by Jeff Kirsch
How often do we trivialize an idea as t0o simple for a complex problem, or t0o complex for a simple problem? We open the discussion to invite ideas to help us reach our goal, but in the end the solution you think of first is usually what you choose to execute. It is difficult to allow others to solve your problem, especially when your reputation is on the line, but if you handle the situation properly you still can come out ahead while helping others grow along side you.
The Challenge
Recently I took my sons to a birthday party for their cousin. As with most kids’ parties I have attended, there were balloons and my boys wondered if they could have one. When the party wrapped up, they asked their aunt and uncle if they could have a balloon, for which they were each rewarded with one. The balloons, and the boys, survived the ride home and they played for the rest of the evening with their new treasurers. Later, as I was taking them up for bath time I noticed one of the balloons had floated to the top of our two story stairwell, and the string was short enough I could not reach it.
As my middle son pleaded with me to “reach for it” he suddenly stopped and said “I have a great idea daddy”. He ran off and my wife and I looked at each other as if to say “oh boy, what is his big idea.” He returned to the bottom of the stairs and to my surprise was holding a pillow. With a chuckle I asked him what I was supposed to do with the pillow, thinking to myself I could throw the pillow at the balloon to move it but I would risk popping it. The response I got was even more unexpected than seeing him holding the pillow in the first place, “Wave it like a fan to move the balloon to where you can reach it.”
I thought I knew the answer, and in seconds I was shown that I wasn’t the only one who had a solution. So I took the pillow from my son and created a draft to move the balloon to where I could reach it. As I handed it back to him, I could see in his face that I had made his day.
The Lesson
When attempting to solve a problem, you need to make sure you are open to all possibilities. Understanding that you have ideas, but allowing others to provide input and feedback and not immediately dismissing their contributions, can improve your chances of finding the best solution. Take those ideas and think each through, weighing the pros and cons of each. When you finally decide on a course of action, involve those who helped you formulate your solution and give them the credit they deserve. In the long run, you will establish a support system of experts that work together to innovate and provide a higher value service than we each can individually produce.
I’m not embarrassed to say that my young son told me how to rescue his balloon. As a father I learn from my kids every day, and as a husband I rely on my wife to help me realize solutions that work. You shouldn’t be afraid to engage friends, family, or co-workers to solve problems, no matter how simple or complex. You never know what new skills you may learn in the process.
I look forward to your feedback, so we can work together to find better solutions and grow as a community.
I always thought that I was open to ideas, and as most people in the security world that knows me can attest, I am. However, something that this blog post has made me not really realize, but more come to terms with, is that I usually discount other peoples ideas when I think mine is better. It’s not something that I intentional do, but it’s a pride (ego?) in myself that I have to work with. While reading this I thought for sure your son was going to say ‘use your hair to make the balloon stick to the pillow’, but it just drives home the point that even if you think you are open to possibilities, your subconscious might be ruling them out before they make it off the drawing board. It’s about time that I start taking an active role, consciously, in accepting and evaluating options that other pose.
Thanks for the post, I really appreciate it.
Not only that – but sometimes we tend to “overthink” possible solutions and neglect to see that a simple answer is all that is needed for a seemingly complex problem. That being said, Mubix’s ideas are *always* better than mine…..
Genius. You know, your kid is going to be one of those creative minds. Speaking of which, and applying this to our practice, consultants can benefit from a quick read of this story. I can’t tell you how many times, while consulting, I came across a “problem” posed by the customer and came up with 100 different ways to solve it only to realize that I had not properly analyzed the customer’s requirements sufficiently to actually understand the problem. So while you’re trying to solve perceived problem X, problem Y actually exists an no one is working that angle.
Children make us see with new eyes simply by thinking without the constraints we’ve learned to accept over our years of failure. It’s true!
One of my coworkers/friends and I were having a conversation not too long ago. There were some frustrations around our team regarding several issues. He said something to me that was insightful, simple, and it was also one of those obvious-after-the-fact comments:
“Would you rather be right, or get stuff done?”
Contained in that is a mindset of being open to what others say instead of just keeping to your own ideas and thoughts. Even if your own ideas will work (i.e. “I’m right”), others may have better ideas that are more appropriate, efficient, et al. Being open minded for solutions to come from any direction is very powerful. Your post is an excellent example of what my friend was talking about, and I keep seeing it referenced in real life more and more.
Excellent job!
Great post Jeff.
It reminds me of two things. The first is from Garr Reynold’s Presentation Zen. Nancy Duarte, in talking about how they develop presentations says, “Often ideas come immediately. That’s good, but avoid the potential pitfall of going with the first thing that comes to mind. Continue to sketch and force yourself to think through several more ideas.” She is speaking specifically to presentation design, but the sentiment applies to many things in our lives, both professional and personal. As you say, the first solution might work, but it also might not be the best solution. In some cases, like you mention above, the first idea won’t work, but the next will
This brings me to what Sir Ken Robinson says in his TED talk, “If you’re [we're] not prepared to be wrong, you’ll [we'll] never come up with anything original.” He is talking about children having a complete lack of fear in being wrong. They haven’t yet learned that “being right” is all important. Coming up with a bunch of ideas either by ourselvs or in a group mans that we are “wrong” some of the time. We need to let go of that thought.
Kevin
[...] has a great post about first solutions and thoughts. Good stuff. How to Catch a Balloon : The Security Catalyst Tags: ( general [...]
Oops…forgot to say great post! Looking forward to your next one.
Excellent post Neighbor Jeff. All 3rd party accounts of your middle son surprise and amaze me. I am curious though what he would say about how does one go about removing a sheep from one’s roof? The wind itself is not reliable enough. This has been puzzling me. I am open to others ideas. Also, how does one get an insurance company to approve replacing the whole roof over here? Again, I am open to suggestions. Another question, how do you get a redneck squatter to give up his land (he lives behind Jeff and I) or at least to force him to maintain the weeds that blow endless streams of seeds into our yards. Speaking yards, Jeff – you’re is not looking so dapper these days. Might I suggest green dye. ‘tiz the season.
Mark – I think he would tell you not to put the sheep on the roof in the first place. Just wait for the next wind storm, it will take out the rest of the roof and then maybe the insurance company will cover it. Are you really that jealous of my lawn that you want me to mess it up
Rafal – It is so true that kids really have a lot to teach us, if we can get past our years of “experience”.
All – Thanks for the great conversation. I shared all your comments with my son and he was so excited. He asked me if this made him an Internet Celebrity. My response could not be anything other than “Of course!”
Great post, smart kid