“To solve any problem, here are three questions to ask yourself:
First, what could I do?
Second, what could I read?
And third, who could I ask?”
- Jim Rohn
The above quote is very wise as it reminds us that when we have a problem to solve that we don’t have to do it all on our own. Often times when we are presented with a problem in our life we tend to take the problem fully upon our shoulders to solve. Many times when we do this we become overwhelmed at what appears to be the enormity of solving the problem at hand. When we become overwhelmed we sometimes become paralyzed, not knowing what to do first or how to solve the problem and while we hesitate the problem often increases in size and intensity which creates more frustration and further paralysis.
Jim Rohn gets it right in the above quote; first ask what can I do? What tools and magic tricks do I have in my bag that will help me to solve this problem? We often can solve many problems on our own. If we discover we don’t have the resources at hand to solve the problem then we move to the second step and ask what can I read that will give me the tools to solve this problem? I do this all of the time. With the advent of the internet I don’t hesitate to do a search for how I might solve a particular problem. I have taught myself how to do many things by searching the internet or buying a book and teaching myself the skills I need to solve a particular problem. Recently I switched jobs and in the process picked up responsibilities to do certain tasks that I did not have the skills to do. Did I sit and grind my teeth and lose sleep worrying about when it would be discovered that I lacked certain skills to perform my new role? No, I immediately went to the book store and bought books to learn the new skills I needed. I also surfed the internet and sought out knowledge and taught myself how to accomplish what I needed to do and no one was the wiser!
I also followed the third step and I asked another person to help me to quickly learn the skills that I needed to learn. As a matter of fact, over the last few weeks I have reached out to many people to help me understand and learn certain elements of my new role. I didn’t hesitate to ask for help. I did not let my ego or pride get in the way and now a few weeks later I feel confident about the tasks and problems that are now on my plate.
Many a person has allowed a problem to beat them to death simply because they were to prideful, too embarrassed or too fearful to seek out the advice of others. Many times we think we are somehow special and that our problem is unique to us. I can assure you that someone out there has experienced and survived any problem that you may encounter and often times those people are already in our life. We must have the courage to approach ourselves and others with love when we are attempting to solve a problem and know that there is no shame in not knowing it all, there is no shame in asking for help.
The interesting thing is that other people often loved to be asked for help. When we help others it gives us a chance to not only help another but also to sharpen our skills and learn more than we knew before. I have learned more and faster when I am in the role of the teacher than when I am in the role of the student. This is because when I am in the role of the teacher I have to learn more to ensure I can give the correct instruction and be prepared to answer or find answers to the student’s questions.
Remember also when we involve other people they can often see our problem from a perspective that we may be missing. Sometimes ninety percent of solving a problem is shifting ones perspective.
What problem are you sitting on? What problem has you stumped, worried, keeping you awake at night? What problem are you too embarrassed to share with another or to prideful to admit that you need help? If you have a problem that you don’t know how to solve, be it a relationship problem, a financial problem, a health problem, a spiritual problem then research for a solution and/or reach out to other people for help. You will be surprised at how good it will feel to share your problem with another or to find a solution in another resource. Many times you will also be surprised at the simplicity of the solution.
Remember even the Lone Ranger had Tonto!
“The important thing about a problem is not its solution, but the strength we gain in finding the solution” - Unknown
The above quote is very wise as it reminds us that when we have a problem to solve that we don’t have to do it all on our own. Often times when we are presented with a problem in our life we tend to take the problem fully upon our shoulders to solve. Many times when we do this we become overwhelmed at what appears to be the enormity of solving the problem at hand. When we become overwhelmed we sometimes become paralyzed, not knowing what to do first or how to solve the problem and while we hesitate the problem often increases in size and intensity which creates more frustration and further paralysis.
Jim Rohn gets it right in the above quote; first ask what can I do? What tools and magic tricks do I have in my bag that will help me to solve this problem? We often can solve many problems on our own. If we discover we don’t have the resources at hand to solve the problem then we move to the second step and ask what can I read that will give me the tools to solve this problem? I do this all of the time. With the advent of the internet I don’t hesitate to do a search for how I might solve a particular problem. I have taught myself how to do many things by searching the internet or buying a book and teaching myself the skills I need to solve a particular problem. Recently I switched jobs and in the process picked up responsibilities to do certain tasks that I did not have the skills to do. Did I sit and grind my teeth and lose sleep worrying about when it would be discovered that I lacked certain skills to perform my new role? No, I immediately went to the book store and bought books to learn the new skills I needed. I also surfed the internet and sought out knowledge and taught myself how to accomplish what I needed to do and no one was the wiser!
I also followed the third step and I asked another person to help me to quickly learn the skills that I needed to learn. As a matter of fact, over the last few weeks I have reached out to many people to help me understand and learn certain elements of my new role. I didn’t hesitate to ask for help. I did not let my ego or pride get in the way and now a few weeks later I feel confident about the tasks and problems that are now on my plate.
Many a person has allowed a problem to beat them to death simply because they were to prideful, too embarrassed or too fearful to seek out the advice of others. Many times we think we are somehow special and that our problem is unique to us. I can assure you that someone out there has experienced and survived any problem that you may encounter and often times those people are already in our life. We must have the courage to approach ourselves and others with love when we are attempting to solve a problem and know that there is no shame in not knowing it all, there is no shame in asking for help.
The interesting thing is that other people often loved to be asked for help. When we help others it gives us a chance to not only help another but also to sharpen our skills and learn more than we knew before. I have learned more and faster when I am in the role of the teacher than when I am in the role of the student. This is because when I am in the role of the teacher I have to learn more to ensure I can give the correct instruction and be prepared to answer or find answers to the student’s questions.
Remember also when we involve other people they can often see our problem from a perspective that we may be missing. Sometimes ninety percent of solving a problem is shifting ones perspective.
What problem are you sitting on? What problem has you stumped, worried, keeping you awake at night? What problem are you too embarrassed to share with another or to prideful to admit that you need help? If you have a problem that you don’t know how to solve, be it a relationship problem, a financial problem, a health problem, a spiritual problem then research for a solution and/or reach out to other people for help. You will be surprised at how good it will feel to share your problem with another or to find a solution in another resource. Many times you will also be surprised at the simplicity of the solution.
Remember even the Lone Ranger had Tonto!