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Change the World: Solve a Problem about Problems

October 1, 2007 by Liz 16 Comments

It’s a Problem

changetheworld8

I’ve been looking at the problems I’ve faced down, moved around, and crawled over. Something stands out as more interesting than their causes or how they were solved.

Every time a problem arose, I argued for it. I had to prove it was a problem.

In my effort to define what was going on I would tell someone about what a problem it was.

People would talk about solutions. I would think, “You need to know why this REALLY IS A PROBLEM.” I needed the listener to see that before I could move on.

Now it dawns on me that I’m the one who wasn’t seeing. What useful reason could I give for convincing someone (and myself) that what I faced was a problem? Isn’t that just a way to make the situation look and feel worse before I take it on? I can’t imagine how such a habit must have colored my response.

I want future irritations, change of plans, and issues to be on notice. I’m no longer advocating for you to be promoted to problems. You’ll be staying little things from this moment on.

I quit arguing on behalf of problems. I’m getting on to the solving part instead.

More time, clearer mind, less stress . . .

We can change the world — just like that.
–ME “Liz” Strauss

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Filed Under: Liz, Motivation, Successful Blog Tagged With: bc, Change-the-World:-problem-solving

Comments

  1. Phil says

    October 1, 2007 at 7:49 AM

    Hey Liz,

    Don’t you find that, as you explain to someone else why a problem is a problem more and more, you go over ways of solving that don’t work? If you do that long enough, between the two of you, you may eventually hit on a solution that you hadn’t thought of and may work.

    This has certainly helped me with programming issues, however I’m sure some sort of likeness could be applied in general.

    That’s why I think talking about problems helps.

    Reply
  2. ME Strauss says

    October 1, 2007 at 7:53 AM

    Hi Phil,
    It’s one thing to do what you’re talking about which is to analyze a problem — that’s fun and inteesting. It often has the same results for me as it does for you.

    It’s another to argue why it’s a problem. “This happened and that’s causing this and I don’t have time . . . It’s a PROBLEM.” In other words, focusing on the problem as an issue in itself. 🙂

    Reply
  3. Phil says

    October 1, 2007 at 7:57 AM

    Ah… I see now, don’t let an irritation become a problem if it can be a solution.

    Reply
  4. ME Strauss says

    October 1, 2007 at 7:59 AM

    Hey, Phil,
    You say what I mean better than I do. 🙂

    Reply
  5. Robert Hruzek says

    October 1, 2007 at 8:44 AM

    Well, I was going to add a brilliant comment, but I can’t top Phil’s! Way to go, Buddy! 🙂

    Reply
  6. Lisa says

    October 1, 2007 at 10:50 AM

    Liz, what you just did is coach yourself though a process! Not a problem, a process. And you’re a brilliant coach. I hope everyone heard that…

    Someone wise once said to me, “If you were a fly on the wall, what would you be seeing?” Funny how looking for reasons for things can keep you stuck in the ox rut. The reasons are usually irrelevant, other than providing information for next steps.

    This is really good learning today.

    Reply
  7. Ruth says

    October 1, 2007 at 11:04 AM

    When faced with problems, whether related to your business or personal life. Learn not to listen, but to hear, what others – collegues, coaches, clients, your inner-self, that always knows the truth, even if you choose to ignore it, your friends and family – are suggesting in the way of solutions. Hearing and acting when armed with clear feedback might just be one road to solid problem solving.

    Reply
  8. ME Strauss says

    October 1, 2007 at 12:13 PM

    Hi Robert!
    I think that you already knew what I was talking about. That’s how you could recognize the value of what Phil Said. 🙂

    Reply
  9. ME Strauss says

    October 1, 2007 at 12:14 PM

    Hi Lisa!
    Well, thank you! I’m always checking if what I’m doing is making matters worse for me. Obviously this time I found that I surely was. 🙂

    Reply
  10. James says

    October 1, 2007 at 12:34 PM

    They say problems are opportunities. Now if I had learned to look at math problems that way…I’d probably be a physics professor or something.

    Reply
  11. ME Strauss says

    October 1, 2007 at 12:42 PM

    Hi James!
    I think we have exactly the right number of those. I’m glad you are exactly who you are. 🙂

    Reply
  12. ME Strauss says

    October 1, 2007 at 6:55 PM

    Ah Ruth#7
    I love what you said.

    learn not listen, but to hear.

    If only I would learn to pay more attention to what it is that I am really saying. 🙂

    Reply
  13. gp says

    October 1, 2007 at 9:12 PM

    every problem is an opportunity in workclothes… perspective!???

    gp in montana

    Reply
  14. ME Strauss says

    October 1, 2007 at 9:14 PM

    Oh GP!

    You sure got that “work clothes” part right!

    Reply
  15. Mother Earth says

    October 2, 2007 at 12:59 AM

    sometimes for me if the problems are bigger than me, I have to grow to face and solve them – when I can see that for all that it is “this problem is out of my league” it’s such a relief to declare it

    and then the listening starts

    as so aptly described above

    the answers find their way

    other times I declare I don’t know how to solve this one – and then ask a question – the answers always come when I ask. If I don’t ask then the answers don’t arrive –

    sometimes a simple thing like clutter on a surface might be more about not knowing where something should go – when I ask where should these 6 cd’s go for safe and organized keeping– a solution will find it’s way to me

    to some this might seem like clutter procrastination

    because the answer might not come for weeks – ha!!

    yet when it comes the desk clutter is completely resolved – all will have it’s designation

    I think I have more “help” than I give creedance to !!

    I also think I have to ask a lot more questions

    Mother Earth
    http://www.bestwellnessconsultant.com

    Reply
  16. ME Strauss says

    October 2, 2007 at 4:50 AM

    Hi Mother Earth!
    Isn’t it amazing? The mosdt poweerful ideas and answers are always the simplest and the most obvious, yet we need to be reminded of them . . . at least I do.

    The best way to answer a question is to ask.

    Yep.

    Reply

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