Believe

You can't solve a problem until you believe that you can solve it.

-- Doug Smith

No Miracles Necessary

When we take charge of our own problems we can stop waiting for miracles.

-- Doug Smith

Try Love

You can't solve every problem with love but you can't hurt any with it, either.

Try love. You need never run out.

-- Doug Smith

Build Momentum

What do you do with a problem that immobilized you?

Tackle the first problem you can and the second won't seem so hard.

How many problems get solved by doing nothing?

No so many. Maybe, in your world, none. As often as I've tried the "do nothing and see how it works out" approach, it is often disappointing. It's works better to do something.

And when it's hard to start, I start small. Solve a little problem. Then a bigger one. Build some momentum.

Stay curious, adjust, be flexible. Then solve those problems one at a time.

-- Doug Smith

Find the Positive Choices

Sometimes our biggest problems are filled with positive choices.

Dig digger. Think harder. Ask more. Stay curious and open. The positive choices are there.

-- Doug Smith

Irrational Beliefs

Solving a problem might require us to let go of an irrational belief.

Do you believe that?

Are you holding onto a belief that no longer makes sense? "It's too hard for me..." Let that go. "People won't understand..." Let that go. "My side is right and it's up to everyone else to change." Good heavens, please let that go.

Solving a problem might require us to let go on an irrational belief. And we've all got them.

-- Doug Smith

Communication Problems

Not every problem is because of a communication gap.

There could be many causes. Maybe the root cause doesn't even have anything to do with communication. Maybe your communication is fine.

That would be surprising. Think about the problems causing you concern today. Think about what gets in the way of your sustaining a centered, mindful, focused balance. Is there a missing message? Is there a confusing call to action? Are people simply not talking about it?

Not every problem is because of a communication gap, but nearly every problem has a communication gap inside.

Solve that. See what happens.

-- Doug Smith

If your organization needs help solving problems collaboratively, contact me today about bringing our one-day workshop "Centered Problem Solving" to your location.

Problems Don't Care

Problems don't care if you're ready to solve them.

They just keep on bringing you what you do not want. There is no universal force working to correct problems for you. It's up to you. You've got to focus, stay alert, and get started. You might need to roll up your sleeves. You might need to make a call. You might need to make several calls.

Problems don't care if you're ready to solve them. And, they don't get better until you do.

-- Doug Smith

Interested in solving more problems in your organization. Contact me today about bringing our workshop "Centered Problem Solving" to your location. You'll be glad that you did.

Check Your Goal

The problem is sometimes the need for a new goal.

When the goal is not working, despite your best efforts, you can check to make sure that it's still the goal for you.

Maybe conditions have changed. Maybe you have changed. Does the goal still fit your expectations, your desires?

The problem is sometimes the need for a new goal. Be ready to set that goal.

-- Doug Smith

Solve Those Big Problems

Are you ever tempted to major in the minors? Do you ever find yourself working diligently on things that barely matter? It's happened to me -- a whole day spent answering and reading email. A whole day perseverating over one slide or one learning activity. A night in a new city spent revising the 50th draft of a program I'm already doing.

Instead, let's focus on making things better. Let's tackle the big problems, before they make all the little cares obsolete. Big problems need not be ignored. We dare only to tackle them before they bury us.

Reform banking.

Stabilize climate change.

Feed the hungry.

House the poor.

Eliminate exploitation and inequality.

Which problem concerns you the most? What ideas do you have about solving that problem?

-- Doug Smith

Those Problems Touch Us All

We all know people we would not want to trade places with. Their problems are too deep, too profound, too persistent. And, we can not wear a red cape all the time rescuing everything and everyone.

Or can we?

One test of whether or not we should wear that red cape is if we are part of the problem. And we might just be part of the problem if we are not willing to trade places with someone who is enduring that problem.

Name the problem. Go ahead. Pick something of a global nature: water or food shortages, conflict over territory or religion, tribal wars, climate change, banking inequities...the list is long.

People endure the effects of all of those problems. I would not want to trade places with those people. Would you?

Centered problem solvers consider how they can help solve problems even when those problems do not involve them. Because, eventually, those problems touch us all.

-- Doug Smith

Centered Problem Solvers Deal With Their Part of the Problem

Centered problem solvers realize that some part of the problems they encounter focus on themselves. There's something generating from within to stop or start that problem.

Find the center that calms. Find the center that holds. Find the center that lets go.

Because that problem won't let you go until you deal with it.

Why not deal with it now?

-- Doug Smith

Let Go When That Important Thing...

Let go when?  Let go when that important thing is no longer important. It had your attention. It had your passion. It had your interest. But it's time is past.

That way you used to handle a process...outdated. That person who once listened to you...gone. That project that promised a miracle finish only to flounder in an obsolete mess. Let it all go.

Just because something was once important doesn't mean that it is any longer.

Let it go.

Centered problems solvers understand when it is time to let go...and then do.

-- Doug Smith

Find the Answers That Work

Have you given up on finding all the answers?

The good news is, you do not need to find all the answers. They will change, anyway. Centered, creative problem solvers forces on answers that work. Answers that bring you closer to your goals. Answers that get out of their own way and lead to progress, not more problems.

Creative problems solvers don't need all the answers -- just the ones that work.

-- Doug Smith

Go For Transformational Solutions

If a problem is threatening to put you, your team, or your organization in danger, it cannot be ignored. Average solutions won't help. Easy answers won't be enough. The toughest problems, the ones that could put you out of business, require transformational solutions.

Combinations of clarity, courage, creativity, and compassion when you are developing ideas and working your problem lead to transformational solutions - the ones that change the nature of the game and put the problem -- not you -- out of business.

-- Doug Smith

Your Problems Aren't Hiding

You know what they are. They've been bothering you. They're getting tough to ignore, so don't. Roll up your figurative and literal sleeves and get busy. Solve the problems in front of you.

-- Doug Smith