WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.980 Ever felt completely stuck? Like maybe you're 00:00:01.980 --> 00:00:04.200 trying to get a new side project off the ground, 00:00:04.259 --> 00:00:06.639 but you just hit a wall, funding's maybe tight, 00:00:06.799 --> 00:00:09.960 time feels even tighter, and that little voice 00:00:09.960 --> 00:00:11.960 of self -doubt starts whispering, it's impossible. 00:00:12.240 --> 00:00:14.460 How often do we get caught just replaying the 00:00:14.460 --> 00:00:16.739 problem over and over instead of, you know, actually 00:00:16.739 --> 00:00:20.160 seeing a way forward? Well, welcome to the deep 00:00:20.160 --> 00:00:22.640 dive. Today, we're going to try and flip that 00:00:22.640 --> 00:00:25.600 script. Our mission here is to give you some 00:00:25.600 --> 00:00:28.420 really powerful strategies to move from that 00:00:28.420 --> 00:00:31.820 feeling of why me to a much more proactive, okay, 00:00:31.859 --> 00:00:34.789 what can I actually do? We want to help you transform 00:00:34.789 --> 00:00:36.890 challenges into, well, genuine opportunities 00:00:36.890 --> 00:00:39.670 and really become a proactive solution creator. 00:00:39.869 --> 00:00:42.710 And this isn't just for like huge business dilemmas. 00:00:42.750 --> 00:00:44.890 It's about tool you can use every single day. 00:00:45.009 --> 00:00:47.250 Whether you're facing a scary work deadline or 00:00:47.250 --> 00:00:49.030 trying to figure out a personal challenge, we've 00:00:49.030 --> 00:00:51.030 spent time digging into a bunch of really insightful 00:00:51.030 --> 00:00:53.789 sources for this deep dive. Things like Calm 00:00:53.789 --> 00:00:56.390 First, the path to creative solutions, creative 00:00:56.390 --> 00:00:59.710 thinking made simple, nature's wisdom for life's 00:00:59.710 --> 00:01:01.750 challenges, and also the power of collaborative 00:01:01.750 --> 00:01:04.120 problem solving. Yeah. And what's really fascinating 00:01:04.120 --> 00:01:06.879 is the common thread that runs through all of 00:01:06.879 --> 00:01:09.120 them is this idea that problem solving isn't 00:01:09.120 --> 00:01:11.579 some, you know, rare talent only a few people 00:01:11.579 --> 00:01:14.239 have. It's actually a mindset. It's a way of 00:01:14.239 --> 00:01:16.959 living almost. And it's a skill that's accessible 00:01:16.959 --> 00:01:19.879 to, well, pretty much everyone. It's just waiting 00:01:19.879 --> 00:01:21.980 there to be developed. OK, so let's unpack that. 00:01:22.099 --> 00:01:25.120 Where do we start? I think the first crucial 00:01:25.120 --> 00:01:28.700 step before we can solve anything really is mastering 00:01:28.700 --> 00:01:32.290 what goes on inside. Right. The inner game. Think 00:01:32.290 --> 00:01:34.769 back to that side project example hitting a wall 00:01:34.769 --> 00:01:37.569 or maybe an unexpected bill lands on your doorstep 00:01:37.569 --> 00:01:39.409 or even just getting into a heated argument. 00:01:39.629 --> 00:01:42.329 Our bodies, they instinctively kick into that 00:01:42.329 --> 00:01:44.549 old fight or flight mode. Your heart starts racing. 00:01:44.689 --> 00:01:47.269 Your breath gets shallow and you get that surge 00:01:47.269 --> 00:01:49.790 of stress hormones, adrenaline, cortisol. Right, 00:01:49.810 --> 00:01:51.670 a classic stress response. And while it was great 00:01:51.670 --> 00:01:54.010 for, you know, escaping predators way back when, 00:01:54.150 --> 00:01:56.430 it's pretty disastrous for clear thinking now. 00:01:56.590 --> 00:01:58.930 It literally shuts down the parts of your brain 00:01:58.930 --> 00:02:01.819 you need most logic, creativity. Problem -solving 00:02:01.819 --> 00:02:04.420 skills. Yeah. They just go offline. Yeah. That 00:02:04.420 --> 00:02:07.219 source you mentioned, Calm First, it really nails 00:02:07.219 --> 00:02:10.039 it. You can't solve effectively when you're panicking. 00:02:10.180 --> 00:02:12.699 Simple but powerful. It's a clear call to action, 00:02:12.759 --> 00:02:15.800 really. Calm first, then solve later. And it's 00:02:15.800 --> 00:02:17.919 not just about feeling better. Studies actually 00:02:17.919 --> 00:02:20.960 show chronic stress can shrink gray matter in 00:02:20.960 --> 00:02:23.360 your prefrontal cortex. That's the bit you need 00:02:23.360 --> 00:02:25.800 for complex problem -solving. Wow. So calming 00:02:25.800 --> 00:02:28.360 down isn't just a nice -to -have, it's like essential 00:02:28.360 --> 00:02:31.280 brain maintenance. Precisely. But the good news 00:02:31.280 --> 00:02:34.099 is you don't need like hours of meditation to 00:02:34.099 --> 00:02:35.919 make a difference. There are simple techniques 00:02:35.919 --> 00:02:38.039 that can restore balance pretty quickly. Take 00:02:38.039 --> 00:02:40.960 the 4 -7 -8 breath, for instance. You just inhale 00:02:40.960 --> 00:02:43.780 through your nose quietly for four seconds, hold 00:02:43.780 --> 00:02:46.000 your breath for seven, and then exhale slowly 00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:48.319 through your mouth for eight. Doing that actually 00:02:48.319 --> 00:02:50.219 triggers your parasympathetic nervous system. 00:02:50.280 --> 00:02:52.800 That's your body's natural rest and digest system. 00:02:52.939 --> 00:02:55.430 It calms things down. I've tried that one and 00:02:55.430 --> 00:02:58.870 it is surprisingly effective. What's a common 00:02:58.870 --> 00:03:01.389 mistake people make when they first try these 00:03:01.389 --> 00:03:04.650 quick calming things? Do they expect like instant 00:03:04.650 --> 00:03:07.319 nirvana or something? That's a great question. 00:03:07.439 --> 00:03:09.740 Often, yeah, people expect it to be like flipping 00:03:09.740 --> 00:03:12.080 a switch and sit calm. But it's really more like 00:03:12.080 --> 00:03:15.620 slowly turning down a dimmer switch. The goal 00:03:15.620 --> 00:03:18.360 isn't necessarily immediate total peace, but 00:03:18.360 --> 00:03:20.639 more about reducing the intensity of that stress 00:03:20.639 --> 00:03:23.159 response. And consistency is key. The more you 00:03:23.159 --> 00:03:25.259 practice, the better they work. Makes sense. 