Try Again

Problems have a way of recalibrating our expectations.

Didn't get what you expected? Try again.

-- doug smith

 

Emotional Additives

We are a bundle of emotions. When we're at work we might try to leave our emotions at home, but they will sneak in. Emotions are powerful. Emotions are influential. 

Emotions can cause problems when people over-react, melt-down, freeze-up, or fight. We become so consumed that we over-simplify. Our demands increase, our effectiveness does not.

Emotions seldom solve problems. 

Pay attention, but be careful about serving your emotions (or anyone else's). 

-- doug smith 

Why Wait?

There is usually more glory (and satisfaction) in solving a problem than there is in doing the hard work ahead of time to prevent the problem in the first place. It means paying attention to risk, rather than dismissing it with some wildly optimistic notion that things will stay steady and true and always work out for you. That would be great, but have you considered the potential problems.

Potential problems have a way of turning into actual problems.

It takes less energy to prevent a problem than to solve it. Why wait?

Fun or not, prevention works.

-- doug smith

 

Here's A Question...

What if the best way to solve a problem is to ask the right questions?

-- doug smith

 

Many Paths

A mystery is only a mystery until you understand it. A problem is only a problem until you achieve your goal.  

Fortunately, there are thousands of paths to your goal.

-- doug smith

Just Ahead

Ahead of every goal is a problem, and within every problem is a goal.

-- doug smith

 

Explore More

There is usually more than one solution to any problem. It may be best to avoid what feels like a permanent solution until we've explored other solutions.

-- doug smith

Perspective

Sometimes we hold our problems too close to see what's causing them.

-- doug smith

 

Worth Exploring

What if your problem was caused by a change you've been resisting?

It's worth exploring the possibility.

 -- doug smith

Oh no...

Some problems require uncomfortable solutions.

-- doug smith

Deeper Still

 

We might need to go deeper. 

The root cause of a problem may be deeper than you think, with roots of its own.

Go deeper. Deeper still.

Until you do the problem keeps growing.

-- doug smith

It's back again...

A new problem that mimics an old problem could be revealing two unsolved problems. 

-- doug smith

Tease Out The Causes

Problems have a way of intermingling and combining. What if you teased the pieces apart until you found the root cause?

Even if there are more causes than one, separating them can provide clarity and insights into faster solutions.

-- doug smith

 

Push

 

A problem is a change in need of a push.

You see it. It's right in front of you. You've done all the analysis that's needed.

Push.

-- doug smith

Start To Solve

What if problem solving is mostly opportunity surfing?

Plunge in, it's time to begin, that problem will not solve itself.

-- doug smith

Keep Looking

Some problems take longer than others to solve. It can seem like you'll never get the solution.

You may not have found the solution yet but you're way ahead of anyone who's stopped looking.

-- doug smith