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Writer's pictureRob Hicks
Jun 24, 20194 min read

Be the Solution

If you are part of the problem you aren't part of the solution, and everyone is looking for solutions.

Some Back Story

Like most people in their early years we don't always go with solutions, but with complaints. I know I went to people with my fair share of complaints, and gossip.


I am not perfect, it still happens from time to time; however, before I go complaining I try to think of solutions before going ahead, and making the complaint whether it is about something, or someone. Are all the solutions completely stellar, and workable? Nope. Not at all some times.


The latest one that I can remember was talking with my manager at the insurance office that I work at, and discussing what to do with one particular employee who was starting to really show their true colours, and being quite adversarial to fellow coworkers. I went in with an issue, but I also went in with some ideas as to what we could try to do to make the situation better. Some ideas included tough love, and trying to catch the negativity before it happened. These were easier said than done; however we had some ideas to try out.


Some of the people would go around complaining about lack of training in this one office, and I was always thinking there is training if you know what to ask, and who to ask. Every opportunity you work with a coworker who has more experience is training, and every webinar, boot-camp, and seminar offers up training opportunities. As a solution I brought that up, and said at least there is some training.


Things change, and speaking up in a positive way to shed some light is a good way to Be the Solution.


Why Should I Be the Solution?

In talking with a friend who manages a property in the Northern regions of BC we discussed the options of bringing solutions, and helping others discover the solutions on their own. It is a great way to develop the critical thinking that is necessary to make ideas, and solutions a reality.


Being the solution will raise your level, and game up in the work space that you are in whether you are a swinging entrepreneur, or an office worker being able to bring solutions, and show that you can create them will help you gain promotions, and raises if that is something you are into, and it will help you feel better, and have a healthier self-image.


If you choose not to be the solution than you are being the issue. Being the issue is pretty easy. Have you ever been part of the "water cooler" talk? Have you been someone to complain about problems in the office, and not offer any solutions? I'd ask this made you feel, but I am thinking it was pretty good... for a short time anyway. Misery, as they say, does love company. I ask that the next time you come up on the "water cooler" talk to raise the level if you hear complaints or gossip, be the bigger person, and offer some ideas that may help the situation they are in, or gossiping about.


Making sure you are the one who brings in the solutions to problems not only will help you're coworkers become better, but they will know who the go to is to get ideas on other issues that arise. Leaders are the ones who can see what is happening, and develop a solution for that problem, or use positive momentum to make problems less occurring, and carry through the tough time.


A great solution for a lot of problems is putting others above your needs. If you can get people what they need than you will get what you need. It's a beautiful symbiotic relationship. So how do you get people what they want by being the solution? Ask them what they want, and go to work on figuring out ways to get it, and work the best plan that will get them what they are after. Be their mentor, coach, and friend on the journey.

You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.

- Zig Ziglar


When you help others figure out what they are trying to get to, and develop a plan to obtain it, you are becoming the solution, and helping them work the solutions you have come up with. Part of being the solution is helping others figure out what it is that they are chasing, and provide the resources to aid them in getting to their end goal.


Speaking of getting people what they want; have you ever had a client come in, and present a problem, or did nothing but complain about stuff? I'm sure you have, and if not can I come and work with you? Of course you have we all have, and that is how we can truly be a solution oriented person. So how to help them is by not jumping directly to a "no," but going that extra mile, and trying to find the "yes" in all situations. If there isn't a "yes' than you have to do the extra work to make sure the client comes back when you are either able to provide the yes, or they see the value in the solutions you provided, and information you gave.


So why should you become the solution? Is because it'll make the world a better place by providing ideas, and solutions to problems that are as small as alternatives to getting to work, and as big and complex as solving world hunger. Look at Elon Musk, and Tesla as a great example. Elon has a vision for zero emission vehicles, and safer driving so Tesla is the product of someone who is solution oriented, and presented a wonderful solution to make the world better, and have our children's futures be just a little bit better.


Now for one last thought provoking question; what are you going to do to be the solution?


Ride hard, and live long.


It's been my pleasure to write this for you.


Sincerely,

Rob


PS: Follow along as we discuss ways to Be the Solution. We are going to have an ongoing series dedicated to being a solution oriented person.


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