00:03:25.259 --> 00:03:27.900 Like building a muscle. Exactly. Another really 00:03:27.900 --> 00:03:31.219 solid one is box breathing Navy SEALs. Apparently 00:03:31.219 --> 00:03:33.719 use it. It's simple. Inhale for four, hold for 00:03:33.719 --> 00:03:36.219 four, exhale for four, hold for four. Just keep 00:03:36.219 --> 00:03:38.659 that square pattern going. Or if your thoughts 00:03:38.659 --> 00:03:41.419 are just racing and spiraling, the 5 -4 -3 -2 00:03:41.419 --> 00:03:44.039 -1 grounding method is fantastic. You just intentionally 00:03:44.039 --> 00:03:45.939 notice five things you can see right now, four 00:03:45.939 --> 00:03:48.180 things you can physically touch, three things 00:03:48.180 --> 00:03:50.460 you can hear. Two you can smell and one you can 00:03:50.460 --> 00:03:52.580 taste. Right. It pulls you right back into the 00:03:52.580 --> 00:03:54.719 present moment away from the worry spiral. It 00:03:54.719 --> 00:03:57.479 really does. And sometimes, honestly, the simplest 00:03:57.479 --> 00:03:58.800 thing is what you mentioned, the power of the 00:03:58.800 --> 00:04:00.770 pause. Yeah, just give it. yourself permission 00:04:00.770 --> 00:04:03.830 not to react immediately. Maybe step away, grab 00:04:03.830 --> 00:04:06.270 a glass of water, take a short walk or even just 00:04:06.270 --> 00:04:07.669 say, you know what, let me think about that for 00:04:07.669 --> 00:04:09.889 a bit and I'll get back to you. It can completely 00:04:09.889 --> 00:04:12.310 change how you handle things. It's amazing how 00:04:12.310 --> 00:04:14.729 often solutions seem to pop up when you least 00:04:14.729 --> 00:04:16.629 expect them, isn't it? Like when you're in the 00:04:16.629 --> 00:04:18.889 shower or out for a walk or just drifting off 00:04:18.889 --> 00:04:20.889 to sleep. Totally. It's not a coincidence, is 00:04:20.889 --> 00:04:24.519 it? Not at all. That state of relaxation or stillness 00:04:24.519 --> 00:04:27.160 allows your subconscious mind to get to work. 00:04:27.300 --> 00:04:30.100 It starts processing information and making connections 00:04:30.100 --> 00:04:33.060 that your stressed, focused brain just can't 00:04:33.060 --> 00:04:36.300 see. Think about Einstein daydreaming about riding 00:04:36.300 --> 00:04:39.420 a beam of light that led to relativity. Or Nikola 00:04:39.420 --> 00:04:42.360 Tesla. His big ideas often came when he was alone, 00:04:42.519 --> 00:04:46.259 in solitude. So that quiet mind, it's not empty. 00:04:46.720 --> 00:04:48.680 Far from it. It's actually the birthplace of 00:04:48.680 --> 00:04:51.160 solutions. Okay, so that inner quiet isn't just 00:04:51.160 --> 00:04:53.699 about feeling peaceful. It's actually creating 00:04:53.699 --> 00:04:57.220 the space for the next big step, which is reframing, 00:04:57.240 --> 00:04:59.680 right? Choosing how we look at the problem itself, 00:04:59.899 --> 00:05:03.079 shifting our lens. Yes, exactly. And it's really 00:05:03.079 --> 00:05:05.500 striking how much our perspective shapes our 00:05:05.500 --> 00:05:08.680 reality. You can have two people facing the exact 00:05:08.680 --> 00:05:11.459 same situation, let's say losing a job. One person 00:05:11.459 --> 00:05:13.480 might see it as the absolute end of the world, 00:05:13.519 --> 00:05:16.160 total devastation. The other might see it as... 00:05:16.519 --> 00:05:18.740 Well, maybe a necessary push towards something 00:05:18.740 --> 00:05:21.680 new, a chance to reinvent themselves. The event 00:05:21.680 --> 00:05:24.120 is the same, but the interpretation is completely 00:05:24.120 --> 00:05:26.899 different. Precisely. Problems themselves are 00:05:26.899 --> 00:05:29.379 kind of neutral. They're just events. It's how 00:05:29.379 --> 00:05:31.339 we interpret them that makes them feel heavy 00:05:31.339 --> 00:05:34.339 or light, impossible or manageable. And when 00:05:34.339 --> 00:05:36.699 we consciously shift from seeing problems as 00:05:36.699 --> 00:05:39.199 just roadblocks to maybe viewing them as opportunities 00:05:39.199 --> 00:05:42.720 or teachers or even just puzzles, it unlocks 00:05:42.720 --> 00:05:44.779 a whole different kind of energy and creativity. 00:05:45.399 --> 00:05:47.079 And there's brain science behind this too, isn't 00:05:47.079 --> 00:05:48.879 there? Like focusing on the negative actually 00:05:48.879 --> 00:05:51.879 triggers the fear center. Absolutely. Cognitive 00:05:51.879 --> 00:05:54.480 psychology studies show that when you focus on 00:05:54.480 --> 00:05:56.939 the negative aspects of a problem, you activate 00:05:56.939 --> 00:06:01.040 your amygdala, the brain's fear hub. This releases 00:06:01.040 --> 00:06:03.449 cortisol. And it literally narrows your focus, 00:06:03.610 --> 00:06:05.990 makes you less open to new ideas. But when you 00:06:05.990 --> 00:06:08.990 actively reframe, when you ask different questions 00:06:08.990 --> 00:06:11.290 about the problem, you engage your prefrontal 00:06:11.290 --> 00:06:14.470 cortex, specifically the dorsolateral part. That's 00:06:14.470 --> 00:06:16.490 your brain's executive control center. The problem 00:06:16.490 --> 00:06:19.269 solving part. Exactly. It allows for more flexible 00:06:19.269 --> 00:06:22.629 thinking, optimism, curiosity, making those novel 00:06:22.629 --> 00:06:25.230 connections we need. So instead of thinking this 00:06:25.230 --> 00:06:27.689 project is just impossible, you might consciously 00:06:27.689 --> 00:06:29.810 ask yourself, OK, what's one small thing I could 00:06:29.810 --> 00:06:32.560 try today? That simple shift in language moves 00:06:32.560 --> 00:06:35.019 you from feeling helpless to feeling proactive. 00:06:35.339 --> 00:06:37.160 And history is full of people who mastered this. 00:06:37.259 --> 00:06:39.579 You mentioned Thomas Edison earlier. He didn't 00:06:39.579 --> 00:06:41.540 see thousands of failures in finding a light 00:06:41.540 --> 00:06:44.000 bulb filament. Right. He said, I have not failed. 