Problem Solving | Problem Solving Skills | Stress Mastery
Amazing Time Tested Tips for Effective Problem Solving
10 strategies for quick problem crushing
Problems aren’t the problem. The problem is how we respond to the problem.
So lets take a closer look at 9 great responses to problems and their solving.
1. The Gifts Tip
Richard Bach, author of “Illusions” says:
“There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in it’s hands. We seek problems because we need their gifts.”
I suggest we seek problems because we need the gift of their solutions.
This mindset shift gives you so much more power, so many more options, and just plain feels better.
2. The Quality Tip
Everyone has problems.
The only people I know who don’t have problems can be found in the graveyard.
The goal is to have a better quality of problem.
Which problem would you rather have:
Figuring out how to pay your bills or figuring out how to manage all the money you are making?
3. The Variety Tip
"If the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem begins to look like a nail.” ~ Abraham Maslow
We need a variety of tools, not just one.
Use your creativity.
Are you one of those people who believe you don’t have any creativity? I’ve got great news for you!
Do you ever worry? Then you have creativity. Worry is just creativity used in a negative way.
If the same old tools have not been working, the additional good news is there are other tools available.
One is identifying someone who solves problems well. What can you model from that person?
4. The Einstein Tip
Albert Einstein said,
“You can’t solve a problem with the same level of thinking that created the problem.”
This is what is meant by the popular business saying to “think outside the box.”
This is why I believe all online business owners need to be in a mastermind group. I know I’ll always be in one.
Why?
Because I always want someone else’s eyes on my business to give me another level of thinking.
5. The Size Tip
“There is a time in the life of every problem when it is big enough to notice and small enough to solve easily.”
There’s quite a bit of wisdom in the above quote.
Although some problems do go away on their own, it’s not a solution to use all the time.
If you’ve got serious engine trouble, turning up the radio is only going to work for a little while.
6. The Law of Sean Connery
In the movie “Rising Sun” actor Sean Connery says,
“In our country, when there is a problem, we look for someone to blame. In Japan, when there is a problem, they look for solutions.”
“But blame feels so good! Can’t I just blame someone? Please!”
Well, of course you can. But it won’t solve anything.
7. The 5% Tip
Spend only 5% of your energy on talking about the problem, and 95% of your energy on solving the problem.
Not only will you be responding differently than the vast majority of people, you’ll solve more problems than most people.
While pontificating about the cause of a problem may feel great, it doesn’t solve anything.
8. The “And” Tip
When solving problems, many times we get caught in either/or thinking. The problem here is that we are limited to only two choices: this or that.
The “and” tip allows us to tap into our creativity & the wealth of other choices available to us.
“I can do this & I could do that & I could……..
You’ve got so many more choices this way.
9. The Hope Tip
When we get it that there is no hope in solving a problem, we lose any motivation and ability to solve it. Hope can be defined as a confident expectation, a certainty that problems can be solved.
Babe Ruth said:
“You just can’t beat the person who never quits.”
Problems run from that kind of attitude, that kind of mindset.
10. The Nike Tip
You can read all of the above tips & even post them on your refrigerator.
They are just decoration unless you take action and do them.
I realize I’m quoting a sneaker company here, but Nike was right:
“Just do it!”
BONUS TIP
When faced with problems one of the first things we lose is perspective.
Too bad, because perspective is one of the solutions we most need.
Life my buddy, speaker and author Andy Andrews says:
“Perspective is the one thing that can change the results without changing any of the facts.”
Practice these principles and strategies on a regular basis and I pity the next problem that comes your way.
And just one more thing:
If we’ve not yet met, let’s fix that right now: