ExecTec on Solutions not Problems

I said this a few weeks back but in case you have been to wrapped up in work or life, times are tough and things are not getting better.

You need not look far to see the gravity of the situation and I do not think there is any business that is immune to what is happening.

So the question is are you part of the solution or part of the problem?

Are you focused on problems? Do you spend your day whacking moles and participating in fiscal search and rescues? Is the first question, when faced with a perplexed co-worker, out of your mouth what is wrong?

If this topic is resonating with you then perhaps you are slipping into the role of being part of the problem and not part of the solution.

Honestly, how much time and energy are you focusing on solutions and not problems? The difference is subtle but the effect of being solution oriented is very powerful.

In a time when things are going wrong at every turn it is so easy to say we can't and to focus one why not. But what is really needed is to focus one what we can do and what we should be doing.

Jason Calacanis in his most recent email (if you wish to subscribe to Jason's emails click here or if you want me to forward you a copy send me a note) titled the 120% solution talks about how as a society have been wasting 20% of out time, effort, money and not we must focus 120% efforts to recover. Maybe he is right, but I will take things in a different direction and say we must focus on solutions not problems!

Ok so what can you do:

A) Take some time and learn about SOLVE which is a problem solving system. While I am sure it is well covered in many learned texts used at the finest of B-Schools, I first came across this system in Stephen C. Finch's book Winnie-the-Pooh on Problem Solving. Which I higly recommend and to those of you who are to busy whacking mole to order a copy from Amazon, I offer this solution: download this excellent summary here.

B) Get on Twitter and figure out how it can be a solution for you: ok I know you are all tired of hearing it from me but simply put if you are generally late to get on board with new technologies here is your chance to change that. The Wall Street Journal has an excellent intro to twitter (see even the WSJ gets it) which is a must read for getting started. Follow that up with Guy Kawasaki's post How to Use Twitter as a Twool. {if you just muttered that you do not have time to do this then might I point out that you are focusing on the problem once again and not a solution}

C) Network, Network, Network: I know you don't have time to network, but do you have time to get more customers? Do you have time to convert some inventory into much needed cash? Do you have time to save money on some of your "fixed" expenses? All these things are possible with the right connections. What is your company paying on for their cellular service? Might one of your contacts know someone who could provide that or some other service for less money. Simply put what you don't know can't help you. Reach out to your network and offer your best solutions in exchange for theirs.

D) Get out of your comfort zone: What is that something that you have not tried because you simple were not comfortable trying it. Why not ask a supplier for a better rate or discount. Now might be a great time to try that which you have been avoiding.

The potential solutions are limitless one need only focus their efforts on solving problems and not the problems themselves.

So join us as we explore solutions and how in these challenging times we can help each other get ahead!

If you can't join us why not solve that problem by sharing a solution at the bottom of this topic

As always, there is no better way to meet and connect with other executives then over dinner and conversation. $21 in advance via PayPal or $25 at the event gets you a full dinner, drink and the best networking around.