00:06:44.120 --> 00:06:46.639 I've just found 10 ,000 ways that won't work. 00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:49.699 He reframed failure as data collection. Incredible 00:06:49.699 --> 00:06:53.579 reframing. Or Nelson Mandela, reframing 27 years 00:06:53.579 --> 00:06:56.680 in prison not as lost time, but as preparation 00:06:56.680 --> 00:06:59.660 for leadership. His famous quote, I never lose, 00:06:59.860 --> 00:07:03.079 I either win or learn. Wow. So for that side 00:07:03.079 --> 00:07:05.000 project that feels overwhelming, instead of getting 00:07:05.000 --> 00:07:07.839 stuck on this isn't working, you could ask, OK, 00:07:07.899 --> 00:07:10.600 what is this situation showing me? What new direction 00:07:10.600 --> 00:07:12.500 could I explore? Or even just, you know, the 00:07:12.500 --> 00:07:14.279 everyday stuff, your stuff in a traffic jam. 00:07:14.420 --> 00:07:16.779 Instead of fuming, how could you reframe that? 00:07:16.879 --> 00:07:19.439 Is it maybe 10 minutes of unexpected time for 00:07:19.439 --> 00:07:21.920 a podcast or just some quiet breathing or maybe 00:07:21.920 --> 00:07:23.579 calling someone you haven't spoken to in a while? 00:07:23.800 --> 00:07:26.839 That's the core idea. Keep asking yourself, what 00:07:26.839 --> 00:07:29.079 else could this situation mean? Is there a lesson 00:07:29.079 --> 00:07:32.060 here, a redirection? An opportunity I wasn't 00:07:32.060 --> 00:07:34.939 seeing before. Each time you reframe like that, 00:07:35.019 --> 00:07:37.180 solutions that were hidden in plain sight often 00:07:37.180 --> 00:07:40.199 start to, well, emerge. Okay, so our minds are 00:07:40.199 --> 00:07:42.939 calmer. We've shifted our perspective. Now it 00:07:42.939 --> 00:07:44.680 feels like we're ready for the really fun part, 00:07:44.759 --> 00:07:47.839 actually unleashing our ingenuity. Because, let's 00:07:47.839 --> 00:07:50.160 be honest, creativity isn't just for artists, 00:07:50.279 --> 00:07:52.860 right? We tend to put it in this box of painting 00:07:52.860 --> 00:07:55.519 or writing music. But it's so much broader than 00:07:55.519 --> 00:07:59.009 that. At its core... Creativity is simply the 00:07:59.009 --> 00:08:01.829 ability to see things differently or to connect 00:08:01.829 --> 00:08:04.449 things in new ways. Yeah. Every time you figure 00:08:04.449 --> 00:08:07.089 out a new shortcut driving home or you whip up 00:08:07.089 --> 00:08:10.069 a meal from leftovers or you manage to fix something 00:08:10.069 --> 00:08:13.160 broken with whatever you have lying around. That's 00:08:13.160 --> 00:08:15.600 creativity in action. You're flexing that muscle. 00:08:15.819 --> 00:08:17.879 Exactly right. And it is like a muscle. The more 00:08:17.879 --> 00:08:19.899 you use it, the stronger it gets. You don't need 00:08:19.899 --> 00:08:22.759 to be born creative to think outside the box. 00:08:22.819 --> 00:08:25.319 It's really about cultivating resourcefulness. 00:08:25.639 --> 00:08:28.439 So let's talk practical techniques. Brainstorming, 00:08:28.439 --> 00:08:30.639 what are some good ground rules? I always hear 00:08:30.639 --> 00:08:33.399 quantity over quality at first. Yes, that's key 00:08:33.399 --> 00:08:35.980 initially. Don't censor yourself. Get all the 00:08:35.980 --> 00:08:38.500 ideas out, even the really silly or outlandish 00:08:38.500 --> 00:08:41.200 ones. Sometimes the craziest idea sparks a genuinely 00:08:41.200 --> 00:08:44.070 useful one. else, or even in your own mind later. 00:08:44.269 --> 00:08:46.850 I like the 10 ideas challenge for that reason. 00:08:47.029 --> 00:08:49.350 You force yourself to come up with 10 possible 00:08:49.350 --> 00:08:52.409 solutions, no matter how wild. Often the best 00:08:52.409 --> 00:08:54.230 ones don't show up until you get past the obvious 00:08:54.230 --> 00:08:56.409 stuff, maybe around idea number seven or eight. 00:08:56.549 --> 00:08:59.129 That pressure can be really productive. And another 00:08:59.129 --> 00:09:01.970 crucial brainstorming principle is the yes and 00:09:01.970 --> 00:09:05.470 approach, borrowed from improv comedy. Ah, instead 00:09:05.470 --> 00:09:07.730 of shooting ideas down immediately. Exactly. 00:09:07.990 --> 00:09:10.700 Instead of no but. You respond with yes and. 00:09:10.940 --> 00:09:13.559 You build upon the previous idea, even if it 00:09:13.559 --> 00:09:15.559 seems flawed. It keeps the positive momentum 00:09:15.559 --> 00:09:17.919 going. You mentioned a team example earlier, 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:20.659 the printer idea. That's perfect yes and thinking. 00:09:20.919 --> 00:09:23.600 The joke, teach the printer to say no, wasn't 00:09:23.600 --> 00:09:26.500 shot down. It was built upon, leading to a practical 00:09:26.500 --> 00:09:29.220 solution, defaulting to double -sided printing. 00:09:29.620 --> 00:09:32.549 Cut paper used in half. Brilliant. Okay, what 00:09:32.549 --> 00:09:34.909 about visual tools? I hear a lot about mind mapping. 00:09:35.110 --> 00:09:37.769 Mind mapping is fantastic. It's a visual way 00:09:37.769 --> 00:09:40.669 to organize thoughts and, crucially, unlock connections 00:09:40.669 --> 00:09:43.250 your linear thinking might miss. You just put 00:09:43.250 --> 00:09:45.350 your central problem, let's stick with finding 00:09:45.350 --> 00:09:47.190 clients for the side project, in the middle of 00:09:47.190 --> 00:09:50.370 a page. Then you draw branches radiating outwards 00:09:50.370 --> 00:09:53.230 for main categories. Maybe marketing strategies, 00:09:53.529 --> 00:09:56.110 potential obstacles, target audiences, networking 00:09:56.110 --> 00:09:59.159 ideas. And then you branch off those. Yep. Keep 00:09:59.159 --> 00:10:01.340 adding sub -branches with more specific ideas 00:10:01.340 --> 00:10:03.679 for each category. It helps you see the whole 00:10:03.679 --> 00:10:06.220 picture and often reveals unexpected links or 00:10:06.220 --> 00:10:08.720 themes. Like you might suddenly see how a networking 00:10:08.720 --> 00:10:11.000 idea connects to overcoming a specific obstacle. 00:10:11.279 --> 00:10:13.379 Okay, too. And then there's something called 00:10:13.379 --> 00:10:15.740 lateral thinking. That sounds a bit more abstract. 00:10:16.080 --> 00:10:18.879 It is, but it's powerful. It comes from Edward 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:21.919 de Bono. Lateral thinking is basically about 00:10:21.919 --> 00:10:24.600 escaping your usual logical thought patterns 00:10:24.600 --> 00:10:27.399 and approaching the problem from completely unexpected 00:10:27.399 --> 00:10:30.200 angles, finding solutions that aren't obvious. 00:10:30.360 --> 00:10:32.919 How do you do that, though? Well, one technique 00:10:32.919 --> 00:10:36.419 is random word association. You literally pick 00:10:36.419 --> 00:10:38.600 a random word from a book or dictionary, say 00:10:38.600 --> 00:10:41.799 the word is cloud. Then you force yourself to 00:10:41.799 --> 00:10:43.779 make connections between cloud and your problem. 00:10:44.139 --> 00:10:46.840 So side project clients plus cloud? What would 00:10:46.840 --> 00:10:48.919 that even mean? Maybe it sparks ideas about cloud 00:10:48.919 --> 00:10:51.440 -based marketing tools. Or reaching a distributed 00:10:51.440 --> 00:10:54.559 audience. Or perhaps the silver lining aspects 00:10:54.559 --> 00:10:57.340 lead you to reframe a perceived weakness. It 00:10:57.340 --> 00:10:59.440 forces unconventional connections. Interesting. 00:10:59.519 --> 00:11:02.240 Like a creative jolt. Exactly. Another one is 00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:04.500 reverse thinking. You ask yourself, how could 00:11:04.500 --> 00:11:07.679 I deliberately make this problem worse? So for 00:11:07.679 --> 00:11:10.159 the side project, how could I guarantee I get 00:11:10.159 --> 00:11:13.570 no clients? Okay. I could ignore marketing, make 00:11:13.570 --> 00:11:15.950 the product unusable, have terrible customer 00:11:15.950 --> 00:11:18.610 service. Right. List all those ways to fail. 00:11:19.049 --> 00:11:22.070 Then you flip each one. Ignore marketing becomes 00:11:22.070 --> 00:11:25.070 develop a strong marketing plan. Make the product 00:11:25.070 --> 00:11:28.529 unusable becomes focus intensely on user experience. 00:11:29.090 --> 00:11:31.429 The solutions are often hidden in the reverse 00:11:31.429 --> 00:11:33.370 of the problem. That's clever. It feels like 00:11:33.370 --> 00:11:35.889 these are all ways to just train your brain to 00:11:35.889 --> 00:11:38.370 think differently. That's precisely it. And you 00:11:38.370 --> 00:11:40.509 can train it in other ways, too. Simply changing 00:11:40.509 --> 00:11:42.610 your environment can spark creativity work in 00:11:42.610 --> 00:11:44.750 a different room, go for a walk, rearrange your 00:11:44.750 --> 00:11:47.690 desk. Novelty helps. Mix up your inputs, too, 00:11:47.830 --> 00:11:50.149 right? Read something completely outside your 00:11:50.149 --> 00:11:53.169 field. Yes. Read different things. Watch a random 00:11:53.169 --> 00:11:55.070 documentary. Talk to people with totally different 00:11:55.070 --> 00:11:57.649 backgrounds and perspectives. It builds new neural 00:11:57.649 --> 00:12:00.590 pathways. And practice divergent thinking. Instead 00:12:00.590 --> 00:12:03.149 of asking, what's the one right answer, ask, 00:12:03.250 --> 00:12:05.539 what are all the possible answers? Like that 00:12:05.539 --> 00:12:07.559 dinner example. You only have three ingredients 00:12:07.559 --> 00:12:09.679 left. Instead of saying, I can't make anything, 00:12:09.919 --> 00:12:12.639 ask what five different dishes could I invent 00:12:12.639 --> 00:12:16.120 with just these? Perfect example. So what this 00:12:16.120 --> 00:12:19.019 all boils down to is that creativity isn't some 00:12:19.019 --> 00:12:22.039 mystical artistic gift. It's resourcefulness. 00:12:22.700 --> 00:12:25.419 And these techniques are ways to train your brain 00:12:25.419 --> 00:12:28.259 to see potential solutions absolutely everywhere. 00:12:28.480 --> 00:12:30.019 That's a really empowering way to think about 00:12:30.019 --> 00:12:32.600 it. Okay, so we've calmed our minds, shifted 00:12:32.600 --> 00:12:34.799 perspective, got the creative juices flowing. 00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:37.720 Now it's time to get practical, right? Dealing 00:12:37.720 --> 00:12:40.899 with those big, messy problems. This next part 00:12:40.899 --> 00:12:43.740 is key. The practical approach, breaking it down 00:12:43.740 --> 00:12:46.029 and building it up. Because huge problems like 00:12:46.029 --> 00:12:48.269 getting that side project truly off the ground 00:12:48.269 --> 00:12:51.769 can feel just insurmountable, like staring up 00:12:51.769 --> 00:12:53.929 at a giant mountain. And nobody climbs a mountain 00:12:53.929 --> 00:12:55.929 in a single leap, do they? Exactly. You have 00:12:55.929 --> 00:12:58.490 to break it down. And when you do break a big, 00:12:58.490 --> 00:13:01.509 overwhelming problem into smaller, more manageable 00:13:01.509 --> 00:13:04.549 chunks, it immediately feels less intimidating. 00:13:05.230 --> 00:13:08.450 It's not one giant scary thing anymore. It becomes 00:13:08.450 --> 00:13:12.009 a series of smaller, achievable steps. And tackling 00:13:12.009 --> 00:13:14.409 each one not only reduces that feeling of anxiety, 00:13:14.690 --> 00:13:18.330 but also builds momentum. Each small win gives 00:13:18.330 --> 00:13:20.789 you confidence for the next step. OK, so how 00:13:20.789 --> 00:13:22.830 do we break things down effectively? Are there 00:13:22.830 --> 00:13:25.789 specific methods? Definitely. One really classic 00:13:25.789 --> 00:13:28.169 and effective method is the five whys, which 00:13:28.169 --> 00:13:30.409 originally came from Toyota's manufacturing process, 00:13:30.610 --> 00:13:32.470 but works for almost anything. You just keep 00:13:32.470 --> 00:13:35.490 asking why. repeatedly, usually about five times, 00:13:35.669 --> 00:13:38.269 to drill down past the surface symptoms and find 00:13:38.269 --> 00:13:40.169 the actual root cause. Can you give an example? 00:13:40.470 --> 00:13:42.389 Sure. Let's take my side project isn't making 00:13:42.389 --> 00:13:46.409 any progress. Okay. Why? Well, I keep procrastinating 00:13:46.409 --> 00:13:48.710 on the key tasks. Why? Because honestly, I don't 00:13:48.710 --> 00:13:50.309 really know where to start. Why? Because the 00:13:50.309 --> 00:13:51.929 whole vision feels too big and overwhelming. 00:13:52.169 --> 00:13:54.830 Why? Because I haven't actually broken it down 00:13:54.830 --> 00:13:57.730 into clear, small, actionable tasks. Ah, so the 00:13:57.730 --> 00:14:00.210 root cause isn't laziness. It's lack of a clear, 00:14:00.289 --> 00:14:03.830 broken down plan. The solution isn't just stop 00:14:03.830 --> 00:14:06.909 procrastinating. It's create a detailed task 00:14:06.909 --> 00:14:10.149 list. Precisely. You get to the real issue. Another 00:14:10.149 --> 00:14:12.509 great tool, especially for more complex problems, 00:14:12.649 --> 00:14:15.450 is root cause analysis, often visualized with 00:14:15.450 --> 00:14:17.629 something called a fishbone diagram or Ishikawa 00:14:17.629 --> 00:14:20.549 diagram. This helps you sort potential causes 00:14:20.549 --> 00:14:22.809 into different categories. Common ones are like 00:14:22.809 --> 00:14:26.620 people. process, technology, environment, materials. 00:14:26.919 --> 00:14:29.639 For your side project, maybe initial engagement 00:14:29.639 --> 00:14:32.019 is low. Using a fishbone, you could brainstorm 00:14:32.019 --> 00:14:34.279 causes under marketing, maybe the wrong channels, 00:14:34.419 --> 00:14:37.480 product, maybe a missing feature, audience, maybe 00:14:37.480 --> 00:14:40.519 misjudged needs, tools, maybe inefficient software. 00:14:40.779 --> 00:14:42.659 It helps you see all the contributing factors 00:14:42.659 --> 00:14:45.179 systematically. So you're not just randomly guessing 00:14:45.179 --> 00:14:47.419 what's wrong. Right. It structures your thinking. 00:14:47.580 --> 00:14:49.480 And these methods aren't just for business. Think 00:14:49.480 --> 00:14:51.519 about personal goals. Feeling overwhelmed by 00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:53.960 debt instead of I'll never get out. Break it 00:14:53.960 --> 00:14:57.539 down. One, track spending for a month. Two, identify 00:14:57.539 --> 00:15:01.100 cuts. Three, create a repayment schedule. Four, 00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:04.860 set up automatic payments. Five, explore ways 00:15:04.860 --> 00:15:08.779 to increase income. C, smaller steps. Or getting 00:15:08.779 --> 00:15:11.399 healthy. It's too vague. It becomes one, drink 00:15:11.399 --> 00:15:14.039 one extra glass of water daily. Two, walk 20 00:15:14.039 --> 00:15:16.940 minutes three times this week. Three, add one 00:15:16.940 --> 00:15:19.779 vegetable to dinner each night. Four, swap sugary 00:15:19.779 --> 00:15:22.940 soda for water. Much more doable. Exactly. Now, 00:15:22.940 --> 00:15:24.379 here's where it gets really interesting, I think. 00:15:24.500 --> 00:15:26.940 We often have this hidden belief that our first 00:15:26.940 --> 00:15:29.259 attempt at a solution has to be perfect. Oh, 00:15:29.259 --> 00:15:31.720 yeah. Perfectionism, the ultimate progress killer. 00:15:31.860 --> 00:15:34.340 Totally paralyzing. But the sources we looked 00:15:34.340 --> 00:15:36.539 at really emphasize this. Solutions are usually 00:15:36.539 --> 00:15:39.759 drafts, not finished products. The goal isn't 00:15:39.759 --> 00:15:42.240 immediate perfection. It's progress. It's learning. 00:15:42.500 --> 00:15:45.299 So it's okay if the first try isn't quite right. 00:15:45.480 --> 00:15:48.389 More than okay, it's expected. That's where the 00:15:48.389 --> 00:15:50.509 value of experimentation and iteration comes 00:15:50.509 --> 00:15:53.169 in. Experimentation is simply trying something 00:15:53.169 --> 00:15:55.970 out, putting a potential solution into action 00:15:55.970 --> 00:15:58.950 on a small scale. Iteration is then looking at 00:15:58.950 --> 00:16:00.970 what happened, what worked, what didn't, and 00:16:00.970 --> 00:16:03.009 adjusting your approach based on those results. 00:16:03.230 --> 00:16:06.049 It's a cycle. Start small, see what happens, 00:16:06.169 --> 00:16:09.009 tweak it, try again. Exactly. Maybe even keep 00:16:09.009 --> 00:16:11.879 a simple solution journal. Jot down. Problem, 00:16:12.080 --> 00:16:15.059 idea tried, what happened, what I learned, next 00:16:15.059 --> 00:16:17.080 step. It helps you track your experiments and 00:16:17.080 --> 00:16:19.559 see the progress. You think about famous inventors. 00:16:19.580 --> 00:16:22.639 James Dyson, didn't he make thousands of vacuum 00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:25.480 prototypes? Over 5 ,000 prototypes for the bagless 00:16:25.480 --> 00:16:28.240 vacuum. Yeah. Each one wasn't a failure in his 00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:30.539 eyes. It was data. It was learning. It was an 00:16:30.539 --> 00:16:32.620 iteration getting him closer. Same with Edison 00:16:32.620 --> 00:16:34.759 and the light bulb filament. Right. All those 00:16:34.759 --> 00:16:36.600 materials that didn't work were just steps on 00:16:36.600 --> 00:16:39.700 the path. Absolutely. His failures were crucial 00:16:39.700 --> 00:16:42.759 parts of the process. And this applies to everyday 00:16:42.759 --> 00:16:45.659 life, too, trying to eat healthier. You might 00:16:45.659 --> 00:16:48.580 try one meal plan, find it too restrictive, observe, 00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:52.620 swap some meals, adjust, try adding a new healthy 00:16:52.620 --> 00:16:55.379 recipe each week, iterate. You gradually build 00:16:55.379 --> 00:16:57.700 a sustainable routine. For the side project, 00:16:58.000 --> 00:17:00.360 maybe you launch a very basic version, a minimum 00:17:00.360 --> 00:17:03.840 viable product, or MVP. Get feedback from early 00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:06.140 users, see what they like and don't like, and 00:17:06.140 --> 00:17:08.539 then iterate, adding features or refining based 00:17:08.539 --> 00:17:10.680 on that real -world data. That's the heart of 00:17:10.680 --> 00:17:13.470 it. Real progress comes from taking action, reflecting 00:17:13.470 --> 00:17:15.849 on the results, and adjusting your course. Not 00:17:15.849 --> 00:17:17.769 from waiting around for