I am fully immersed in the latest season of The Great British Baking Show, like many of you!  And maybe it’s due to my OCD tendencies, but the part I love best is the Technical Challenge.  

During the Technical Challenge, all the bakers are asked to bake the same surprise something (often several of something!) without any picture and with only the barest of recipes. Many times, most of the bakers have no idea what they’re actually baking. They’ve never even heard of it. 

We, as the viewers, have the advantage of seeing it and knowing what they’re aiming for.  They do not. 

And then we, as the viewers, get to see and compare all the results, of all the bakes, that are all supposed to look alike. 

I love it. 

In one of the recent Technical Challenges, the bakers were asked to make something called “Parkin Cake.” The instructions – as I mentioned – were sparse, and as always, the bakers were left to lean on their own experience and baking skills.

One of the more experienced bakers, Gill, had a clear advantage. She grew up in the North of England, where Parkin Cake is a well-loved tradition. She’d eaten it, she’d had experience making it, and she’d even talked about it with the other bakers the night before!  She knew exactly what it was supposed to look like and taste like. This familiarity gave her an edge. She had a foundation she could trust. (Unfortunately, in this instance it didn’t work in her favor. She forgot the baking powder and finished last in the challenge!) 

Arthur Brooks, in his book From Strength to Strength, talks a lot about life experience. He describes two types of intelligence: fluid intelligence, which helps us problem-solve and learn new things quickly, and crystallized intelligence, which represents the knowledge, wisdom, and experiences we accumulate over time. He says fluid intelligence tends to peak earlier in life, crystallized intelligence just keeps getting stronger and stronger as we grow older.

Every challenge we’ve faced, every mistake we’ve learned from, every success we’ve celebrated, every answer we’ve received – they all become part of our crystallized intelligence. 

So, when we face “Technical Challenges” – situations where instructions are minimal, stakes feel high, and we’re not quite sure what the outcome should look like – what if instead of panicking, we, like Mr. Brooks suggests, choose to trust our experience?  Our own crystallized intelligence. 

How? Great question.

Here are three ideas.

1. Reflect on past wins: Think of a time when you faced uncertainty and still found your way through. What did you do well? What strengths did you lean on?
2. Trust yourself: You have a way of figuring things out that works best for you. Trust your own approach in uncertain moments, even if it’s different from others. Lean into what makes you, you.
3. Take imperfect action: Instead of waiting for everything to be clear or conditions to be perfect, act with what you have. Move forward even if it feels messy – you’ll learn and adapt as you go. Give yourself permission to figure it out in real time, without having all the answers.

Reflect on past wins.

Trust yourself.

Take imperfect action.

I can’t wait to hear about how you’re leaning on your own life experiences to navigate your own Technical Challenge. And if you need any assistance (or baking powder!), I’d love to help. 

PS After Gill’s failed technical challenge, she used her version of Parkin Cake in another challenge and did splendidly. 

PPS Consider this your friendly reminder to replace your baking powder before your holiday baking. Baking powder is only at its best for 6 months. Yes, I’m serious. 

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