Don’t Let What You Can’t Do Interfere With What You Can Do

In this episode, we explore our first listener-suggested maxim: “Don’t let what you can’t do interfere with what you can do.” The saying is primarily attributed to legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden, and its message is as practical as it is timeless.

Sam and I unpack this adage with our guest, Mike Piehl of Somerville, MA, examining how focusing on forward motion—rather than limitations—can unlock progress in work, creativity, and life. The phrase isn’t about ignoring challenges or pretending constraints don’t exist; it’s about refusing to let them become excuses. It’s a reminder that momentum is built by acting on what’s within reach, even when the full path forward is completely clear yet;-).

Given his lifelong practice of resourcefulness across nearly every facet of his life, Mike turned out to be the perfect guest to bring this idea to life, sharing real-world perspective on how doing something often matters more than waiting to do everything.

Postscript: As I wrote this episode summary, I was struck by how relevant this topic is to the very existence of Maxim EQ itself. There were (and still are;-) plenty of things Sam and I didn’t know about podcasting—but we started anyway, we’re learning as we go, and have enjoyed every step of the journey.

Thanks for listening,

Mike

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