Another entrepreneurial inspiration... from the world of physics research
 

As you may know, I've been spending some time back in a university physics department once again.... It's a temporary visit, mainly to help me stay in touch with the world of physics research, as well as with marketing and entrepreneurship....

One insight I've been reminded about from this visit is the topic of PROBLEM-SOLVING.

Almost everything can be seen as problem solving.... Whether you are trying to solve a complicated equation, or whether you are trying to sell more copies of your products!

Many physicists see themselves essentially as problem-solvers, so they've given a lot of thought about this topic.... My visit has made me think of these things again.

The biggest hurdle to problem solving may sound so simple, it sounds ludicrous.... But it is a common difficulty. The difficulty is....

Stating the problem clearly and specifically!

Here's an example....

Let's say your goal is to make $50,000 a year.

So, your problem to solve then is - HOW do I make $50,000 a year from my own business?

The difficulty here is that the problem is NOT SPECIFIC enough! There are many thousands of ways to make $50,000 a year from your own business! But, unfortunately, that's where most people stop. So they get stuck, overwhelmed by too many possibilities.

The next step (which many people don't take) is to state your problem more specifically. Narrow it down.

For example, your problem might become....

How do I make $50,000 per year by selling things online?

Even that is not very specific.... It can be refined even further, such as....

How do I make $50,000 per year by selling my own software online, yet without writing a line of computer code myself?

The point is, once you have written your problem out more specifically, it focuses your mind, and it becomes easier to think about.

In this example we've been talking about, instead of trying to think of the many thousands of ways to make $50,000 per year, now you've narrowed it down to a more focused, more specific problem. You're no longer overwhelmed by thousands of possibilities.

You may not end up attempting this "problem" you've set for yourself, depending on how easy or difficult it seems to achieve. But no matter what, you can always go back and state another SPECIFIC problem....

I think this approach helps to FOCUS the mind, and helps you get more done!

What do you think of this? I'm jotting these thoughts down "on the fly," so I'm curious to hear your thoughts....

- Dien Rice

Re: Another entrepreneurial inspiration... from the world of physics research
 

That reminds me of the age old problem of
knowing what you want.

Or what you really mean is what is your core
desire? Many people will just say *More money*,
but this is too general and not specific enough.

Ask yourself if I had more money what would this
give me? For example a bigger house/car, Ok if
you had more money and a bigger house/car what
would that give you that you havn't got now?

Maybe more freedom, more security, So again,
what would this give you that you havn't got now?
And you keep going until you may end up with
something like I want more significance in my life,
which would make me feel more powerful and respected.

So what you really want is more is more significance
in your life, and you feel money is your route to
that end.

Marketers love to feed this feeling and will keep
supplying your wants to move you closer to your dream.
But really its an illusion, and once attained you will
crave more and more.

So your focus has to be what do I really want to *feel*
that these external material objects will provide to me?

Usually its something like happiness, or love which
costs nothing and you can choose them right now!

Re: Another entrepreneurial inspiration... from the world of physics research
 

Of course, physicists also have an alarming way of making the simplest problem entirely impenetrable by the rest of us.

Can Internet marketing be defined as a wave function or as particulate packets?

Is Gordon Alexander the Internet's answer to Hawking?

If I put an ebook in a box, does it exist or not before I peek?

Do the Bose-Einstein equations explain why I can sit for hours, motionless, in front of my monitor?

Does E=MC Squared mean that two Mike McGroarty's make a better ebook than one?

Do acolytes around a guru follow Brownian or Newtonian motion?

If the arrow of time is truly reversible, how can I go back and write my second book first?

We must know. I have defined the problem. Trouble is, I didn't understand the question.

Martin. In an odd mood.




BizE-zine: Never as silly as this!

Re: Another entrepreneurial inspiration... from the world of physics research
 

Dien,
It seems as if this is similar to targeting a prospective market.

On the Internet numerous marketers feel that since it (the Net) is so huge and massive and reaches so far and wide that targeting is a non-essential for marketing success.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

What targeting does is narrow your focus to the optimal group of prospects.

It makes you much more efficient and effective. Which adds up to profits, all other things being equal.

So I can see how being more focused can be of great asistance to you as a marketer and especially as a problem solver.

All marketers are in the business of solving problems for others (their clients). However, if you cannot copme to a fine tuned explanation and definition of the problem then you cannot solve it. Focusing is the correct way to handle that.

Taylor

> As you may know, I've been spending some
> time back in a university physics department
> once again.... It's a temporary visit,
> mainly to help me stay in touch with the
> world of physics research, as well as with
> marketing and entrepreneurship....

> One insight I've been reminded about from
> this visit is the topic of PROBLEM-SOLVING.

