How to Solve Problems

A fact that is often unknown is that 99% of people are unsuccessful because they cannot solve problems. The Average Person has Average Problems. Once you become better than Average, you’ll get bigger than average problems. Do you want to join the ranks of the 1%? You need to handle the hardest 1% of problems. Luckily, learning how to solve problems is a skill that you can develop.

Did your car engine stop? Are you feeling sick? Do you keep forgetting where you put your keys? What do the three previous sentences have in common? They all showcase problems. Although they are all different problems, the basic process to solve problems like these is the same. This article will provide you with some general knowledge on how to solve problems that apply to all situations imaginable.

The basic process of solving problems is, Analyze. Locate. Act. Solve. Of course, there are a lot of details about each of the four parts of the process. This article will cover the basics of how to solve problems. Now, before we learn how to solve problems, we must first know, what a problem even is. This brings me to the next point of the article.

What is A Problem?

A problem is an obstacle. A condition or situation that prevents us from having or keeping what we want and need. When a problem is solved, there is ALWAYS a reward that comes from solving it. A problem is an obstacle preventing us from obtaining our goal. Without the problem, that barrier to our goal is removed and we have an open path to getting what we want.

Here are some examples:

Let’s say you have a kidney stone and it causes extreme pain. The problem is the kidney stone and the symptom of the problem is the pain you feel. Your reward for solving this problem is to eliminate the pain and feel normal again.
You cannot find your car keys. The problem is caused by a lack of memory and the problem is that you cannot drive your car. Your reward for solving this problem is to be able to drive again.
You are hiking on a sunny day, but you forgot to take water with you. The problem is caused by a lack of preparation and the problem is that you need to quench your thirst. The reward for this is to no longer feel thirsty and preventing dehydration.
Let’s say you are struggling to pay your bills. The problem is a lack of income, the symptom is being unable to pay your bills. Your reward for solving the problem of insufficient income means you’ll be able to pay your bills.

Is Your Problem a Problem?

What may be considered a problem to one person, may not be a problem to someone else, even if they share the same situation. Some problems are serious problems that affect one’s ability to live. These problems affect the lives of those that have not solved the problem yet. These are real problems that everyone will experience. However, some people will experience problems that only affect their own life. These problems are made up in their mind and are not experienced by everyone in their same situation. Let’s dive into this idea a little more.

What are problems that would make everyone’s life more difficult? These problems all have to do with your basic needs so you can continue living. Food, water, shelter, health. These things are necessary regardless of who you are. If you don’t have these things, it’s a problem that you need to fix urgently. Here’s why they are necessary:

Without Food, you cannot survive for more than 40 days.
Without Water, you cannot survive for more than two days.
Without Shelter, you’ll be exposed to the elements and dangers which will put your at risk for illness and death.
without a certain level of health, you’ll be limited in what you can do and you may shorten your life.

Which Problems Are Not Problematic to Everyone

Examples of problems that are not necessary for survival:

Feeling the need to buy a new TV because the old one broke. What caused the problem is that the old TV broke and the problem is that you no longer have this source of entertainment. Buying a new TV would solve this problem.
Wanting to scroll on social media but not having access to the internet. What caused the problem is that there isn’t internet access and the problem is that you cannot entertain yourself. Finding internet access would solve this problem.
Lacking energy because you haven’t had caffeine recently. What caused the problem is a lack of caffeine and reduced focus while working. Making a cup of coffee would solve the problem.

These are problems that are problematic only for some people rather than everyone. The reason for this is that not everyone has the needs that these people have. Some people do and some don’t. These are needs that are secondary and not primary. Primary needs are the things that someone needs to survive. Secondary needs are the things that improve our quality of life or entertain us.

Analyze / Identify what the Problem is

The first of the four steps required to solve problems is to analyze and identify what the problem is, where it comes from, and the reward for solving it. It is important to spend time analyzing the problem and going over all of your options. Make sure you analyze the problem correctly. It’s a common mistake to think that the symptom is the problem, but it’s not. If you try to fix the symptom, the problem will remain. Here’s some examples:

if you break your ankle. You might be tempted to say that your foot being blue and purple is the problem. But this is a symptom. The real problem is that your bone is broken. If you treat the color of your skin, you’ll still have pain and other issues because the main problem is not being addressed.
If you see water on the floor, you may be tempted to say that this is the problem. However, the problem is a leak. You may be tempted to say that your leaking pipes are the problem, but this may also be a symptom. The actual problem might be a blockage in the pipes causing the water to push through the joints in the pipes which is causing the flooding. However, if you simply start mopping up the water, the problem will remain and you’ll continue to have more water flooding onto the floor in the future.

Analyze the Solutions

Once you know what the problem is, you might find that you have multiple options to solve the problem. It’s important to thoroughly analyze and understand all of the options you have for a problem. As the problem gets more difficult, it may feel like there isn’t a solution to the problem. However, this is rarely the case. With a little resourcefulness and creativity, you can usually solve the problems you find. Once you know what your options are, you can choose the easiest or the best solution. Here’s some examples:

If the problem is that you need something but don’t have money, there are multiple solutions to this problem. You could get additional income so that you can buy what you need, and there’s many ways to accomplish this such as numerous types of jobs and side hustles. You could ask to borrow what you need from a friend or family member. Or you could hire a someone that has what you need for a cheaper price than it would cost to buy what you need, such as paying $20 to get your yard mowed rather than spending $150 on a lawn mower.

