the problem is not the problem
DESCRIPTION
People are fascinated with getting ahead and being successful in their personal and professional lives. Generally, this has to do with their ability to solve problems, identify obstacles in their path, and figure out how to move past them. Regardless of profession, each of us is on the hook to solve problems ranging from the trivial to the intractable. But “problem” is an overused word. We assign the label to almost every imperfect situation we encounter, then deal with all of them in roughly the same way: either we avoid them or tackle them head-on. Then we wonder what happened when, lo and behold, our kneejerk “solutions” turn against us. For all our efforts to conquer the skill, for all the value we place on those who do it well, we too often ignore a critical truth about problem-solving: problems are not always problems. More accurately, there is a range of problem types, and a range of different strategies appropriate for handling them. We just can’t tell the difference.TRANSCRIPT
The Problem is Not the Problem
Harry Max, VP Product & Design!Jim Meyer, VP Product & Development!!Rackspace Hosting
#sxrackspace
There’s no sense in being precise when you don’t even know what you’re talking about.
John von Neumann
#sxrackspace
I’m a problem solver.
#sxrackspace
You’re a problem solver.
#sxrackspace
It’s what we do.
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#sxrackspace
Let’s unpack that.
#sxrackspace
“The problem is …” is problematic.
#sxrackspace
We go looking for problems.
#sxrackspace
Sometimes we make the problem.
#sxrackspace
Most of the time, we don’t realize what the problem really is.
#sxrackspace
Repairing vs. Creating Value
#sxrackspace
Repairing vs. Creating Value
#sxrackspace
The Problem is Not the Problem
Difficulty to solve
Scop
e of
impa
ct
Trivial Brutal
Smal
lEp
ic
#sxrackspace
The Problem is Not the Problem
Difficulty to solve
Scop
e of
impa
ct
Trivial Brutal
Smal
lEp
ic
Issue
Problem
Predicament
Quagmire
Potential!Disaster
ELE
Dilemma
#sxrackspace
The Problem is Not the Problem
Difficulty to solve
Scop
e of
impa
ct
Trivial Brutal
Smal
lEp
ic
Issue
Problem
Predicament
Quagmire
Potential!Disaster
ELE
Dilemma
By definition, problems can be solved
#sxrackspace
The Problem is Not the Problem
Difficulty to solve
Scop
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impa
ct
Trivial Brutal
Smal
lEp
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Issue
Problem
Predicament
Quagmire
Potential!Disaster
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Dilemma
Dilemmas require you to choose
#sxrackspace
The Problem is Not the Problem
Difficulty to solve
Scop
e of
impa
ct
Trivial Brutal
Smal
lEp
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Issue
Problem
Predicament
Quagmire
Potential!Disaster
ELE
Dilemma
Issues may need to be addressed
#sxrackspace
The Problem is Not the Problem
Difficulty to solve
Scop
e of
impa
ct
Trivial Brutal
Smal
lEp
ic
Issue
Problem
Predicament
Quagmire
Potential!Disaster
ELE
Dilemma
Predicaments are problems that!can’t be solved, by definition
#sxrackspace
The Problem is Not the Problem
Difficulty to solve
Scop
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impa
ct
Trivial Brutal
Smal
lEp
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Problem
Predicament
Quagmire
Potential!Disaster
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Dilemma
Quagmires are predicaments that!get worse as you try to solve them!
#sxrackspace
The Problem is Not the Problem
Difficulty to solve
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impa
ct
Trivial Brutal
Smal
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Potential!Disaster
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Potential disasters are scary
#sxrackspace
The Problem is Not the Problem
Difficulty to solve
Scop
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impa
ct
Trivial Brutal
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lEp
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Predicament
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Potential!Disaster
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Extinction level events, if they !come to pass, end it all.
#sxrackspace
The Problem is Not the Problem
Difficulty to solve
Scop
e of
impa
ct
Trivial Brutal
Smal
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Problem
Predicament
Quagmire
Potential!Disaster
ELE
Dilemma
Solve
#sxrackspace
The Problem is Not the Problem
Difficulty to solve
Scop
e of
impa
ct
Trivial Brutal
Smal
lEp
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Issue
Problem
Predicament
Quagmire
Potential!Disaster
ELE
Dilemma
Solve Manage
#sxrackspace
The Problem is Not the Problem
Difficulty to solve
Scop
e of
impa
ct
Trivial Brutal
Smal
lEp
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Issue
Problem
Predicament
Quagmire
Potential!Disaster
ELE
Dilemma
Solve Manage Mind
#sxrackspace
The Problem is Not the Problem
Difficulty to solve
Scop
e of
impa
ct
Trivial Brutal
Smal
lEp
ic
Issue
Problem
Predicament
Quagmire
Potential!Disaster
ELE
Dilemma
Solve Manage Mind Plan
#sxrackspace
So, where should you focus?
#sxrackspace
The Problem is Not the Problem
Difficulty to solve
Scop
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impa
ct
Trivial Brutal
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lEp
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Problem
Predicament
Quagmire
Potential!Disaster
ELE
Dilemma
Solve Manage Mind Plan
START HERELess effort, !more impact
#sxrackspace
The Problem is Not the Problem
Difficulty to solve
Scop
e of
impa
ct
Trivial Brutal
Smal
lEp
ic
Issue
Problem
Predicament
Quagmire
Potential!Disaster
ELE
Dilemma
Solve Manage Mind Plan
WORK ABOVE THE LINE
Things down here are lower impact
#sxrackspace
There’s no sense in being precise when you don’t even know what you’re talking about.
John von Neumann
#sxrackspace
The problem is not the problem.