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Define the actual problem first

Posted on June 20th, 2008.

I’ve wrote a post on defining specific goals before, and it’s time for another post much like that one. However, in this post I’m going to talk about defining specific problems.

By defining specific goals, you can give yourself a little extra motivation. A specific goal makes what you want to achieve clear, and so, you waste less time on things which won’t help you achieve that goal.

Before you start to work on a solution to a problem, you need to first define the problem. I know that sounds simple, and it should be common sense, but you’d be surprised at how many times I (and I’m sure I’m not the only one) dive head first into “solving” a problem, without first having a clear understanding of the problem.

If you don’t actually know what the problem is, you’re going to waste time on solving bits and pieces which may not help you solve the real problem. The solution you develop may be surplus to requirements, or it mightn’t solve the problem at all. By clearly defining the problem, you’re going to ensure that you come up with the correct solution.

So before you start to solve a problem, write it down somewhere, and as you go along, look back on the problem to make sure you’re working on the right solution for that problem.

Before the military engages an enemy, they like to know what they’re dealing with, and by knowing what they’re dealing with, they know the best way to deal with the opposition. By defining a problem, you know what you’re dealing with, and can then choose the appropriate solution to combat problem.

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