The One Key Skill You Need To Reach Your Goals Effectively

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WHY YOU SHOULD LEARN TO CREATIVELY PROBLEM SOLVE 

As children, we are often encouraged to think outside of the box, to solve our problems creatively. 

However, as we grow and are introduced to the many rules of life, continuing to develop or even maintain this skill gets much harder.

We are encouraged more and more to fall into a uniform way of thinking and not to question the rules. 

I am in awe by how many adults I run into who simply give up at the slightest sense of resistance. 

They are quick to accept defeat instead of searching for a better way, even when it comes to an important goal or dream. 

Growing up, I wasn’t a very good problem solver. 

My solution to most things was to tell my mom and have her fix them. She was good at fixing things, and I never felt the overwhelming need to learn to fix problems myself.

However, once I moved out, I quickly realized what an important skill I had chosen to neglect.

I had no idea how to do anything, like ANYTHING. 

It also didn’t help that I was a chronic people pleaser at my young age and very rarely questioned people who were my senior for fear of offending them.

So when I was told a goal or dream of mine wasn’t possible, I accepted that they were probably right and moved on.

It took a few years for me to mature and start to question things and learn to solve each roadblock that came my way creatively.

But once I did, my life seemed to take off in the right direction. 

Here are two major examples of how using creative problem solving changed the narrative for my goals. 

Example 1

When my husband and I were preparing to purchase our second home just one year after acquiring the first, we ran into a couple of roadblocks.

The first one being, when we initially approached the mortgage company, we were simply told NO, we were much too young, it would be practically impossible at our young age. 

And at first, we accepted this defeat. 

But luckily, I had just started a book called “The 5 Second Rule,” and I decided to take Mel’s advice and try again. 

So we called another company, and you know what? 

They told us they could help us purchase the home, but it would take them three months to do so. (There were a lot of obnoxious loopholes to jump through with my husband being self-employed and all.) 

Now, this was great news!

But the home we wanted would have likely been sold before we could gather all of the necessary paperwork.

So we called back the first company (who we had our first home through) and simply explained that the second company told us the purchase was in fact possible.

They put us on hold, and after a few moments, they came back on the line and told us they could push the paperwork through in just under a month!

If we had just accepted our first answer, we NEVER would have purchased our second home. 

Example 2

I was working as a medical assistant and had begun to grow weary of the field. I just wasn’t passionate about the work and often left feeling stressed and drained. 

I realized something needed to change.

I hated my time being stolen away. The best hours of my day were spent working for someone else, and that seriously pained me. 

I began researching work from home jobs with little luck. Until one day, a good friend of mine posted about an online teaching opportunity. 

I was intrigued. So I began studying up on the company and the world of ESL. It seemed like it would be a great fit. 

So over the next three months, I began preparing for the interview process. I seriously studied for hours. 

My husband decided that he too needed a change and would also apply with me. So we submitted our interview videos and waited.

A few days later, we both received an email from the company. My husband read excitedly aloud his acceptance letter. 

Then it was my turn. The letter read something like “we are sorry to inform you… you are not a good fit at this time… you can apply again in three months”.

I was devastated. My husband had winged the whole freaking interview, and I had planned out each moment meticulously and had been rejected. 

So I took some time to wallow in my self-pity, but after a few days, I had resolved to apply again in three months. 

So I continued to prepare, and after three months, I reapplied. This time I opted for a live interview. 

And you know what? I got in. 

I was able to quit my 9-5 to work from home, and I have now reached the highest rank within the company. 

If I had just accepted that I might not be a good fit for the company, I would probably still be trapped working a job that I hated. 

HOW CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING CAN HELP YOU

You will notice that the most successful people in life have mastered the skill of creative problem-solving. 

Learning to think outside of the box will help you with things like,

• An improved sense of confidence and self-worth
• A sure-fire path to achieving your goals

HOW TO START FREE THINKING AND BUILD UP YOUR PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS

“I suppose it is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail.”- Abraham Maslow

Step 1

COME TO AN UNDERSTANDING 

When working toward solving a problem, we must understand that a solution to our problem DOES exist and we have only to find it. 

It may take some hard work, but it IS possible! 

Step 2

QUESTION EVERYTHING

Questioning is a massive part of being able to solve and completely understand a problem. It is essential that we question everything until we understand each tiny detail.

This allows us better insights into the actual problem, thus pushing us closer to our desired solution. 

Step 3 

GET OUT OF THE STUPID BOX

It is time to step outside of the box. When it comes to solving your problem, no solution is too outlandish! 

Brainstorm! Create multiple answers to your problem from which you may choose. 

Step 4 

WHEN IN DOUBT, WRITE IT OUT

Brain dumping is such a fantastic tool and should definitely be utilized to solve one’s problems. 

Start by writing out as many details about the situation as possible and then listing possible solutions even if they may seem difficult or improbable.

This will help you remain more organized as you sift through possible solutions for your problem. 

Step 5 

GOOGLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND 

If you don’t know how to do something, look it up! It is the 21′ st century. There is seriously no excuse for you not to be able to figure something out. 

There are articles about everything! 

If my husband can teach himself how to code from watching youtube videos, you can learn how to do ventriloquy or whatever it is you want to do! 

So look it up and start developing that new skill! 

Step 6 

RESEARCH IS KING 

When it comes to solving a problem and creating the life you have always wanted, it is crucial to understand all of the facts.

This is what makes doing your research so important! We must learn to think critically! 

I always keep an excel spreadsheet full of notes on articles I have read that are relative to my goals, and I am sure to refer back to it often. 

So be sure to do your homework! 

Step 7 

EVALUATE YOUR SOLUTIONS 

Once you have brainstormed and have created a few plans of attack, it is time to narrow the list down to the most viable options. 

Take the time to weigh the pros and cons of each option.

I would suggest bouncing your ideas off a trusted family member or friend! Constructive feedback is an excellent way to help fine-tune your creative problem-solving skills. 

Step 8 

STOP ACCEPTING DEFEAT 

Like seriously, stop accepting the word “no” as a viable answer to your goals.

Keep digging, keep searching, because there is a solution; you just haven’t found it yet. 

We may have to take a different path than expected to arrive at our end goal, but hey, at least we get there! 

CONCLUSION 

“It is better to solve one problem five different ways than to solve five problems one way.” – George Pólya

Now that we have all the necessary tools for solving any difficult problem, it’s time to try them out. Start with something small and work your way up to the big ones.

Always remember, there is a way; you just might not have found it yet. 

YOU’VE GOT THIS! 

Also, be sure to SUBSCRIBE for our FREE mind reboot camp series and receive an easy printable goal breakdown worksheet! 

You can also check out some of our cool new printable’s at our STORE. 

How are you at creative problem-solving? What are some ways in which thinking outside of the box has helped you reach your goals? 

I’d love to know! 

Have a bright day!