Random Thoughts: Are all problems bad? Fire Fighting 101
I fight fires.
Not literal ones, but the kind that frustrate you at work ;)
There are many kinds of fires at work:
- Slow burns - the kind that just linger and get accepted as the status quo
- Raging fires - Uncontrollable and out of control
Slow fires, if leave unchecked can take down an entire building by slowly destroying the foundation of a company. You usually don’t notice these until it’s too late.
Raging fires get the most attention, because they are the loudest. You should never have too many raging fires and if the come often enough, you might have a slow burn that’s causing them ;)
Problems. Are problems really problems? (Or are they the stuff that makes life worth living?)
No problems = major lack of opportunities to make things better
I’m not trying to make you feel good about your problems or even tell you that everything is going to be ok. That’s ok and not the point. The point is, in every problem is a chance to make things so much better. Better for everyone.
Problems will frustrate you, maybe make you lose a little hair? (Don’t have a full head of hair like in the University days). But you know what, it also makes work a place where good change and innovation can happen.
We need problems.
Problems are the sign posts of what needs to change. Problems can tell us where we need to focus and lead us if we get lost.
We also need solutions ;)
- The trick is to not get rooted or fixated on the problems. It’s only a sign post. Only a pointer of where to look. Switching gears quickly is key if you want to get to the next level.
Don’t get stuck at the level of problems.
Welcome them, then get to the task of solving them. Those who solve problems are the business heroes. Yup, I used the word ‘Heroes’, because the world needs more of them and business is the best way we can make a large change in this world.
Let me know what you think?
~Rup Jolly
