9 Steps for Solving Any Problem

An excerpt from the bestseller
“How to Completely Change Your Life in 30 Seconds”
By Robert C. Worstell - edited from the talks of
Earl Nightingale
Listen Now: http://livesensical.com/go/28cyl-ss/

Nine Steps for Solving Any Problem - 1
For any problem, no matter how big or complex it
may be, there is a solution. Use these nine steps to find
it!
What are the similarities in problem solving, decision
making, and goal achievement?
Actually, they're alike in many ways. A decision that must
be made is little more than a problem awaiting a solution.
We might even call it a simple problem. When we're faced
with a decision, we rarely have to choose between more
than two or three alternatives, whereas, in solving a
problem, we sometimes face what seems to be an endless
list of possibilities. And, what about goal achievement? Isn't
a goal a point we wish to reach? The problem is to move
from where we are now, to where we want to be. So,
problem solving, decision making, and goal achievement
are all closely related functions of creative thinking. It's
important that we keep this in mind.
The first step in solving any problem is to define it. You
should always be sure you understand a problem before you
go to work on its solution.
Next, you should write down everything you know about
the problem. This information might come from your own
experience, from books that contain background and
statistical data, the Internet, or from friends and business
associates who know something about the area in which the
problem lies.
Third, decide whom to see. List the names of people and
organizations that are recognized authorities on the
problem. This is your opportunity to go "all out" for the
facts. After determining who can help you, contact them,
talk with them, and pick their brains for all the information
they possess that can help you solve the problem.

After doing this, be sure to make a note of each thing that's
germane to the problem. Don't risk forgetting anything that
could help you find the solution.
The fifth step in solving a problem creatively is called
"Individual Ideation." This is personal "brainstorming," or
thinking with the brakes of judgment off! Don't try to decide
whether an idea is good or bad -just write it down the
moment it comes to you. You can pick and choose - what
you're after is a lot of ideas.
Remember the four rules for brainstorming: (1) No negative
thinking; (2) The wilder the ideas, the better; (3) A large
number of ideas is essential; and (4) Combination and
improvement of ideas is what you're after.
One idea often leads to another, better idea. Don't worry if
some of your ideas seem far-fetched or impractical. You're
looking for all the ideas you can possibly find.
Don't reject any – write them all down!
Then Group Brainstorm. This is your opportunity to put the
minds of others to work on the problem. Handle this
session the same way you did your "Individual Ideation."
No negative thinking, no criticism at this stage; the wilder
the ideas the better; get as many ideas as possible; and, try
for idea combination and improvement. Write down all the
ideas the group comes up with.
When you have all your ideas written down, rate them for
effectiveness and facility. The effectiveness scale ranges
from "very effective" to "probably effective" to "doubtful."
And the facility scale ranges from "easy" to "not so easy" to
"difficult." The rating of ideas will clearly indicate the likely
success of any possible solution. Of course, it's best to
Report excerpted from How to Completely Change
Your Life in 30 Seconds

consider first the idea or ideas that are rated both "very
effective" and "easy."
Suppose you're a manufacturer. And suppose your sales and
marketing team brainstorming comes up with some ideas to
increase sales. Let's say one of the ideas is to revamp
completely one of the products that your company is
offering to the public. Let's rate this idea in terms of
effectiveness. You know the present product meets a need
and is acceptable to the buying public. What about an
entirely changed product? Without a lot of marketing tests
and then a period of actual manufacturing for sale, it would
be hard to say just how effective this idea would be in
increasing sales. Better rate it "doubtful"
And how does this idea of completely revamping one of the
products check out in the facility area -"easy," "not so easy,"
or "difficult"? It would be "difficult," wouldn't it? It would
require new engineering, new tools, new manufacturing
plans, new packaging, and new marketing methods.
Suppose, however, that one of the salesperson's ideas is to
run TV advertisements for the company's product on one of
the major television networks. This would be "probably
effective" and would be "not so easy," but it could be done.
Let's say another idea is to set up a new sales incentive
program, a program directed to those people who are at the
front of the problem, the salespeople. If it were a well-
designed and - implemented incentive program with
predictable compensation for increased performance, it
would stand a good chance of being "very effective." It
would be relatively "easy" to do. It should increase the
company's sales.
There are many other evaluation yardsticks you might use.
Two more are time and money. Try rating your ideas

against these measurements. For example, in the case of a
manufacturer who wants to increase its sales, certainly to
change the product would take a great deal of time and
money. And to advertise it on a popular network television
program would cost a great deal. On the other hand, to
introduce a new sales incentive program might be neither
too costly nor too time consuming.
Remember, when you evaluate your ideas, measure them
against these four yardsticks: effectiveness, facility, time,
and cost. Every idea you have may not be worth creative
action, and that's why you must skillfully evaluate each of
them. But once you've carefully judged your ideas, take
action.
Enter your ideas into an "Action Plan": decide who should
do it, when it should be done, when to start, and how to do
it. These are all important considerations because the
execution of the solution is just as important as the solution
itself.
Be certain to give yourself a deadline for putting your plan
into action. We work hardest and most efficiently when we
know there is a definite time element involved. So, make a
note of the date when you must put your solution to work.
It's good to remember that timing is often critical when a
new idea is introduced. Carefully calculate the deadline in
the light of the general situation. You might write down a
second date -the one by which you intend to have the action
completed and the problem solved.
Remember what was said earlier about problem solving,
decision making, and goal achievement? They have a great
deal in common. They can all be attacked in much the same
way.

For any problem ... no matter how big or complex it may
be ... there is a solution. All you have to do is find it! History
is filled with people who believed a problem did not have a
solution and they did not find it, and people who believed
there was a solution and they did find it -same problem,
different perspective, one successful and one not. Which
type of person will you be?
Remember these steps for brainstorming your
ideas:
1. Define the problem.
2. Write down everything you know about the problem.
3. Decide what people and resources to bring into the
solution.
4. Make a note of everything that is germane to the
problem.
5. Conduct a personal brainstorming Individual
Ideation.
6. Utilize Group Brainstorming and rate your ideas for
effectiveness, facility, time, and cost.
7. Evaluate your ideas for the best options.
8. Create an "Action Plan."
9. Give yourself a deadline for putting your plan into
action.

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