Understanding Your Options

By understanding what the problem is and what your options are, you will have the opportunity to judge each of your options and choose the best one for you. In most cases, the easiest solution to the problem is the best solution. Sometimes you’ll find that you can solve a problem before it even exists. Or you may be able to just avoid the problem, (effectively making it not a problem anymore).

Let’s say that there is a roadblock to where you need to go. The problem is the backed up traffic and the reward for solving this problem would be a great increase in travel time. You might find that the simplest solution would be to take a different route or leaving at a different time so that you can avoid the traffic jam all together.
You may find a certain vending machine at your office is always stealing your money. The problem is that the vending machine glitches. The reward for solving this problem is that you save money. You might find that the simplest solution is to use a different vending machine from now on.

Analyzing the problem to understand what the symptoms are, what the problem is, what the rewards are, and all of your options is the first step to solving problems.

Pay Attention to the Details

A solution is often discovered by remembering the details. When you have observed a problem and cannot find a solution, focus on the details. Here’s an example of a problem with the solution hidden in the details:

When I was young, I had a PSP, (PlayStation Portable.) I used to play on it for hours. One day I lost it. I convinced my mom to help me search the entire house for it. We checked all the obvious spots at least 10 times. We started by looking everywhere I usually charged it, and near the places I would often go such as around the TV. After about 3-4 hours of searching, my mom gave up. I kept looking. I searched the bathroom and the kitchen. It Still wasn’t there. Then I looked in very uncommon places. I checked the toilet, the entrance door, and every pocket in my clothes… Then I went to grab some water. I found the PSP there, it was inside the fridge.

The fridge is the last place to check for an electronic device. It’s such a small detail in my daily life that I didn’t even think to look there. Sometimes, remembering the details solves the problem.

Quote About Details

“God is in the details, you should be there too.” – Donald. J Trump.

Locate the Problem

Step 2/4 To solve problems you must locate them. Find out what it is that blocks what you want. After knowing where the problem is, you can decide if you should avoid it, face it, or find another way around it. Use the best strategy according to the situation. If you learn where the problem came from, you can prevent it from arising again. Examples of preventing problems from arising again include:

If you lose $10 and are unsure about the reason for the deduction from your bank account, you need to locate where this $10 went in order to prevent it from happening again.
If your bag smells terrible, you have to take out all the items it has and look at previous items to find which one caused the smell and remove it. This way your bag will not smell next time.
Let’s say you have a bottle of water and there is a leak. You should find where the leak is and a way to stop it to solve the problem.

Isolating the location of the problem, or where it comes from helps us find the right strategy to solve it.

Very Few Problems Solve Themselves

Think about it. How many problems can be solved if you don’t take any action? Apart from problems that may naturally resolve themselves through daily activities, I cannot think of many that solve themselves. For example, if you sleep you will feel rested. But that is a problem that gets solved by your natural need to sleep. sooner or later you were gonna sleep anyway. Here’s some examples:

Money will not make its way magically to your bank. You have to make it.
Food will not magically appear on your table. You have to get it.
Companionship will not appear out of nowhere, you have to talk to new people.
Muscles will not grow by themselves, you have to train them.

To solve problems, do not wait for them to solve themselves. This brings us to the next point of the article.

Action Solves Problems

The 3/4th step to solve problems is to take action to resolve the problem. After you have found out what the problem is, where it is, and have come up with solutions, it’s time to start acting. If the problem does not get solved easily, do not be discouraged. Solving some problems requires a lot of time and action. Here are some examples of problems that need a long time to be solved:

Building Muscle requires months even years for great results.
Making a profitable business may also require months or years.
Acquiring vast knowledge on any topic you wish to be an expert on requires a lot of time.

Keep being consistent. Oftentimes, we know the solutions to problems, but they require a lot of time to solve.

Solve Problems Now, Not Later.

If you let problems pile up, it will take time to solve them, so you should start now. If you don’t act, you will feel overwhelmed by the mountain of work that has assembled. It’s important to start getting things done today. This is also true for problems that require a long time to fix. The time will pass anyway, so why not start solving them now?

Quote About Procrastination

“Never Leave for tomorrow that which can be done today.” – Benjamin Franklin.

Solve the Problem.

The final step is to solve the problem and to receive the reward for doing so. After bypassing all the obstacles and having the solution in your hands it’s time to solve the problem. Apply the solutions to the problem and see if they work in solving it. If the solutions do not work, you have to think of different ones. Just revert to the previous steps, and think of them until you get a new solution.

So long as you know the step-by-step process to solve problems and remember all the tips given throughout the article, you should have no worries coming up with solutions to solve problems.

Solve Problems, Then Solve Problems Caused by Those Problems

Lastly, some problems will cause other problems that need solving. Examples of this include:

If you broke your arm, a variety of problems will arise because you can’t use it.
If your house catches fire, then there are more problems than the fire.
Kidney stones do not only cause pain but may also cause bleeding.

These problems can be damaging and annoying due to the effect they can have. But once you solve the problems caused by the previous problem you are good to go.

I hope you found some value in this article, and I wish you all the best to solve your problems.

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