> Almost everything can be seen as problem
> solving.... Whether you are trying to solve
> a complicated equation, or whether you are
> trying to sell more copies of your products!

> Many physicists see themselves essentially
> as problem-solvers, so they've given a lot
> of thought about this topic.... My visit has
> made me think of these things again.

> The biggest hurdle to problem solving may
> sound so simple, it sounds ludicrous.... But
> it is a common difficulty. The difficulty
> is....

> Stating the problem clearly and
> specifically!

> Here's an example....

> Let's say your goal is to make $50,000 a
> year.

> So, your problem to solve then is - HOW do I
> make $50,000 a year from my own business?

> The difficulty here is that the problem is
> NOT SPECIFIC enough! There are many
> thousands of ways to make $50,000 a year
> from your own business! But, unfortunately,
> that's where most people stop. So they get
> stuck, overwhelmed by too many
> possibilities.

> The next step (which many people don't take)
> is to state your problem more specifically.
> Narrow it down.

> For example, your problem might become....

> How do I make $50,000 per year by selling
> things online?

> Even that is not very specific.... It can be
> refined even further, such as....

> How do I make $50,000 per year by selling my
> own software online, yet without writing a
> line of computer code myself?

> The point is, once you have written your
> problem out more specifically, it focuses
> your mind, and it becomes easier to think
> about.

> In this example we've been talking about,
> instead of trying to think of the many
> thousands of ways to make $50,000 per year,
> now you've narrowed it down to a more
> focused, more specific problem. You're no
> longer overwhelmed by thousands of
> possibilities.

> You may not end up attempting this
> "problem" you've set for yourself,
> depending on how easy or difficult it seems
> to achieve. But no matter what, you can
> always go back and state another SPECIFIC
> problem....

> I think this approach helps to FOCUS the
> mind, and helps you get more done!

> What do you think of this? I'm jotting these
> thoughts down "on the fly," so I'm
> curious to hear your thoughts....

> - Dien Rice




Did Gordon Tell You About This?

What we want, what we really, really want...
 

What do I want?

I want ________ because _________.

I want ________ so I can _________.

Having trouble trying to nail down what you want and a reason why? Use the above sentence blanks to help.

Want to know what it is we really all want?

We rush through childhood only to spend the rest of our lives trying to be like children again - free of hassles, bills, money worries, etc.

Michael Ross.

Thanks Martin, I thought this was hilarious ! :)
 

> Can Internet marketing be defined as a wave
> function or as particulate packets?

Heheh.... Maybe I can write a book on this - "wave function marketing" !

I enjoyed your post! :)

- Dien

> Is Gordon Alexander the Internet's answer to
> Hawking?

> If I put an ebook in a box, does it exist or
> not before I peek?

> Do the Bose-Einstein equations explain why I
> can sit for hours, motionless, in front of
> my monitor?

> Does E=MC Squared mean that two Mike
> McGroarty's make a better ebook than one?

> Do acolytes around a guru follow Brownian or
> Newtonian motion?

> If the arrow of time is truly reversible,
> how can I go back and write my second book
> first?

> We must know. I have defined the problem.
> Trouble is, I didn't understand the
> question.

> Martin. In an odd mood.

Dien have read this book?
 

I know from past posts, that you have read a lot of books on business and other topics.

The book is called.

"The Path of Least Resistance" by Robert Fritz.

It is one of the most ORIGINAL works that I have read in a long time.

The book makes many valuable insights into Creating/Problem Solving/

Self help books why they don't etc. etc.

It is by far the most the most valuable book in my growing library.

I think that it will help you with your thoughts in this post. I have the link to amazon below, where you can read the table of contents and the first 31 pages, back cover etc.

If you haven't, I can summarize some key points in relation to your post later.

Regards,

Duane Adolph

> As you may know, I've been spending some
> time back in a university physics department
> once again.... It's a temporary visit,
> mainly to help me stay in touch with the
> world of physics research, as well as with
> marketing and entrepreneurship....

> One insight I've been reminded about from
> this visit is the topic of PROBLEM-SOLVING.

> Almost everything can be seen as problem
> solving.... Whether you are trying to solve
> a complicated equation, or whether you are
> trying to sell more copies of your products!

> Many physicists see themselves essentially
> as problem-solvers, so they've given a lot
> of thought about this topic.... My visit has
> made me think of these things again.

> The biggest hurdle to problem solving may
> sound so simple, it sounds ludicrous.... But
> it is a common difficulty. The difficulty
> is....

> Stating the problem clearly and
> specifically!

> Here's an example....

> Let's say your goal is to make $50,000 a
> year.

