Today I want to share something that happened at work.

We recently started a new project — a smart trash can from a Japanese customer. It’s a really interesting and exciting product. The trash can has a sensor, so when you put your hand above it, the lid opens automatically. After you throw the trash in, it closes by itself a few seconds later.

I think this kind of product has a lot of potential in public places like hospitals, airports, and schools. People don’t need to touch the lid anymore, which makes it much more convenient and hygienic.

Today we were testing the unit again. Before sending the plastic parts to our injection molding factory for quoting, we had already removed the electronic components. To make the test easier after the parts came back, we needed to put everything back together and check the noise issue that our customer reported. The motor inside sounds too loud, and we wanted to figure out whether the problem comes from the motor, the plastic structure, or the combination of both.

My boss decided to assemble the parts himself because he wanted to understand the structure and assembly process clearly. During the process, he accidentally damaged a cable, and the device stopped working. It was actually a very simple issue — the cable could easily be reconnected by our electronic engineer. Before sending the parts out, we had already cut the cable ourselves during the disassembly process, so repairing it was not a big problem at all.

But what happened afterward was frustrating. Instead of staying calm and looking for a solution, my boss immediately became very emotional. He started thinking out loud, but in a very angry and negative way. He seemed to assume that someone might have changed something or caused the problem, even though there was no reason to think that.

This is something I struggle with sometimes. Small problems can quickly become much bigger because of his reaction. He tends to overthink, get frustrated, and escalate the situation by himself. It creates a very stressful atmosphere and makes it difficult for everyone around him to stay focused.

I don’t mind working under pressure. I can handle tight deadlines, difficult tasks, and challenging projects. In fact, I enjoy solving problems and pushing myself.

But the kind of stress I don’t like is emotional stress caused by someone else’s anger or frustration. I prefer pressure that comes from the work itself, not from a negative atmosphere around me.

At the end of the day, problems happen in every project. A broken cable is not a disaster. What matters is how we respond to the problem. Staying calm, finding the cause, and fixing it together is always more productive than creating more stress.