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Tuesday, April 3, 2012

How to Tackle Problems and Get Real Results Better

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Have you ever been to a point of frustration with a project and you simply throw in the towel only to wake up the next day with the solution? Or perhaps you receive the "aha" moment while scrubbing your hair in the shower.
The art of de-focusing has been around for ages, and including this in your arsenal of problem solving tools makes it a potent solution to any problem.
Consider this for a moment: every problem has already been solved. It is only a matter of perspective and openness to seeing its solution.
Einstein is quoted as saying "The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." In other words, he talks about the need to let go and allow a new way of thinking to come in.
We cannot do this when we are forcing the problem's outcome or when we are attached to its solution and timeframe.
Here are two incredibly powerful practices to use in your de-focusing techniques. The first is to allow yourself distractions, and the second is to ask better questions.
Many of us are driven to produce results every day, and this is a great thing. However, there are going to be days where everything we do seems to run us into a wall. We simply cannot force our desired outcomes to occur daily. We may have great runs for days or weeks at a time; however, there will be moments when our best efforts are stalemated.
This is when we need a distraction. We can hit the golf course or gym instead of trying to "figure" it out now. Allowing ourselves some time to reflect, think without focus, or wander is incredibly valuable. This is the time when inspiration can hit us. This is why so many great ideas are found in showers and in sleep. Our minds continue to work on problems even when our focus is elsewhere. And when our old thinking patterns are focused on something else, space is created which allows new thoughts to creep in. These new thoughts are solutions to our old problems.
Referring to the art of asking better questions, one of the most important first questions to ask is, "What is the real problem?" Too many times people jump to address problems before the real problem is identified. They may address the cause and not the effect. When we do not identify the real problem, we will not be able to find its solution.
Once we identify the real problem, there are a few more great questions to ponder. One of them is, "What assumptions am I making that I do not realize I am making that give me what I see?" Another one is, "What do I not see?"
Spending some time pondering these questions can save us a lot of time and money, and they can prevent huge mistakes from occurring. What this all boils down to is thinking time.
Thinking time is a tool to be used weekly and perhaps daily. There is truly focused thinking time where we spend an hour or more with one of the above questions. Or thinking time can be unfocused when we play golf or enjoy a walk and try to not focus on any specific questions.
Both types of thinking time are needed to maintain an edge in today's professional games. Instituting this into our weekly and daily routines will offer game-changing advantages. It is not about the daily or quick return results anymore. It is about seeing what we do not see and staying ahead of the game with long-term results.
Matthew Scott K is a father, husband, entrepreneur, author, speaker, and coach, who is based out of Gunnison, Colorado. He is heavily invested in mentoring and the education of today's youth while focusing on working with people who are seeking life mastery.
Matthew currently coaches people in a boxing class he calls Fight 4 Your Life and through Ollin Academy. Ollin Academy offers multiple lessons on various facets of life designed to help people bring all their heart into experience.
Matthew has a special offer at his blog for people seeking more accountability and clarity in their life. You can find it here along with other great resources http://www.MatthewScottK.com.
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