Let’s say someone asked you to paint them a painting. A beautiful painting, a masterpiece, to be hung in the lobby of an Important Building.

“Great,” you say. You are an accomplished painter, and this is quite an exciting project. You ask what this painting should be of.

“Your speciality, of course. A peaceful landscape.”

It’s music to your ears. Snapshots of still seas, rolling hills, fluttering fields flash before your eyes. So many options. The next day, you start sketching some ideas.

The phone rings. “Great news! We’ve decided to host an Important Gala for the unveiling of your painting! Tons of Important People will be there! Unfortunately, the only date that will work for this gala is a month from today. Do you think you can finish the painting by then?”

You furrow your brows. 30 days is tight. Super tight. Normally you like three months. But a Gala… and all those Important People… You say yes. You head to your fridge and pull out a pack of red bull. It’s going to be a long month.

Fifteen days in, a second call comes. “Fantastic news! We‘re so excited about your painting we want to display it in a more prominent location. You know how it was going to be at the back of the lobby near reception? Well now, it’ll be the first thing people see when they enter! It’ll be magnificent! There’s just one tiny issue… In order to fit the new wall, we’re going to need a smaller painting. 25% smaller. Can you make that happen?”

You grit your teeth and tell them there’s not enough time to start a new painting unless the deadline changes.

“Well, we can’t do that! The gala’s all ready to go. Can’t you just crop off a bit of the painting?”

You look at your half-completed work. To fit the new constraints, you’d need to discard the mountains that frame the fields. It’s doable, technically. But it’d be a different painting. A worse painting.

But think of your clients. You don’t want to let them down. And to have your painting so prominently displayed… where all those people will see it…

You say yes. With a slight twinge, you cut out the mountains.

Twenty-five days in, a third call comes. “Incredible news! We’ve all been admiring the photo you sent of your work in progress, and we showed the Owner of the Building. He loves how it’s turning out. In fact, he’s willing to commission another set of ten paintings for an Enormous Sum of Money! But he has a tiny request… You see, capybaras are his spirit animal, and he’d really love it if you could include a capybara in your current painting.”

You’re flabbergasted. What on earth is a capybara? You tell them you don’t know what to say as you frantically initiate a Google image search.

“Say you’ll do it, of course! They’ll liven up the painting. Imagine… a whole family of capybaras!”

When the results load, your stomach drops.