In some forms of strength training, to lift more weight, people can use all sorts of props.
Special belts, special shoes, straps etc.
If there is a weakness in the chain, we can layer on a solution.
Culturally, there are a lot of people who are really against this approach, as it “ignores” the underlying problem.
However this is not the only case. In the aircraft structural repair process, we leave hundreds of “cracks” unfixed, and simply record and monitor them.
Then when we do repair them, the process isn’t usually to fix the underlying problem, but rather “patch” or curb the growth of the crack by spreading the load in some other way.
In the first case though, the “need” to keep lifting is run entirely by our narrative. It’s ego-driven. There is also a huge question mark around when this would become problematic. The downside risk is unknown.
In the second, it makes sense to continue the flights and monitor cracks – because this is actually safe and we understand the mechanics of crack growth. The downside risk is more or less known.
Sometimes layering solutions – quickly – can be helpful.
But many times, we are simply doing it because we are too afraid to stop or slow down, step back and observe the underlying pattern that is going on.
