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by Rick Baker
On Nov 17, 2009
For every Problem, there are at least 2 Solutions and there may also be some hidden Opportunities.
In his LITTLE GOLD BOOK of YES1 Attitude [2007], Jeffrey Gitomer states, “Instead of griping or wallowing in your problems, why not spend the same amount of time working on solutions? Being solution-oriented has done more for me and my path to success than any single strategy. Every obstacle presents an opportunity – if you’re looking for it. If you’re too busy concentrating on the problem, the opportunity will pass you by. "
P=2S+O aligns well with the direction of Gitomer’s thinking.
Is there a better way to ensure solution-orientation than linking Solutions to Problems in a formula?
I don’t think so.
The same applies to Opportunities.
P=2S+O, however, is not as demanding about Opportunities as it is about Solutions. For Solutions, there is no option. If there is a Problem then there must always be at least 2 Solutions attached to that Problem. On the other hand, for Opportunities, there may or may not be one attached to the Problem.
Why?
I do not agree with Gitomer’s point, “Every obstacle presents an opportunity – if you’re looking for it.”
That’s not been my experience.
Sometimes Opportunities are hiding in Problems.
Sometimes Opportunities are not hiding in Problems.
Even if I am wrong and Opportunities always hide in every Problem, most times there is a diminishing return trying to get them out of their hiding spots.
If a situation is annoying enough to count as a Problem requiring our attention then we must replace that Problem with a good Solution. That’s what P=2S+O demands. We must convert Problems into Solutions.
Bosses like that - Clients like that - Co-workers like that... etc.
From time to time as we work at finding and doing Solutions we come across Opportunities.
The key is having an open mind...a mind open to receiving Opportunities when they visit.
Based on this thinking, P=2S+O means: for every Problem, there are at least 2 Solutions and there may also be some hidden Opportunities.
More about Opportunities in the next blog...
by Rick Baker
On Nov 12, 2009
For every Problem, there are at least 2 Solutions and there may also be some hidden Opportunities.
Link to P=2S+O worksheet/template.
[click to download]
In the last blog I mentioned P=2S+O is about thinking…thinking aimed at success.
I recently read ‘HOW SUCCESFUL PEOPLE THINK, Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life’, John C. Maxwell, 2009.
Here is a link to John C. Maxwell
http://www.johnmaxwell.com
Providing a formula like P=2S+O is intended to be a starting point.
Tools are required to help our people excel at converting Problems into Solutions and Opportunities.
We create tools for problem-solving.
And, we seek out the advice of experts...seminars, audio tapes, books, etc.
John Maxwell’s little book - HOW SUCCESFUL PEOPLE THINK, Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life - is as good a guide as I have come across. In clear and simple words, John introduces several types of thinking and he provides some good suggestions on Why we should and How we can approach thinking from different directions.
Here are samples of John Maxwell suggestions that fit very well with P=2S+O:
HARNESS CREATIVE THINKING - Characteristics of Creative Thinkers:
- Creative Thinkers value ideas
- Creative Thinkers explore options
- Creative Thinkers embrace ambiguity
- Creative Thinkers celebrate the offbeat
- Creative Thinkers connect the unconnected
- Creative Thinkers don’t fear failure
EXPLORE POSSIBILITY THINKING – why you should become a Possibility Thinker:
- Possibility thinking increases your possibilities
- Possibility thinking draws opportunities and people to you
- Possibility thinking increases others’ possibilities
- Possibility thinking allows you to dream big dreams
- Possibility thinking makes it possible to rise above average
- Possibility thinking gives you energy
- Possibility thinking keeps you from giving up
P=2S+Omeshes well with thinking as John Maxwell describes it...thinking aimed at Success.
More on this in the next blog...
by Rick Baker
On Nov 10, 2009
For every Problem, there are at least 2 Solutions and there may also be some hidden Opportunities.
Link to P=2S+O worksheet/template.
[click to download]
In the first blog of this series I mentioned realists should call problems Problems. That is, we will do better if we don’t mince words or try to pretty up words in an effort to make sure other folks see us as optimists or positive-thinkers.
Clarity is important.
I ended the last blog saying, “We encourage our people to seek out Problems”.
Why?
There are many reasons why we say and do these things:
- Communication improves when words are straightforward and simple
- Problems are catalysts for business Change
- Change brings progress
- Solution-orientation is the best direction
- Simple tools improve both communication and results
- Every Problem does have many Solutions...so, thinking of 2 isn’t that tough a challenge
- Opportunities do ‘ride on the wings of adversity’...not all the time, but sometimes
The better question is, Why Not!
