Day 16: Frame the Right Problem – or Solve the Wrong One
The question you ask determines the answer you get – make sure you’re solving the right problem.
THINGS TO CONSIDER
KEY INSIGHT: Most people spend 90% of their time solving problems and only 10% defining them. But the quality of your solution is capped by the quality of your problem definition. Master the art of reframing, and you’ll solve problems others don’t even see.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: Think of a recent decision that didn’t turn out as expected. Looking back, were you solving the right problem, or were you like the GPS example – efficiently heading to the wrong destination? What would you have asked differently?
TODAY’S EXERCISE: Take your biggest current decision and write it as a problem statement. Now rewrite it different ways, each focusing on a different aspect (timing, resources, relationships, long-term impact, etc.). Which version reveals the most important insights? Which one changes how you’d approach the decision?