resistant?”

Oh yes, that can be incredibly frustrating – you’re brimming with motivation, ready to go, and yet you’re faced with colleagues who seem to be hitting the brakes. This presents two challenges: first, maintaining your own motivation, and second, understanding and maybe even alleviating their resistance. Here are a few ideas on how to approach this: