Take your biggest problem … and skip it

Daniel Burrus

Every business has problems that can halt progress and cause the company to stagnate: slow cash flow, out-of-date technology, long sales cycles, etc. Often when trying to “fix” the problem, the company gets even more mired in the challenge and can’t seem to get past the roadblock. Often they focus on the problem, shift into crisis management and let it dictate their every move.

A better solution to solving those tough problems is to just skip it. That’s right, skip the problem completely. How can this help? When you confront your roadblock by leaping over it rather than having it stop you from reaching your goals, you see new solutions that you never realized existed. Realize that this strategy is very different than procrastination or avoidance, because it is based on recognizing the real, underlying problem and making a conscious decision to find a way to move forward instead of being blocked by it.

If you think this solution sounds fanciful and idealistic, think again. It’s actually a great way to free your mind and see the problem in a new light. Consider the following real-life examples of how this solution helps companies overcome challenges and make smarter decisions.

Don’t Get Stuck; Move Forward
A difficult problem can easily become a roadblock so large that it seems impossible to get around it. The result is often procrastination. The longer the problem is in place, the more you become convinced there are no solutions. Here are a few simple steps you can use to skip your problem.

Skip to the Finish
Every problem has a solution — some better than others. The key to breaking through your problem roadblocks is to realize that there are many paths to a destination, and some don’t have roadblocks. By asking yourself if you can skip the problem completely, you free your mind to look beyond the roadblock. That is usually where the best solution lies.

About the author:

Daniel Burrus is the founder and CEO of Burrus Research and author of six books, including the highly acclaimed “Technotrends.” Over the past two decades he has established a worldwide reputation for his exceptional record of accurately predicting the future of technological change and its direct impact on the business world. Dan monitors global advancements in technology driven trends to help clients better understand how technological, social and business forces are converging to create enormous, untapped opportunities. For more information, visit www.burrus.com.