the perfect, flawless 00:17:17.769 --> 00:17:20.589 idea to strike. Every small iteration, every 00:17:20.589 --> 00:17:22.589 small experiment moves you closer. Okay, this 00:17:22.589 --> 00:17:24.349 is great. We're getting really practical. Now 00:17:24.349 --> 00:17:26.069 let's zoom out a bit and take a more holistic 00:17:26.069 --> 00:17:29.029 view. I love this next idea. Looking to nature 00:17:29.029 --> 00:17:32.230 for wisdom. Yes. The holistic view, nature's 00:17:32.230 --> 00:17:35.190 wisdom and collaborative power. Nature is arguably 00:17:35.190 --> 00:17:37.650 the greatest problem solver there is. It's had 00:17:37.650 --> 00:17:39.869 billions of years of R &D, constantly adapting 00:17:39.869 --> 00:17:41.990 and building resilient. It's kind of humbling 00:17:41.990 --> 00:17:43.970 when you think about it that way. What specific 00:17:43.970 --> 00:17:46.710 lessons can we take? Well, think about biomimicry 00:17:46.710 --> 00:17:49.849 engineers literally study nature to solve human 00:17:49.849 --> 00:17:51.990 problems. The high -speed bullet train nose, 00:17:52.230 --> 00:17:54.829 designed like a kingfisher's beak to reduce noise. 00:17:55.289 --> 00:17:57.890 Ventilation systems in buildings inspired by 00:17:57.890 --> 00:18:00.509 termite mounds. Nature has already solved so 00:18:00.509 --> 00:18:02.650 many complex problems. So we should pay more 00:18:02.650 --> 00:18:06.750 attention. Definitely. Consider plants. A tree 00:18:06.750 --> 00:18:09.670 encounters a rock underground. Does it just stop 00:18:09.670 --> 00:18:12.910 growing? No. Its roots find a way around the 00:18:12.910 --> 00:18:15.569 obstacle, seeking out nutrients and water elsewhere. 00:18:16.109 --> 00:18:18.869 Or the lotus flower, rising clean and beautiful 00:18:18.869 --> 00:18:21.400 from muddy water. So setbacks aren't necessarily 00:18:21.400 --> 00:18:23.960 stop signs. Nature teaches us there are often 00:18:23.960 --> 00:18:26.259 invitations to grow stronger in a new direction, 00:18:26.420 --> 00:18:29.180 to adapt. If your side project hits a financial 00:18:29.180 --> 00:18:31.680 rock, maybe you don't give up. Maybe you grow 00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:34.279 around it, find a different funding path, launch 00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:36.980 a smaller version first, pivot slightly. Like 00:18:36.980 --> 00:18:39.400 finding a new patch of sunlight. Exactly. Or 00:18:39.400 --> 00:18:42.000 think about animals, the incredible collaboration 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:45.279 of honeybees or ants. The way wolves or dolphins 00:18:45.279 --> 00:18:47.980 work together for survival. They show us the 00:18:47.980 --> 00:18:50.650 power of group support. And entire ecosystems, 00:18:50.910 --> 00:18:53.769 like forests or coral reefs, demonstrate balance. 00:18:54.369 --> 00:18:56.650 Problems in nature are rarely solved in total 00:18:56.650 --> 00:18:59.329 isolation. True, sustainable solutions require 00:18:59.329 --> 00:19:02.089 harmony and interconnectedness. So how do we 00:19:02.089 --> 00:19:04.410 apply these principles if I'm feeling stuck in 00:19:04.410 --> 00:19:07.529 my career? Think like that tree. Where can you 00:19:07.529 --> 00:19:10.150 put down new roots? What new skills nutrients 00:19:10.150 --> 00:19:13.730 can you seek out? Explore adjacent paths if life 00:19:13.730 --> 00:19:15.890 feels chaotic and overwhelming. Learn from the 00:19:15.890 --> 00:19:19.549 ocean tides. Step back. Allow for rest. Trust 00:19:19.549 --> 00:19:22.170 the natural rhythm. Yes. Or if you're facing 00:19:22.170 --> 00:19:24.150 conflict, maybe learn from the collaborative 00:19:24.150 --> 00:19:26.430 bees. How can better communication and shared 00:19:26.430 --> 00:19:29.349 goals help? The core idea is that solutions are 00:19:29.349 --> 00:19:32.569 often grown or evolved, not forced. When in doubt, 00:19:32.690 --> 00:19:34.789 looking to nature's patterns can offer surprising 00:19:34.789 --> 00:19:37.839 insights. That connection to ecosystems and collaboration 00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:40.000 brings up a really important question, doesn't 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:42.539 it? Why do we so often try to tackle our problems 00:19:42.539 --> 00:19:45.039 completely alone? It's a common tendency, isn't 00:19:45.039 --> 00:19:47.559 it? Maybe pride, maybe fear of burdening others, 00:19:47.819 --> 00:19:51.039 maybe just habit. But our individual perspective 00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:54.140 is always limited. We all have blind spots. Other 00:19:54.140 --> 00:19:56.220 people see angles we miss. They can challenge 00:19:56.220 --> 00:19:58.259 our assumptions, point out flaws in our logic 00:19:58.259 --> 00:20:00.319 we didn't notice. And they bring different strengths, 00:20:00.539 --> 00:20:02.799 different experiences, different knowledge to 00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:06.990 the table. Neuroscience backs this up, too. Group 00:20:06.990 --> 00:20:09.589 brainstorming literally activates more diverse 00:20:09.589 --> 00:20:13.130 areas of the brain than solo thinking, leading 00:20:13.130 --> 00:20:15.430 to more creative potential. You mentioned NASA 00:20:15.430 --> 00:20:18.250 earlier. The space pen wasn't one person's genius 00:20:18.250 --> 00:20:21.230 idea. No, it emerged from collaborative efforts 00:20:21.230 --> 00:20:23.910 across different teams wrestling with the problem 00:20:23.910 --> 00:20:27.450 of writing in zero gravity. That synergy is powerful. 