- Why Not force ourselves to spend quality time with Problems!
- Why Not force ourselves to come up with multiple Solutions for our Problems!
- Why Not force ourselves to think about Opportunities every time we think about Problems!
- Why Not force ourselves to write all this down simply and clearly on one page!
- Why Not share these pages with our co-workers!
- Why Not show our bosses Solutions...regularly!
- Why Not show our bosses Opportunities...from time to time!
P=2S+Oisn’t just a work guide and a communication tool,
P=2S+O is a piece of business philosophy.
P=2S+O is about thinking...thinking aimed at success.
More on this in the next blog...
by Rick Baker
On Nov 5, 2009
For every Problem, there are at least 2 Solutions and there may also be some hidden Opportunities.
As promised in the last blog, here is a link to the P=2S+O worksheet/template. [click to download]
The worksheet is easy enough to use.
I kept it to one page.
At one page, people should be more inclined to use it. At one page, it can fit into a binder. Several copies can be printed in advance and completed later as Problems arise throughout the day.
I would like to thank the author Dan Kennedy - NO B.S. Ruthless Management of People & Profits, 2008, Figure 37.1, Problem-Solution Communication Template – for the idea of using a straightforward one-page format for communicating Problem-Solutions.
Here is a link to Dan Kennedy
http://www.nobsbooks.com
Bosses think things like, ‘Don’t bring me problems, bring me solutions’.
Dan Kennedy provided an easy way to do that.
When I read Dan’s book, his template jumped out as a great fit with our P=2S+O philosophy. I adapted Dan’s template.
So, now we have a P=2S+O worksheet/template.
We encourage our people to use the template.
We go beyond saying, “Don’t bring me Problems, bring me Solutions”.
We say, “Bring me Problems and bring me Solutions, and, from time to time, bring me Opportunities”.
We encourage our people to seek out Problems.
More on this in the next blog...
by Rick Baker
On Nov 3, 2009
Some time ago, I made up the math formula P=2S+O.
It means, for every Problem there are always Solutions and there are often hidden Opportunities.
P=2S+O is a philosophical statement.
P=2S+O is a positive-thinking tool.
P=2S+O is a problem-solving tool.
In a series of a few blogs, I will explain things from the philosophy behind P=2S+O to the practical value it provides for problem-solving.
Perhaps the best starting point is “P”.
P = Problem
“You can’t start a formula with Problems. That’s pessimistic. You must start with Solutions or Opportunities!”
“You can not call problems Problems. You need to come up with a less-negative description.”
I’ve heard that.
I have disagreed.
Problems are Problems.
We do not need to make it prettier or any more complicated or any more palatable than that.
This ‘let’s just call problems Problems’ approach ties in with two other pieces of philosophy I embrace:
- Seek Simple [when things are straightforward, keep them that way]
- Seek Obvious [more on this later, or Google ‘Obvious Adams’ if you can not wait]
So, the formula starts with P... for Problem.
For every Problem there are at least 2 Solutions and there may be hidden Opportunities.
Bosses tend to buy into this.
Bosses have said things like, “Don’t bring me problems - show me solutions.”
And, that’s the main reason the formula P=2S+O was created. It was designed to help business people convert Problems into Solutions. Later, a ‘worksheet/template’ – a hands-on tool – was developed to help people.
At the next blog, I will provide the worksheet/template and more discussion of – Why use P=2S+O?
Also, I will explain why spending time thinking about Problems is not the work of a pessimist…it is the work of a realist.
by Rick Baker
On Jul 6, 2009
Last week I met a fellow...an entrepreneur.
As we exchanged information about ourselves, he mentioned doing business with Disney.
I asked - how did you get that done?
He told me the story...
Several years ago, he and his partner were enthusiastically going about building a business. They met regularly on Sunday evenings to strategize for the upcoming week. One Sunday night they were discussing the difficulty they were having 'making contact' with Disney. They had made numerous attempts to connect with the 'key contact', who happened to be female.
Numerous attempts, phone messages, etc - zero success.
Then, one Sunday evening as they were strategizing, they decided they would send a bouquet of flowers to the lady with a note 'From the guys who have been bugging you for a meeting'.
They sent the bouquet of flowers the following day.
That generated a positive response.
They met the lady at Disney.
Then they did the deal with Disney.
[What a nice little story and lesson on cold calling.]
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