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This is an invitation to all the problem solvers in the world. To all the people that solve problems in their personal life. To all the professionals. To all the lean, six sigma and other problem solving specialists. To all the managers. To all the leaders. To you all.
This is an invitation to you all to think about this simple question:
Which problem do you want to solve?
It is a simple question but not a trivial one. You see, not all problems are created equally. Sometimes you solve a problem and you create a solution. That is great! But sometimes you solve a problem and you create an even bigger one. Sometimes your problem solving efforts lead to more poverty, more food shortage, more health risks, more water pollution, more energy use, more air pollution, more…
The relation between your efforts and these problematic effects may not be clear at first glance. One possible reason is that the effect may manifest in another part of the world, out of your direct sight. Another reason may be that the effects are not noticeable right away but manifest themselves over an extended period of time. But still they do. There may be many more reasons why the relation between your efforts and these problematic effects are not immediately noticeable. So, this is an invitation to take some time and seek if you can find some more for yourself.
If you find that your problem solving efforts are actually, in one way or another, contributing to some of the worlds biggest problems, do you really want to solve that problem?
Which problem do you want to solve?
Some of the biggest problems in the world are in desperate need for solutions. Just imagine that we would be able to unite all our problem solving capability, ability and capacity towards these biggest problems. Do you think we would be able to create real solutions and help vanish these problems from existing? It has been done before…
There are many problems in the world. Many need a solution in the outside world. Do you want to contribute to the solution of, at least, one of them? If so, which one? If not, why not?
There are problems that do need a real solution in the outside world. But, whenever you solve a problem and create an even bigger one, the real solution is to not solve that problem at all. Why would you? There may be reasons why you want to solve these problem generating problems but ultimately that is no solution. These problems cannot be solved in the outside world, they need a solution in the inside world.
What would it take, for you, to stop working on the problem generating problems and to start working on solutions for the problems the world is in a desperate need for?
Which problem do you need to solve?