Why Feeling Small Can Change Your Perspective on Work and Life

A few weeks ago, I found myself gripping a steel cable, balancing on a narrow walkway bolted into a cliff, and questioning all my life choices.

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Walking the Caminito del Rey—once the world’s most dangerous hike—wasn’t just about adventure. It was about perspective, and I didn’t realize how much I needed it.

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When Life Forces You Out of Your Comfort Zone

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I’m not big on group activities. I lean introverted—not in a “hide-in-the-dark” way, but enough that I usually recharge alone.

But this hike required a guide, so I signed up for a tour. That’s how I found myself in a group of all Danes… except for one other American from San Diego.

It had been weeks since I’d heard a familiar accent, and suddenly, there it was—unexpected, but oddly grounding. It reminded me how small connections can shift everything. Not in a dramatic, life-changing way, but in the simple, human way that makes you feel less alone.

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The Insanity of Human Ingenuity

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As we walked, I couldn’t stop staring at the remains of the old wooden walkways. A century ago, workers built those fragile paths dangling hundreds of feet above the canyon floor—armed with nothing but ropes and sheer nerve.

Why? Because someone had a vision. Someone looked at an impossible problem and said, “We’ll figure it out.”

It made me wonder: How often do we look at our own challenges and assume they’re too big? How many times do we back down from something just because it seems overwhelming?

The truth is, humans have been doing the impossible for centuries. We just forget that when we’re staring at our inboxes.

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The Perspective Shift I Didn’t See Coming

Before this hike, I was drained. I’d been grinding nonstop—for months. But on that walkway, hundreds of feet above the ground, my brain finally shut up.

I wasn’t thinking about emails. I wasn’t stressing over deadlines. I wasn’t worrying about who needed what from me.

I was just there.

And that’s when it hit me:

📝 No one will put “answered emails at lightning speed” on my tombstone.

People will remember how I showed up—with grace, humility, and gratitude. That I took breaks when I needed them so I could return stronger. That I understood the work will always be there—but so will life, if I let it.

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Work Isn’t an Obligation It’s a Privilege

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At the end of the hike, we sat down for a simple meal—fresh bread, olives, cheese. The conversation turned to work.

In some areas of Spain, unemployment is as high as 50%. Many people don’t have to work. They want to work.

And suddenly, my overflowing inbox felt different.

I get to work. I get to lead a team I believe in. I get to solve tough problems and build something meaningful.

So if you’re feeling overwhelmed, drowning in tasks, or questioning everything—step back. Zoom out.

Because in the grand scheme of things? You’re pretty insignificant.

And that’s what makes life so damn beautiful.

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Ready to Work Smarter Not Just Harder?

At StringCan, we help businesses focus on what truly moves the needle. If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and start seeing results, let’s talk.

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