One time when I was training to be a lifeguard, we were doing the exam and I had to tow someone in the pool for a certain distance, say 10m. At the time it felt like the examiner was teasing me, but I was asked to tow the biggest bloke there, someone taller than me (I’m 186cm), and much heavier too (I’m about 80kg).

The thing is, complaining at this point is useless. You don’t get to choose who you rescue in real life, so this is an actual possibility.

The way to think of it is, if you can tow someone that big, you can tow anyone. Plus, it’s easy to forget that bigger people float better. It just means you have to get into an awkward position, and if it means saving a life, it’s a no-brainer.

When people complain about having to work with someone they don’t want to work with, I am reminded of this anecdote. Sure you may not prefer working with the other people, but if it’s for something important, does it really matter?