I found an inspiring true story that I wanted to share with you.
George Danzig was a math grad student during a time when it was really tough to find a job in the U.S. His math professor, who was also the head of the department, told the students that whoever got the highest grade on the final exam would get a chance to be his research assistant for the next year.
This was a coveted position, and everyone wanted it. George studied so hard for the test that he stayed up late and actually overslept, arriving late to the exam.
Even though he got there just in time, he still managed to take the test. He worked through the eight math questions on the test with relative ease. But when he saw the two extra problems on the board, he couldn’t solve them.
He thought someone in the room would solve these problems, but he struggled with them for hours. As the exam time ended, some students asked for extra time, and the professor allowed them to take the test home and return it by Friday. George also requested more time and was told to bring the test back by Friday.
George spent the next few nights working on the problems. By Thursday morning, he had solved one of them. He continued working late into Thursday night and Friday morning, and finally solved the second problem.
He returned the test by the 11 a.m. deadline and went home, anxious about what would happen next. Early Sunday morning, he heard a knock at his door. It was his professor.
The professor said, “George, you’ve made mathematical history! I remember you were late to the test, right?”
George replied, “Yes, did I do something wrong?”
“No,” said the professor, “The eight questions were the actual test. I told everyone that if they wanted to have fun for the rest of their lives, they should try solving the two extra problems. Those were two unsolved math problems that even Einstein couldn’t solve. How did you manage it, George?”
George realized that if he had known those problems were unsolvable, he would have approached them differently and probably wouldn’t have found the solutions.
What’s incredible is that we all have the same ability to tackle the seemingly impossible.
You might be facing challenges now, but remember this: you are connected to a limitless source of potential. You have the power to achieve what you desire and build a life you love.
There is always a solution to every problem. Your task is to stay open to finding it.
