Define the Problem to Scale Faster
Case Study
Kevin’s consulting business started off more as a mistake.
He was in sales and would have endless amounts of people asking him for advice on how to get better.
By the time he joined Optimize Your ADHD Brain, he was consulting full time for 2 years and wanted to grow.
The problem was that there were too many areas Kevin was trying to pay attention to.
He wanted to publish his podcast 2x a week instead of 1, wanted to write a book, was trying to be more consistent with posting on LinkedIn, and had been advised to go to more networking events.
He was working on everything but focusing on nothing.
By getting clear on what the problem really was, Kevin was able to double his business within 6 months.
Thinking Skills
While you are doing any task, you (without even realizing it!) are using your 28 thinking skills.
When the thinking skills you need to use are strong, doing the task happens easily.
If the thinking skill you need to use is weak, doing the task will be a challenge.
The struggle that Kevin had, came from a weak thinking skill of defining the problem.
Defining the Problem
Defining the problem is exactly what it sounds like: Getting clear on what the problem is.
All too often we hear a new strategy and want to implement it immediately.
But is that really what you should be focusing on?
Before you know it, you’re trying to spend more time on your podcast, writing your book, LinkedIn and going to networking events.
Sorry, but trying to work on all of them, it is going to get you nowhere.
Defining the problem is getting clear on what the real problem is, so that way you don’t waste your time on solving the symptoms of problems or even problems that don’t need to be solved.
Getting Clear on the Problem
In business, when you get clear on what your biggest problem is, solving that problem will give you the highest leverage and often the most amount of money.
One of the best ways to get clear on what the real problem is by looking at the numbers.
So, in Kevin’s case we wanted to see:
How many clients were coming because of the podcast?
How many clients were coming because of LinkedIn?
How many clients were coming because of Networking events?
Whichever pot brought the most number of clients in would best place to pour gas and stay focused.
It turned out, LinkedIn brought in on average, 6 new clients a month, while podcasting and networking events brought 2-3 clients.
Sure, Kevin could have put more focus on podcasting, and it would probably bring him 6 clients a month, but by putting more focus on LinkedIn, he got in the first month 9 clients and the number just grew.
6 months later he averaged 14 new clients a month just from LinkedIn.
Because he got clear on what the problem was.
Getting Better at Defining the Problem
Kevin was obviously good at defining the problem on some level, after all, he was a sales consultant.
He helped his clients identify the problems in their sales process, so he had the skill, it was being used everywhere.
Here are 3 things we did to help Kevin improve defining the problem in all areas of his life:
- Whenever he felt unsure what would be the best direction to take, I had Kevin stop and write out all the data he knew. When you have numbers it’s much easier to make a logical decision and not get caught up in the emotions of wanting to do something else.
- I had Kevin ask himself the following question whenever he thought wanted to solve a problem: What is causing this problem? Then whatever his response is, ask the question again, till you get to the root cause.
- This one is my favorite because it doesn’t only help Kevin but also the people around him. Whenever a client (or even his 6-year-old son) would ask him a question on what to do, Kevin was to respond to them with “What is causing the problem?” And to continue asking the question until he knows they got to the root of the issue, not just talking about the symptom.
Your Challenge
Way too often, we try working on too many solutions because we haven’t gotten clear on what the real problem is.
By getting clear on the problem you don’t waste time working on solutions that give you low results.
Your challenge this week is to ask yourself:
What is causing the problem?
Continue this line of thinking till you get to the root cause.
Cheers to Peak Brain Performance!
Hi, I'm ST,
Just like you, I want to be more efficient and effective.
Most entrepreneurs want to grow their business but already got a lot of stress.
At LifePix University we help you rewire your brain to become more efficient and effective while experiencing more inner peace.
Learn more here.
Your Essential Guide
to Cognitive Functions
This guide will give you all you need to start improving your cognitive functions. Learn what all 28 thinking skills are, how they apply to you and what you can do today to begin improving them.
Cognitive Functions Assessment
Thinking is not one big thing. Thinking is made up of 28 parts, called cognitive functions.
Take the FREE assessment to see where each of your cognitive functions are currently at.
We're on for 1M downloads
By the end of 2025
Can you help us reach our goal?
Share this podcast with someone you love!
