Problem solving isn't simply solving a problem, it's first identifying a problem worth solving and then solvin... — Alexandra Neuman

Problem solving isn't simply solving a problem, it's first identifying a problem worth solving and then solving it.

Author: Alexandra Neuman

Insight: Most of us rush straight into solution mode. Something feels broken, so we fix it. But there's a sneaky waste hiding in that instinct: we often solve problems that don't actually matter, or solve the wrong version of a problem entirely. You might organize your email inbox obsessively while ignoring the fact that your work situation is making you unhappy. You might optimize a process that shouldn't exist in the first place. The harder, less visible work is the diagnosis phase. It requires asking whether this problem deserves your energy at all. Is it a real bottleneck or just an annoyance? Are you treating a symptom instead of the actual issue? Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is recognize that a problem isn't worth solving right now, or that solving it would just be productive procrastination from something that matters more. This shift in thinking changes everything about how you spend your time. It transforms problem-solving from a knee-jerk reaction into something more strategic—almost like a skill of choosing what to care about. The goal isn't to solve every problem you encounter, but to get better at spotting which ones are genuinely worth your finite attention.

Source: Problem Solving Strategy, Alexandra Egan