The Real Problem Usually Isn't the Problem

This week I had one of those conversations that stayed with me long after it was over.

Not because it was complicated. Quite the opposite.

Someone reached out because she felt stuck in her business. She was looking for advice, but before I can ever give advice, I need to understand what's really going on. So I did what I always do. I listened. I asked questions. Then I asked a few more.

As she talked, I found myself thinking, "I don't think the problem is what she thinks it is."

Eventually I said something that neither of us had planned.

"I think you're trying to catch a whale in a pond."

We sat there for a second because it just... fit.

A few days later, she shared publicly how much that one sentence shifted the way she was thinking. I was grateful she shared it, but it also reminded me why I love this work.

Most business owners are incredibly good at solving problems. In fact, they're usually solving problems all day long.

The challenge is that we're so close to our own businesses that it's easy to mistake the symptom for the problem.

I've had owners tell me they need more clients, only to discover they really needed better pricing.

Others think they need another employee, when what they actually need is more clarity around roles and expectations.

Sometimes people tell me they need more time. After talking it through, they realize they don't have a time problem at all. They have an ownership problem because they've never intentionally decided what only they should be doing.

The solution changes completely once you understand the real problem.

It's one of the reasons I rarely jump into giving advice.

If I solve the wrong problem for someone, I've done them a disservice.

I'd much rather spend the time asking questions that uncover what's actually getting in the way.

So here's something to think about this week.

What's the challenge that's taking up the most space in your mind right now?

Now ask yourself why.

Then ask why again.

Keep going until you can't peel back another layer.

when you keep asking why, you'l uncover layers you hadn't even considered. 

You might discover you've been working incredibly hard to solve something that was never the real issue in the first place.

A final thought... 

After our conversation, Aly wrote a thoughtful reflection from her perspective. I appreciated her willingness to share what she took away from it. If you'd like to read her side of the story, you can find it here. Read Aly's article

Until next time,

Go build a business your future self will thank you for.