Problems

February 11, 2008 · Comments

lego Dictionary.com gave me the following definitions for problem

  1. any question or matter involving doubt, uncertainty, or difficulty.
  2. a question proposed for solution or discussion.
  3. Mathematics. a statement requiring a solution, usually by means of a mathematical operation or geometric construction.

I believe that there are those people in life who love solving problems, and there are those who don’t. Some people love a mystery. They enjoy the question of whodunnit. They want to figure things out for themselves, all the way down to the last little bit. For these people, solving the problem is gratifying.

Not me.

I want the pieces so I can do something. I want to do something more than what’s been done before. I don’t want to answer the question “why?” I want to answer the question “what if?” I want to think more about what something will look like if you do THIS to it. Or what could you get out of your team’s efforts if you gave them THESE tools.

I think problem solvers are wonderful people. I think they’re necessary people. Cancer will possibly be cured by a problem solver. World hunger will maybe be solved by such a person. All life’s remaining mysteries might be put to definitive answers by problem solvers.

And yet.

And yet, I’m pretty much set on thinking along the lines of “What if?” It’s what I do. I wonder and muse and poke around the curiosities piles of life, not ever wondering where things came from, but thinking about how we might do X in such a way that might be interesting.

This gets me into weird conflicts with the world at times. Because, and you can stop me if I’m wrong, I think the world wants us to be problem solvers, for the most part. The clean plate club? Problem solvers. Get A’s in school? Problems. Stay out of trouble? Simple problem to solve, right?

Sorry, everyone. I’m not built to solve problems, even when this very fact causes me problems. I’m over here speculating and thinking and musing things forward. I can fake anything, just like how I learned to play music by ear so I could be in State band. Had nothing to do with skill or solving the problem of reading sheet music. I just figured out what would happen if I guessed enough times the right way.

Nothing earth shattering here, and yet, it’s something to consider in the larger scale of what we do in a given day.

Which one are you?

Photo credit, Guillermo Ruiz de Loizaga

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  • I would definitely say I'm a problem solver, but I tend to only gravitate towards problems that interest me. Some problems I just don't care about and would rather they just work.

    -Jeff
  • Both.

    I would elaborate, but I'm solving the problem of getting my son to sleep.

    What if he doesn't...
  • "I can fake anything, just like how I learned to play music by ear so I could be in State band."

    That was YOU?

    :-D
  • I am a problem solver in sheep's clothing! I am in IT so I MUST not only resolve problems but also strive to PREVENT them from ever happening again, which is the fun part! I love searching for new tools and methods that will help repeating the problem or assist in resolving it as quickly as possible.

    Someone asked me today why the new color laser stops working every so often and I just said "job security, my friend". Just kidding of course, but the point is things will break or go wrong and you are right, we need people who can clean up the mess. Still, it doesn't mean some of us can't do both.

    I contend that you solve many more problems than you even realize with all of the "what if's" you've done and all the answers you've revealed. You're like the game of Jeopardy where you provide the answer first and then the question follows. Can we call you Alex Trebeck?

    Pai
  • I'm both. I love to solve problems, but I don't like to use the same pieces every one else uses. I want to use my own pieces and then make the problem my solution.
  • Things that make you go hmmmm.

    I'm not convince these are two mutually exclusive states of being. Living with a disability, I often need to find another way of doing something, to problem solve. My strategy is to brainstorm: what if I do this, what if I try that. Both states or qualities are required.

    Like with you learning to play music. Your problem was you couldn't read sheet music. You kept what if-ing until you found your solution.

    Or, have I totally missed your question?

    Perhaps its all about perspective?
  • Chris,

    I'm with Glenda on this one, she's brilliantly said what I was going to. You solve problems with creativity and experience, etc. Your definition does not have the word "problem" in it. All you see is possibility : )
  • Chris, based on your posts I suspect you are a much better problem solver then you give yourself credit for. Like Glenda, I think it's about perspective and to do anything worthwhile, even to decide what to go for in the first place, you have to change perspective many times throughout the process. And, personally I think there are a lot more perspectives then two.
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