In 2008, during a particularly frustrating day at Facebook, I met with one of my mentors there. I explained that we weren’t putting out high quality product design and that it was getting to me. I believe my words were “we’re putting out shit.

He paused and said — “Ben, Facebook right now is like a raging river and you’re trying to stop the flow of water. It’s not going to work. The best you can do is direct it from side to side, but you’re going to have to be zen about everything else.”

The best designers seem to embody this attitude. They understand when and where they can affect change, and when to close their eyes, take a deep breath, and know everything will be ok.