Simple Problem Solving: The Solution Within the Problem

Sometimes I have a problem I just can’t seem to solve. Like the other day when I left my car at a friends house and had no way to get to my appointment across town. I tried calling friends for a ride, but no one was picking up. Just when I was about to cancel the appointment, I remembered I left my car at a different friend’s house, the one who lives 2 blocks away!

I love telling this story because it reinforces the idea that the solution is always contained within the problem. If had taken a second to write down my problem, it would have gone something like this:

“I need to get to an appointment and my car is at a friend’s house.”

The solution to the problem starts right where the problem left off:

“My car is at a friend’s house, a friend that lives 2 blocks away.”

This particular situation is one of the more obvious examples of how you can find the solution contained within the problem, but I have had success applying this concept to more complex problems as well. This led me to break down the concept into a process that can be repeated over and over again.

Here is my 3-step process to find the solution hidden within any problem: Read the Rest of This Article »

5 Things That Were Given to Me for Nothing

Over the last year I have read lots of material on self-improvement and success. One common theme I found in almost everything I read was an emphasis on gratitude. In an effort to increase gratitude in my life, I have listed the top 5 things that have been given to me for nothing: Read the Rest of This Article »