00:20:27.670 --> 00:20:30.410 Okay, so collaborating is key. But how do we 00:20:30.410 --> 00:20:32.630 make that collaboration effective? It's not just 00:20:32.630 --> 00:20:34.650 about throwing people in a room, right? Asking 00:20:34.650 --> 00:20:36.910 the right questions seems crucial. Absolutely 00:20:36.910 --> 00:20:39.190 critical. The quality of the answers you get, 00:20:39.230 --> 00:20:41.230 the solutions you generate together, depends 00:20:41.230 --> 00:20:43.529 massively on the quality of the questions you 00:20:43.529 --> 00:20:46.369 ask. We need to move beyond simple closed yes 00:20:46.369 --> 00:20:49.410 -no questions. So for your side project, instead 00:20:49.410 --> 00:20:52.089 of asking someone, do you think this marketing 00:20:52.089 --> 00:20:55.430 idea will work? which invites a simple yes or 00:20:55.430 --> 00:20:57.690 no. Try something more open -ended, like... Like, 00:20:57.690 --> 00:20:59.390 what do you think are the biggest strengths of 00:20:59.390 --> 00:21:01.809 this marketing idea? And then follow up with, 00:21:01.910 --> 00:21:04.329 what potential challenges or weaknesses do you 00:21:04.329 --> 00:21:07.230 see that I might be missing? Or, how could we 00:21:07.230 --> 00:21:09.410 make this idea even stronger? So you're inviting 00:21:09.410 --> 00:21:12.269 constructive input, not just validation. Exactly. 00:21:12.289 --> 00:21:14.769 Instead of, do you like my business plan? Try 00:21:14.769 --> 00:21:18.150 looking at this plan. What potential roadblocks 00:21:18.150 --> 00:21:21.369 jump out at you? Or use the what -if formula 00:21:21.369 --> 00:21:24.250 to spark imagination. What if we pretended we 00:21:24.250 --> 00:21:26.150 had unlimited time for this launch? What would 00:21:26.150 --> 00:21:28.130 we do differently? What if we had zero budget? 00:21:28.349 --> 00:21:30.670 How could we still achieve X? It opens up the 00:21:30.670 --> 00:21:33.990 thinking so much more. It really does. And this 00:21:33.990 --> 00:21:36.589 leads to the idea of consciously building your 00:21:36.589 --> 00:21:39.549 solution network. Think of the people around 00:21:39.549 --> 00:21:42.269 you as a kind of personal advisory board or a 00:21:42.269 --> 00:21:44.950 toolbox of diverse strengths. So not just surrounding 00:21:44.950 --> 00:21:47.369 yourself with people who agree with you. Definitely 00:21:47.369 --> 00:21:51.329 not. You need diversity. You might want the encourager, 00:21:51.410 --> 00:21:53.269 someone who lifts you up and believes in you, 00:21:53.390 --> 00:21:56.170 but also the challenger, someone who asks the 00:21:56.170 --> 00:21:58.869 tough questions and holds you accountable. Okay. 00:21:58.970 --> 00:22:01.789 What else? Maybe the expert, someone with specific 00:22:01.789 --> 00:22:04.170 technical knowledge you lack. The innovator, 00:22:04.230 --> 00:22:07.009 that person who always has fresh, slightly out 00:22:07.009 --> 00:22:10.190 there ideas. And the connector, the one who seems 00:22:10.190 --> 00:22:12.509 to know everyone and can link you up with resources 00:22:12.509 --> 00:22:15.289 or other helpful people. So for that side project, 00:22:15.529 --> 00:22:17.950 I wouldn't just talk to my supportive best friend. 00:22:18.069 --> 00:22:20.490 I might also seek out someone who's run a similar 00:22:20.490 --> 00:22:23.430 business, expert, brainstorm with my most creative 00:22:23.430 --> 00:22:26.430 colleague, innovator, and ask my well -networked 00:22:26.430 --> 00:22:29.650 uncle if he knows potential partners, connector. 00:22:29.990 --> 00:22:33.349 That's the idea. Building a diverse support system 00:22:33.349 --> 00:22:36.430 turns those individual struggles into a collective 00:22:36.430 --> 00:22:39.849 strength. Often the most robust, resilient solutions 00:22:39.849 --> 00:22:42.730 emerge, not from going it alone, but from that 00:22:42.730 --> 00:22:44.930 connection and collaboration. Okay, wow. We've 00:22:44.930 --> 00:22:48.190 covered so much ground. We started with calming 00:22:48.190 --> 00:22:50.650 that inner storm, then shifting our perspective, 00:22:50.890 --> 00:22:53.569 unleashing creativity, breaking down problems 00:22:53.569 --> 00:22:56.450 practically, drawing wisdom from nature, and 00:22:56.450 --> 00:22:59.910 now embracing collaboration. How do we pull all 00:22:59.910 --> 00:23:01.650 of this together? How do we make this a way of 00:23:01.650 --> 00:23:03.910 life, not just a set of techniques we use occasionally? 00:23:04.470 --> 00:23:06.670 That's the final piece, right? The solution mindset. 00:23:07.400 --> 00:23:10.380 Making it a lifestyle. Exactly. This is about 00:23:10.380 --> 00:23:12.180 fundamentally shifting your default response 00:23:12.180 --> 00:23:14.619 to challenges. For many of us, the automatic 00:23:14.619 --> 00:23:17.259 reaction is often complaining, worrying, or maybe 00:23:17.259 --> 00:23:19.880 blaming external factors or other people. Which 00:23:19.880 --> 00:23:21.640 just keeps you stuck in the problem, right? It 00:23:21.640 --> 00:23:23.200 doesn't move you forward. Precisely. It drains 00:23:23.200 --> 00:23:26.500 your energy and closes down possibilities. A 00:23:26.500 --> 00:23:29.099 solution mindset, on the other hand, is inherently 00:23:29.099 --> 00:23:32.240 proactive. It trains you almost automatically 00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:34.539 to focus on what you can influence, what you 00:23:34.539 --> 00:23:36.819 can do, rather than getting bogged down by what's 00:23:36.819 --> 00:23:39.319 out of your control. So it starts with that simple, 00:23:39.440 --> 00:23:42.940 empowering question. Okay, what's one small action 00:23:42.940 --> 00:23:44.779 I can take right now to improve this situation, 00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:48.200 even just a tiny bit? Yes. That question shifts 00:23:48.200 --> 00:23:50.799 you instantly from passive victim to active agent. 