Growth Instigators Hotline
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Growth Instigators Hotline
#427 Hammer. Is it time for the claw side?
A bent nail tells the truth we try to ignore: pushing harder can make the problem worse. We take a familiar tool—the hammer—and turn it into a clear, usable framework for smarter effort, better timing, and cleaner fixes. With caller insights and real-world stories, we explore why aiming matters more than force, how to spot early signs of trouble, and when to flip the tool and pull the nail instead of swinging again.
We start with the simple power of a good first inch. A few careful taps set the nail straight; in work and life, small tests and soft starts reduce risk and prevent waste. From there, we talk about signals that a plan is bending—hesitant feedback, repeated friction, missed cues—and how to name those signals before damage spreads. You’ll hear Alicia from Connecticut’s practical reminder: when the nail goes crooked, the claw isn’t defeat. It’s wisdom.
Then we lean into the uncomfortable move: pausing, pulling back, and replacing the bent nail with a better angle. Whether you’re leading a team, shipping a product, or mending a relationship, the claw side is a tool for recovery, not retreat. We share questions to reset your course, reflect on stubborn habits that keep us swinging, and offer a two-mode mindset—strike with intent, reset with care. The result is a blueprint for momentum that feels focused, humane, and effective.
If this lens helps you see your next step more clearly, share the episode with a friend who’s swinging too hard, and tell us your biggest “bent nail” moment. Subscribe, leave a quick review, and send your insights at growth instigators.com—we’re featuring the best notes in an upcoming show.
Welcome to the Growth Instigators Hotline. I'm Aaron Havens, your host and growth coach. This is message 427. This week we are talking all about hammers, an everyday normal object that we can assign deeper meaning to, something that can grab our attention and represents something bigger. Welcome to part two of five as we dive into lessons we can glean from a hammer. From the many messages left, it sounds like the lowest hanging fruit with the hammer is that it reminds us to aim properly. I guess that object has found more than one thumbs or put holes in walls. A good number of you pointed out that the hammer has the striking side as well as the pulling side. Alicia from Connecticut left a message saying sometimes it's better to stop hammering, flip the hammer over and use the claw to pull the nail, especially if the nail is starting to bend or is going in crooked. My friends, where has sure stubbornness or determination driven you to hit harder and hope for the best? I mean, you see the nail is starting to bend, and you think brute force can defy physics and keep it straight. So you continue to punch at it only to find it bending so bad that you know you've got a mess on your hands. That's me 50% of the time. It makes me angry when the nail starts to bend, and I think I can just keep hitting it and make things turn out better. Again, maybe I need counseling for this. Today, may the hammer remind you that swinging away at the problem may actually make things worse. A bent nail will continue to bend. Maybe today it's time to use the claw end of the hammer. Pull out the bent nail and replace it with a new approach. Wise leaders know when to stop pushing forward and to start pulling back to correct mistakes. Is this you? Can you think of something that might turn out better if you give it a rest and take a different approach? And honor yourself here. Don't just blow off the question. I can almost guarantee we could all do some sincere reflections and come up with areas in our life we might need to stop swinging away and come at it in a new direction. This little exercise could be life-changing today. That, my friends, is how a common everyday object can instigate growth. I'd like to hear some more of your observations. What growth lessons can you apply to a hammer? For those of you calling Growth Instigators Hotline, I'd love to hear your message after the beep. For those of you listening in on our podcast, visit growth instigators.com and send me your thoughts. Let's never see the hammer. A same