Regardless of what they do for a living or where they live, most people spend most of their waking hours, at work or at home, solving problems. Most problems we face are small, some are large and complex, but they all need to be solved in a satisfactory way. Before we look at the area of problem analysis and solution, though, let's take a few moments to think about just what we mean by a problem.

I.                  What is a Problem?

One of the creative thinker's fundamental insights is that most questions have more than one right answer and most problems have more than one solution. In keeping with this insight, we will offer more than one definition of a problem, in hopes of filling out its meaning as fully as possible. 1. A problem is an opportunity for improvement. A problem can be a real break, the stroke of luck, opportunity knocking, a chance to get out of the rut of the everyday and make yourself or some situation better. Note that problems need not arrive as a result of external factors or bad events. Any new awareness you have that allows you to see possibilities for improvement brings a "problem" for you to solve. This is why the most creative people are "problem seekers" rather than "problem avoiders."Developing a positive attitude toward problems can transform you into a happier, saner, more confident person who feels (and is) much more in control of life and work. Train yourself to respond to problems with enthusiasm and eagerness, rising to the opportunity to show your stuff, and you will be amazed at the result.2. A problem is the difference between your current state and your goal state. A problem can result from new knowledge or thinking. When you know where you are and where you want to be, you have a problem to solve in getting to your destination. The solution can and should be fun and exciting as you think over the various possible solution paths you might choose. When you can identify the difference between what you have and what you want, you have defined your problem and can aim toward your goal.3. A problem results from the recognition of a present imperfect and the belief in the possibility of a better future. Isn't it interesting here that hope produces problems? The belief that your hopes can be achieved will give you the will to aim toward the better future. Your hopes challenge you, and challenge is another definition of a problem.

II.               What is a Solution?

In our ordinary discourse, we often think of "solving a problem" in the sense of making it go away, so that the problem no longer exists. This indeed is one kind of solution, but it is not the only kind. Some problems cannot be eliminated entirely: we are never likely to eliminate trash, or the wear on automobile tires, or the occurrence of illness. We can, however, create solutions or treatments that will make each of these problems less harmful.For our purposes, then, we will define a solution as the management of a problem in a way that successfully meets the goals established for treating it. Sometimes the goal will be to eliminate the problem entirely; sometimes the goal will be only to treat the effects of the problem. The possibilities inherent in the problem, together with the ambitiousness, resources, and values of the problem solver, will help shape the goals.There are two basic approaches to solving problems, one where the cause or source of the problem is attacked and the other where the effects or symptoms of the problem are attacked. For ease of remembering, we can call these the stop it and the mop it approaches, respectively. Each of these approaches has three basic forms. As we detail these approaches and their forms, let's use the problem of a leaking water tank to illustrate each one.

2.1  Stop It

A stop-it approach is designed to cure a problem, so that, insofar as possible, the problem no longer exists. Its three forms are prevention, elimination, and reduction.2.1.1 Prevent It.By preventing a problem from occurring (or recurring) we have perhaps the ideal solution. In our water heater example, we would build a very high quality water heater, perhaps with a copper tank, so that it would never leak. The prevention approach is often a difficult one to apply because it requires predictive foresight ("this might be a problem someday if we don't act now") and it is often costly. And, of course, most problems crash into us unexpectedly or for some other reason cannot be prevented.2.1.2 Eliminate It.Eliminating a problem once and for all is also an excellent way of attacking a problem. In our leaking water heater example, an elimination solution would be to plug or seal or otherwise repair the leak, the cause of the problem (all that water on the floor). Elimination solutions should be considered in nearly every problem situation. 2.1.3 Reduce It. Some problems, like trash production, cannot be eliminated entirely. In such cases, a strategy of reduction can be highly effective. Almost any problem can be made less of one by reducing its size. In our water heater example, suppose we couldn't perform a repair (an elimination solution) until a day or two later. We could reduce the problem by turning off the incoming water. Without line pressure on the tank, the leak would slow down; that would be better that a full force leak.

2.2 Mop It

This approach focuses on the effects of a problem. 2.2.1 Treat It. Here the damage caused by the problem is repaired or treated. We mop up the water, fix the damaged floor, and hang the rugs out to dry. Note two things: (1) by itself a treat-it solution is not going to be nearly as effective as some form of stop-it solution and (2) treat-it solutions are often needed in addition to an elimination or reduction form of solution. 2.2.2 Tolerate It.In this form of mop-it approach, the effects of the problem are put up with. In our leaky water heater example, we might install a drain in the floor, or waterproof the floor. The effects are taken for granted and measures are taken to endure them. 2.2.3 Redirect It. Here the problem is deflected. Sometimes the problem will simply be redefined as not a problem. It's hard to think of a legitimate redirection for our leaking water heater problem, but suppose that the leak is small and the floor is not being damaged. We might say, "Well, we need the humidity; the leak is actually a good thing." Remember that a problem is a problem only when someone defines it as such.Sometimes, as when you get a cold, a mop-it solution is all that's available: there is no elimination solution that works yet. In general, however, be careful to investigate the possibility of implementing a stop-it solution before you focus on mop-it ones. There is a temptation to focus on symptomatic treatments for our problems when we should be looking for treatments of the underlying causes.