Good morning!
We all have problems, and we all need to solve them. As a matter of fact, it could be argued that the meaning of life is actually solving problems!
Read: How to Solve All Your Crummy Little Problems (and Truly Make a Difference)
I have an analogy that I use to teach active problem solving; I liken it to slaying a dragon.
The Dragon is Born
Now, the important part of this analogy is the timing of WHEN you slay your dragon.
Generally, when something starts off as a problem, it’s starts off small.
It can be the check engine light in your car, an employee showing up 5 min late, your significant other not doing something you asked, or even a boss saying something that you don’t agree with.
Now here is where problems and dragons really start to resemble one another…when they’re ignored.
You let that check engine light go, or your boss does something that drives you crazy and you bottle it up…it starts to turn into REAL problem.
As it continues to go unaddressed, it gets bigger and bigger. By ignoring it, you’re actually feeding it.
Then your frustrations start feed it, and your ego continues feeding it.
Now He’s a Real Dragon, All Grown Up and Angry
Pretty soon your dragon is 30 feet tall, has 3 heads, breathes fire, and lives in a dark dirty cave.
The very thought of taking on that dragon is so threatening that you would rather talk about it with every person that you know versus deal with it.
By the time you’re FORCED to do battle, you have to wear a suit of armor, take your sword and shield, and venture into that nasty cave to take on the beast!
Instead…
If you act in the moment the problem is born, and address it (yes, with a tad bit of confrontation) the resolution of the problem will be very small.
Like slaying a dragon when it’s only 2 inches high!
You just swat it with your hand, and BOOM, it’s gone.
Heres a short 1 minute video of me teaching the concept to someone over the phone.
Slay your dragons when they are small, and you’ll free yourself up to help others slay their larger dragons!
-NG