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