> So, your problem to solve then is - HOW do I
> make $50,000 a year from my own business?

> The difficulty here is that the problem is
> NOT SPECIFIC enough! There are many
> thousands of ways to make $50,000 a year
> from your own business! But, unfortunately,
> that's where most people stop. So they get
> stuck, overwhelmed by too many
> possibilities.

> The next step (which many people don't take)
> is to state your problem more specifically.
> Narrow it down.

> For example, your problem might become....

> How do I make $50,000 per year by selling
> things online?

> Even that is not very specific.... It can be
> refined even further, such as....

> How do I make $50,000 per year by selling my
> own software online, yet without writing a
> line of computer code myself?

> The point is, once you have written your
> problem out more specifically, it focuses
> your mind, and it becomes easier to think
> about.

> In this example we've been talking about,
> instead of trying to think of the many
> thousands of ways to make $50,000 per year,
> now you've narrowed it down to a more
> focused, more specific problem. You're no
> longer overwhelmed by thousands of
> possibilities.

> You may not end up attempting this
> "problem" you've set for yourself,
> depending on how easy or difficult it seems
> to achieve. But no matter what, you can
> always go back and state another SPECIFIC
> problem....

> I think this approach helps to FOCUS the
> mind, and helps you get more done!

> What do you think of this? I'm jotting these
> thoughts down "on the fly," so I'm
> curious to hear your thoughts....

> - Dien Rice




This is THE BEST book I have ever read...

Re: Dien have YOU read this book? (DNO)
 

Re: Another entrepreneurial inspiration... from the world of physics research (DNO)
 

Re: Another entrepreneurial inspiration... from the world of physics research
 

Hi Mark,

To add to your post. I was wrestling with the "What do I want?" question for over a year last year. And I must admit that I came up with many wonderful things that I wanted.

However in the end, I, like your post, realized that it all came down to how I feel. To the feelings I really wanted to experience.

So I began to ask myself a DIFFERENT question like "What feelings do I want to feel most in my finances. What feeling do I want to feel most in my relationships, What feeling etc. etc.?"

Once I figured the feeling part out. Once I realized that that was THE END that I was looking for, I just decided to CHOOSE that feeling.

Now I just act as If I already have that experience, and low and behold I feel great.

My life has been changed because of it.

Glad to see someone articulate my experience as well as you have here.

Cheers

Duane O. Adolph

> That reminds me of the age old problem of
> knowing what you want.

> Or what you really mean is what is your core
> desire? Many people will just say *More
> money*,
> but this is too general and not specific
> enough.

> Ask yourself if I had more money what would
> this
> give me? For example a bigger house/car, Ok
> if
> you had more money and a bigger house/car
> what
> would that give you that you havn't got now?

> Maybe more freedom, more security, So again,
> what would this give you that you havn't got
> now?
> And you keep going until you may end up with
> something like I want more significance in
> my life,
> which would make me feel more powerful and
> respected.

> So what you really want is more is more
> significance
> in your life, and you feel money is your
> route to
> that end.

> Marketers love to feed this feeling and will
> keep
> supplying your wants to move you closer to
> your dream.
> But really its an illusion, and once
> attained you will
> crave more and more.

> So your focus has to be what do I really
> want to *feel*
> that these external material objects will
> provide to me?

> Usually its something like happiness, or
> love which
> costs nothing and you can choose them right
> now!

I haven't read it, but....
 

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....

> If you haven't, I can summarize some key
> points in relation to your post later.

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

Actually..........
 

Hi Duane,

Yes its nice to know theres an easier way :)

When your wanting, your feeling like you can't
have it and thats what your focussing on.

Wanting is lack mentality and the consciousness
of separation. In fact its a lie when you say
you havn't got it.

By letting go of this external lust and focusing
instead inside with an "I have" prosperity
consciousness that is the root feelings
of joy, love and happiness and infinite abundance
and by displaying an attitude of gratitude then
this causes things to come to you as opposed to
pushing them away.

You actually become what you think about.
Remember the poor compete (lack) whilst the rich
create(abundance).

Best wishes

Mark

Does Problem Solving work?
 

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

Thanks Duane for a very insightful summary!
 

Hi Duane,

Thanks for your insightful post!

I'm looking forward to reading the book.... (I've found a copy locally and plan to pick it up from the store tomorrow...)

I like the distinction between problem-solving and creating. I agree - there is a difference in approach. Both are important, I believe, but they are distinct....

I hadn't heard of the advice to focus on the results, not the process. I'm really looking forward to getting my hands (and eyes) on this book....

THANKS Duane! :)

- Dien

You're Very Welcome! You can check out a movie clip at http://www.robertfritz.com/ (DNO)