Einstein’s 5-Minute Problem Solver & My 5-Point Question Quiver
What’s Your Decision-Making Filter?Decisions are often driven by emotions. What if I fail? Will I feel good? What if I make the wrong choice?
We’re also motivated by logic. How much will it cost? Is much effort required? Is this good for business? Better questions might be: What worked? What didn’t? Who’s been down this road before?
Many decisions require deliberate thought while others call for swift action. Either way, no one makes the right choice all the time. But the worst decision is the one we never make.
The 5-Minute Solution
In the hierarchy of entrepreneurial thinkers, it’s the scientists, engineers, and mathematicians who solve some of the world’s toughest problems because they’re simply willing to work longer on solutions. But is there a trick that we mortals can use for fun and fast results to everyday challenges?
In 8th grade, I did a book report on Albert Einstein and never forgot one of his most important lessons. Einstein said, “If I had an hour to solve a problem and my life depended on it, I would use the first fifty-five minutes to formulate the right question. Once I’ve identified the right question, I can solve the problem in less than five minutes.”
From that middle-school paper, I developed my 5-point question quiver.
What does my gut tell me?
What’s the best-case / worst-case scenario?
Is this decision negotiable? What if …? Can we …? Why not …?
Can I have fun and flip a coin (heads-vanilla, tails-chocolate)?
Can I get help or delegate the decision, then live with the outcome?
So whether you’re working on a killer business plan, global warming, or peace in the middle east, think about your smartest question quiver to launch ideas, make tough decisions, and solve complex problems.
P.S. The first one on the list above is my ultimate tie-breaker. Have fun noodling solutions!
This blog is from a chapter section in…
The 4 Essentials of Entrepreneurial Thinking
Essential 2, Strategy 4 – Decisions and Problem Solving
