At Taylor Studios I look for problems. I believe it may be the innate nature of an entrepreneur to look for things that could be done better. I tend to ask a lot of questions. Unfortunately, this can rub people the wrong way if they don’t understand the intent. Recently, I heard rumors of a design that was running over budget. I then asked for an update and report from the team. All was under control. Yet, I sensed frustration about my request for more information. Sometimes the problem seeking and solving can make people feel as if they are seen as never doing good enough. I, of course, have to work on my approach and make sure I tell them why problem seeking is a good thing. And balance it with lots of praise.
The real problem with that budget issue was miscommunication between departments and a misunderstanding of the budgeting process. This investigation lead to an idea on how to make budgeting easier for all to understand and to be able to do without as much assistance from the budgeting gurus. We believe after implementing the new idea there will be improvements in efficiency, communication and accuracy of internal budgeting by individuals. I believe problem seeking and solving leads to bigger and better things. I believe the bigger the problem the bigger the opportunities in life.
I am working my way through the book: . In the chapter titled Solving Problems and Creating Results, I read a fun parable that describes the problems in life in a fun way. Here it is for your enjoyment:
“A troubled individual seeking truth and enlightenment climbs the mountain to seek answers from a very wise old woman. When he arrives at her hut, the wizened old woman says, before our friend can even speak, “ha! You have a problem, my son!”
Startled, the man asks how the woman knows he has a problem.
The woman replies, “Because you have eighty-three problems.”
“How do you know that?” the man asks, somewhat indignantly.
As she sips her tea through a sugar cube, the old woman replies, “The universe is very fair: everyone always has eighty-three problems.”
The man ponders this for a moment and then asks, “What am I to do with these problems?”
“Solve them!” the woman snaps.
“What will happen then?”
“Then you’ll receive more problems, because everyone will always have eighty-three problems.”
Then she adds, “There is only one other problem and that is the eighty-fourth.”
“What’s that?” the man asks in exasperation.
The old woman finishes triumphantly, “the eighty-fourth problem is believing that you shouldn’t have eighty-three problems.”
The book says having problems and solving them is what work and life are about. We get the results we want in life by solving life’s problems effectively and efficiently – one after another. This is how we grow intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. The bigger the problems the more we grow.
What is your biggest problem?