SOWPub Small Business Forums - Another entrepreneurial inspiration... from the world of physics research

Hi Dien,

Thanks for taking a look over at Amazon. The book has gotten rave reviews.
Dien in your post, you kept saying to make the problem more SPECIFIC and that this would help one to “Focus the mind” and to “get more done.”

Fritz said the same thing, but his terminology/definitions were different. Below are 2 Points discussed in the book that are relevant to your post.

The 1st Point: Focus on Results Not the Process

The 2nd Point: Problem Solving is NOT Creating (One will help you get more done. The other will not.)

1) FOCUS ON RESULTS…NOT PROCESS

Ask, “What result do I want to Create?”

The question “How do I get what I want?” is a question about process, not result. If you ask, “How do I get what I want?” before you ask, “What result do I want to create?” you are limited to results that are directly related to what you already know how to do or can conceive of doing.

Example: In 1878 when Thomas Edison decided to create the electric light, it was already well known that electricity could produce light. The task before Edison was to find a material that would not burn out and instantly consume itself.

All the scientists before him had followed a certain process. They looked for substances that would reduce resistance to the electric current, but they had found none that would produce an electric light. Instead of following the same process and limiting himself to producing results he already knew about, Edison tried the opposite: He looked for substances that would increase resistant materials, he settled on a carbonized element and placed it in a vacuum bulb, thereby creating the familiar incandescent light bulb.

By keeping his focus on the result he wanted to create – an electric light- Edison was able to focus the process toward a successful result.

The process in this case is organic and is dependant upon the specific result you are trying to create.

2) Problem Solving is NOT Creating

While we all hear about “Creative Problem Solving” Fritz argues that they are completely different

Here's the summary:

Problem Solving: is Taking Action to have something go away.

The problem solvers propose elaborate schemes to define the problem, generate alternative solutions, and put the best solution into practice. If successful you might eliminate the problem. Then what you have is the absence of the problem.

What you do NOT have is the presence of a result you want to create.

Creating: is Taking Action to have something come into being-the creation.

The structure looks like this:

THE PROBLEM

Leads to

Action to solve the problem

Leads to

Less intensity of the problem

Leads to

The problem remaining

Most of us live our lives on the problem track. Once the intensity of the problem is lessened, people have less motivation to act. Thus the problem solving way of life becomes self-defeating. Problem Solving mostly leads to less and less action as the actions work to solve the problem.

“What drives the action is the intensity of the problem."

Example: The Ethiopian crisis is a clear example of the deficiencies of problem solving. What was the driving force behind the actions of raising money and sending food? The intensity of the problem: Pictures of starving children flooded television. People all over the world and from all walks of life rose to the occasion. The greatest rock star dedicated their talents in the biggest public event in history – Live Aid. Millions were raised.

The situation got better. The media lost interest. Fewer pictures of starving children made it to primetime newscasts. Contributions slowed. New problems became news worthy. The focus on Ethiopia waned. This led to less action.

Today? Right Now? Children are still starving to death in Ethiopia as in other countries in the world.

Hmmm. Does problem solving work? Temporarily? Maybe.

Thanks for reading. Hope this helps a little with your thoughts on problem solving.

Duane Adolph

> Hi Duane!

> I haven't read "The Path of Least
> Resistance" by Robert Fritz....

> However, I did follow your Amazon.com link
> and read many of the excerpts from the book.
> What he says (from the parts I read) seems
> to make a LOT of sense....

> Thanks Duane, I'd like that!

> It does look like a great book, I'm going to
> see if I can find it at one of the local
> bookstores....

> Thanks for the recommendation!

> The reviews he gets at Amazon.com are
> phenomenal too!

> - Dien