Difference between Focusing on Problems (Challenges) and Focusing on Solutions
The following cases show the difference between focusing on problems (challenges) and focusing on solutions.
Case 1
When NASA began the launch of astronauts into space, they found out that the pens wouldn't work at zero gravity (ink won't flow down to the writing surface). To solve this problem, it took them one decade and $12 million. They developed a pen that worked at zero gravity, upside down, underwater, on practically any surface including crystal and in a temperature range from below freezing to over 300 degrees C.
And what did the Russians do...?? They used a pencil.
Case 2
One of the most memorable case studies on Japanese management was the case of the empty soapbox, which happened in one of Japan's biggest cosmetics companies. The company received a complaint that a consumer had bought a soapbox that was empty. Immediately the authorities isolated the problem to the assembly line, which transported all the packaged boxes of soap to the delivery department. For some reason, one soapbox went through the assembly line empty. Management asked its engineers to solve the problem. Post-haste, the engineers worked hard to devise an X-ray machine with high-resolution monitors manned by two people to watch all the soapboxes that passed through the line to make sure they were not empty. No doubt, they worked hard and they worked fast but they spent a whoopee amount to do so. But when a rank-and-file employee in a small company was posed with the same problem, he did not get into complications of X-rays, etc., but instead came out with another solution. He bought a strong industrial electric fan and pointed it at the assembly line. He switched the fan on, and as each soapbox passed the fan, it simply blew the empty boxes out of the line.
Moral : Always look for simple solutions.
Why focus on solutions rather than problems? Because you will always get what you focus on. If you focus on problems you will only get more of them. For a simple example, let's say you are driving along in your car and there is a big hole in front of you. If you focus on the hole, guess what! You will no doubt hit it because that is what you are focusing on . The trick is to look past the hole, that way you will avoid it.
I am the President of The Entrance Chamber of Commerce and am amazed at how many problems people seem to find when making a decision. What if this happens? What if that happens?
If the decision is based on what is best for The Entrance then surely that is the solution. Any problem on the way will simply be a milestone to achieve and guide us on our way.
If we keep putting problems in the way then nothing will get done.
Devise the simplest possible solution that solves the problems
Always focus on solutions and not on problems
Bill Annesley
Small Fish Business Coaching
www.smallfish.com.au
David Lockett 12-Apr-2010 03:44 PM
Bill
That is great.
We have a similar situation currently in Australia, where hundreds of thousands of small business owners are being sold high tech solutions to the issue of taking their businesses online. The people who are creating the high tech solutions are programmers who love to create high tech solutions. Also, because programmers can't sell and because business owners need to be SOLD to, marketers have become involved and of course marketers like to sell high profit solutions to clients.
In truth the solution for 95 % of business owners is simple, but as with the Americans at NASA who developed the pen that worked in space, the business owners have been convinced by the marketers that they need high tech expensive solutions.
You can view a low tech solution at http://www.page1.ws. Although you probably won't.
