The Problem is Not the Problem

I learned a lot while sitting in my first Peak Meeting, but one topic resonated with me more than the others, which is, the problem is not always the problem. In other words, sometimes the issues we face have a deeper cause and we must not look at it at its face value, we have to internalize the issue. We can look below the surface by asking ourselves these three questions:

1. What are your Commitments? – This is the first step in really determining what your main issue is. By determining what you are committed to, you can discover what it is that is stopping you from achieving this commitment.
2. What are your Obstacles? – This question seems simple enough but it can be the turning point in solving all of your issues. You have determined what you are committed to and now you need to look further. Are you and your team lacking the proper skills? Are you investing enough time? Really take the time to look at every aspect of the problem because the answer may just be hidden where you least expect it.
3. What is your Mindset? – Asking this question requires some reflection and sometimes that is all you need to solve your problems. If you have a negative mindset you may be holding yourself back from really searching for the real issue. Or maybe you are afraid that the issue is caused within and it will lead to self-doubt. Figuring out how your mindset plays into the situation as a whole, will help you move closer to the deeper issue.

Now let me use the holiday season and gift giving that is coming up as an example to put this all into perspective.

With Black Friday and the Holidays coming up, most of us are committed to finding the best gifts for our friends and family while getting them within reasonable time. Yet, there are no gifts hidden in the attic or deep in the back of our closets. Why is that?

Looking at obstacles, one that is usually associated with holiday shopping is time. We just don’t have enough of it! However, the issue is not that we don’t have enough time, it is HOW we are using our time. Therefore, the real issue is not that there are no gifts, it is that we are not managing our time correctly.

Now imagine we had all the time in the world (Oh, how wonderful a gift that would be!). The next question we must ask is “What is our mindset?” With gift giving, comes the stress of providing the perfect gift. Sometimes it prevents us from buying anything at all because nothing comes close to being perfect. In this situation, our mindset it hindering us from buying gifts.

We can then use this information to create a strategy plan, whether that be to better manage our time or focus on getting a gift that will please both ourselves and those receiving the gifts. Ultimately, we delved into the issue at hand and recognized that there are several factors that may be preventing us from really getting great gifts this holiday season.

Now you can apply these three questions to any of your problems. Maybe the answer to your problem lies within one of the three questions expressed above, or it could be a combination of all three. Ultimately, our complications require a thorough examination. Once you have come to the discovery of your issue, you can begin to create strategies that will lead to resolutions.

Andrea Vincenty
Peak Performers Program Coordinator
American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.
9444 Balboa Avenue, Suite 300
San Diego, California 92123
Phone: (800) 846-1555
www.aaepa.com