00:23:51.099 --> 00:23:53.960 So instead of thinking this side project is just 00:23:53.960 --> 00:23:56.740 impossible, the solution mindset prompts you 00:23:56.740 --> 00:23:59.779 to ask, okay, which part of this feels most doable 00:23:59.779 --> 00:24:03.039 right now? Let me tackle that first. Or who could 00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:06.079 I reach out to for advice or help on this specific 00:24:06.079 --> 00:24:08.799 sticking point? How do we embed this so it becomes 00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:11.200 more automatic? Are there daily practices? There 00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:12.839 are several simple things you can weave into 00:24:12.839 --> 00:24:15.500 your routine. For example, try some morning intention 00:24:15.500 --> 00:24:18.200 setting. Before the day gets crazy, take two 00:24:18.200 --> 00:24:20.059 minutes to think about one challenge you anticipate 00:24:20.059 --> 00:24:23.140 facing and consciously decide how you want to 00:24:23.140 --> 00:24:25.799 approach it maybe with calm or creativity or 00:24:25.799 --> 00:24:28.480 by breaking it down. It primes your brain. It's 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:30.440 like setting your compass for the day. Kind of, 00:24:30.440 --> 00:24:33.079 yeah. Then maybe some reflective journaling in 00:24:33.079 --> 00:24:36.319 the evening. Briefly note any problems you encountered. 00:24:36.700 --> 00:24:39.200 what solutions you tried, even small ones, and 00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:42.319 what you learned. Over time, you'll start seeing 00:24:42.319 --> 00:24:44.619 patterns in what works for you, and you'll recognize 00:24:44.619 --> 00:24:46.980 your own growth. And those mindful pauses you 00:24:46.980 --> 00:24:49.559 mentioned earlier, just taking a breath before 00:24:49.559 --> 00:24:52.059 reacting during the day. Crucial. Just pause 00:24:52.059 --> 00:24:54.680 and ask, what's the most constructive thing I 00:24:54.680 --> 00:24:58.480 can do or say right now? Visualization can also 00:24:58.480 --> 00:25:01.759 be powerful mentally. Rehearse handling a tricky 00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:05.000 situation with calm and resourcefulness. you're 00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:06.900 building those neural pathways. And one last 00:25:06.900 --> 00:25:09.279 piece that feels really important, celebrating 00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:12.220 the small wins. It's easy to focus only on the 00:25:12.220 --> 00:25:14.779 giant end goal and feel discouraged. Absolutely 00:25:14.779 --> 00:25:17.470 vital. Progress rarely happens in giant leaps. 00:25:17.529 --> 00:25:20.410 It happens in tiny, incremental steps. Acknowledging 00:25:20.410 --> 00:25:22.369 and celebrating those small victories is what 00:25:22.369 --> 00:25:24.430 fuels your motivation and builds your confidence. 00:25:24.670 --> 00:25:27.470 It reinforces the belief that you can solve problems. 00:25:27.690 --> 00:25:30.470 So maybe keep a little log of achievements, even 00:25:30.470 --> 00:25:32.710 small things, like finishing one tricky task 00:25:32.710 --> 00:25:35.109 on the project or trying one new approach or 00:25:35.109 --> 00:25:37.309 resolving a minor disagreement constructively. 00:25:37.470 --> 00:25:41.130 Yes. Write them down. Reflect on how you overcame 00:25:41.130 --> 00:25:44.009 past problems. Remember that you solved things 00:25:44.009 --> 00:25:46.779 before. And reward yourself for the effort and 00:25:46.779 --> 00:25:49.279 the process, not just for hitting the final outcome. 00:25:49.839 --> 00:25:51.799 Manage to make that difficult phone call you 00:25:51.799 --> 00:25:54.519 were dreading. Great. Acknowledge it maybe with 00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:56.960 a quick walk outside, a nice cup of coffee, or 00:25:56.960 --> 00:25:59.480 just telling yourself good job. It really reframes 00:25:59.480 --> 00:26:02.750 the whole journey. It does. Ultimately, thinking 00:26:02.750 --> 00:26:04.930 like a problem solver isn't a destination you 00:26:04.930 --> 00:26:07.549 suddenly arrive at. It's a lifestyle. It's a 00:26:07.549 --> 00:26:10.490 daily practice. It's about consciously shifting 00:26:10.490 --> 00:26:14.789 from complaining to creating, deliberately building 00:26:14.789 --> 00:26:17.410 your resilience muscle and consistently celebrating 00:26:17.410 --> 00:26:20.190 those small steps forward. That's how you train 00:26:20.190 --> 00:26:22.349 your brain to naturally seek out and find solutions. 00:26:22.920 --> 00:26:24.900 What an incredible deep dive this has turned 00:26:24.900 --> 00:26:26.759 out to be. We really journeyed through it all, 00:26:26.819 --> 00:26:29.240 didn't we? From calming that initial inner panic 00:26:29.240 --> 00:26:32.039 and reframing how we see problems. To unleashing 00:26:32.039 --> 00:26:33.940 our own creative thinking, getting practical 00:26:33.940 --> 00:26:36.700 about breaking down big challenges, finding wisdom 00:26:36.700 --> 00:26:39.039 in surprising places like nature. And tapping 00:26:39.039 --> 00:26:41.440 into the huge power of collaborating with others. 00:26:41.720 --> 00:26:44.880 And the core message really is that the power 00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:47.140 to move forward, to find solutions, it isn't 00:26:47.140 --> 00:26:49.859 something external you need to find. It's always 00:26:49.859 --> 00:26:52.660 been within you. You have the capacity. You're 00:26:52.660 --> 00:26:54.660 not just someone who faces problems. You're someone 00:26:54.660 --> 00:26:58.240 who can create solutions. Exactly. So maybe here's 00:26:58.240 --> 00:27:00.859 a final thought to leave you with. The real goal 00:27:00.859 --> 00:27:03.079 probably isn't to somehow live a life completely 00:27:03.079 --> 00:27:05.299 free of problems. That's pretty unrealistic, 00:27:05.559 --> 00:27:08.160 right? Impossible, probably. Maybe the Witcher 00:27:08.160 --> 00:27:10.859 goal is to cultivate a life that's full of solutions, 00:27:11.019 --> 00:27:12.799 a life where you feel equipped and confident 00:27:12.799 --> 00:27:15.940 to navigate whatever comes your way. So consider 00:27:15.940 --> 00:27:18.380 this. What's just one problem, big or small, 00:27:18.559 --> 00:27:21.400 that you're facing right now? And which one tool 00:27:21.400 --> 00:27:24.059 or idea from our discussion today could you maybe 00:27:24.059 --> 00:27:26.960 apply to it just as an experiment? What new possibility 00:27:26.960 --> 00:27:29.720 might that single shift unlock for you? Stay 00:27:29.720 --> 00:27:33.859 curious. Stay resilient. Keep exploring. Dive 00:27:33.859 --> 00:27:36.759 deep. Your problem -solving journey truly starts 00:27:36.759 --> 00:27:37.619 right now.