Define the Problem to Scale Faster
Case Study
Kevin’s consulting business started off more as a mistake.
He was in sales and would have endless amounts of people asking him for advice on how to get better.
By the time he joined Optimize Your ADHD Brain, he was consulting full time for 2 years and wanted to grow.
The problem was that there were too many areas Kevin was trying to pay attention to.
He wanted to publish his podcast 2x a week instead of 1, wanted to write a book, was trying to be more consistent with posting on LinkedIn, and had been advised to go to more networking events.
He was working on everything but focusing on nothing.
By getting clear on what the problem really was, Kevin was able to double his business within 6 months.
Thinking Skills
While you are doing any task, you (without even realizing it!) are using your 28 thinking skills.
When the thinking skills you need to use are strong, doing the task happens easily.
If the thinking skill you need to use is weak, doing the task will be a challenge.
The struggle that Kevin had, came from a weak thinking skill of defining the problem.
Defining the Problem
Defining the problem is exactly what it sounds like: Getting clear on what the problem is.
All too often we hear a new strategy and want to implement it immediately.
But is that really what you should be focusing on?
Before you know it, you’re trying to spend more time on your podcast, writing your book, LinkedIn and going to networking events.
Sorry, but trying to work on all of them, it is going to get you nowhere.
Defining the problem is getting clear on what the real problem is, so that way you don’t waste your time on solving the symptoms of problems or even problems that don’t need to be solved.
Getting Clear on the Problem
In business, when you get clear on what your biggest problem is, solving that problem will give you the highest leverage and often the most amount of money.
One of the best ways to get clear on what the real problem is by looking at the numbers.
So, in Kevin’s case we wanted to see:
How many clients were coming because of the podcast?
How many clients were coming because of LinkedIn?
How many clients were coming because of Networking events?
Whichever pot brought the most number of clients in would best place to pour gas and stay focused.
It turned out, LinkedIn brought in on average, 6 new clients a month, while podcasting and networking events brought 2-3 clients.
Sure, Kevin could have put more focus on podcasting, and it would probably bring him 6 clients a month, but by putting more focus on LinkedIn, he got in the first month 9 clients and the number just grew.
6 months later he averaged 14 new clients a month just from LinkedIn.
Because he got clear on what the problem was.
Getting Better at Defining the Problem
Kevin was obviously good at defining the problem on some level, after all, he was a sales consultant.
He helped his clients identify the problems in their sales process, so he had the skill, it was being used everywhere.
Here are 3 things we did to help Kevin improve defining the problem in all areas of his life:
- Whenever he felt unsure what would be the best direction to take, I had Kevin stop and write out all the data he knew. When you have numbers it’s much easier to make a logical decision and not get caught up in the emotions of wanting to do something else.
- I had Kevin ask himself the following question whenever he thought wanted to solve a problem: What is causing this problem? Then whatever his response is, ask the question again, till you get to the root cause.
- This one is my favorite because it doesn’t only help Kevin but also the people around him. Whenever a client (or even his 6-year-old son) would ask him a question on what to do, Kevin was to respond to them with “What is causing the problem?” And to continue asking the question until he knows they got to the root of the issue, not just talking about the symptom.
Your Challenge
Way too often, we try working on too many solutions because we haven’t gotten clear on what the real problem is.
By getting clear on the problem you don’t waste time working on solutions that give you low results.
Your challenge this week is to ask yourself:
What is causing the problem?
Continue this line of thinking till you get to the root cause.
Cheers to Peak Brain Performance!
Hi, I'm ST,
Just like you, I want to be more efficient and effective.
Most entrepreneurs want to grow their business but already got a lot of stress.
At LifePix University we help you rewire your brain to become more efficient and effective while experiencing more inner peace.
Learn more here.
Your Essential Guide
to Cognitive Functions
This guide will give you all you need to start improving your cognitive functions. Learn what all 28 thinking skills are, how they apply to you and what you can do today to begin improving them.
Cognitive Functions Assessment
Thinking is not one big thing. Thinking is made up of 28 parts, called cognitive functions.
Take the FREE assessment to see where each of your cognitive functions are currently at.
We're on for 1M downloads
By the end of 2025
Can you help us reach our goal?
Share this podcast with someone you love!
