Problems...So Many Problems.

and how to solve them.

Well, the router died, so no internet. I might as well write this post in crayon.

And the cat pooped on the floor. And the backup camera on my Honda stopped working. And a work thing interrupted the weekend. And the Denver Nuggets lost to the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs, people!

So yeah, everything is terrible and the world is coming to an end.

When you feel like this, when all the calamities of the day pile up, what do you do?

I already went back to bed, and while the extra hour of sleep was nice, my woes did not magically go away. They persist despite my mediocre efforts to avoid them. And now I have less time in the day to address my problems.

Now what?

When problems arise, there are a lot of things you can do. One of which is to freak out. But there are other ways to go. Here's a little roadmap to consider:

• Try to find value in the challenge. When things go south, my wife likes to ask me, “what about this is here to teach you?” The idea here is that at times something is put in your path to open you up to something. Perhaps you are meant to find value in the process of discovery. Maybe I am supposed to learn patience. This might be a reminder to look at problems differently. I suppose I could even read a book and not be online (gasp). Shifting your thinking is often the first and best step to solving your problems. At the end of the day, it’s about changing your mindset and mindset, my friends, is everything. And with all this comes some perspective. The litany of trials I rattled off are problems of privilege. Nothing that has gone wrong is life-threatening. As maddening as it all feels, things could most definitely be worse.

• Solve the smallest problem first. Right out of the gate, it is nice to get a win. When the problems pile up, tackle an easy one. Don’t get distracted and only solve the easy ones (in general those can be delegated) but to get going, a quick solve helps. So I cleaned up the poop and checked that off my list. Good kitty, thanks for an easy fix.

• Move to the most important problem. With a win under your belt, it is time to take on the humdinger of a problem. This is your eat-the-frog task (more on this in a later post). This can be daunting.

In this case, it was the internet issue. We have a teenage daughter and my job depends on being able to connect, so when the internet goes down we are only a few hours away from having a Lord of the Flies situation on our hands. So what to do:

1. Identify the problem. All too often we tend to jump right past the problem and dive into a solution. But you need to know what you are actually solving. This is where a good problem statement is key. What is a problem statement you may ask?A problem statement is a brief, clear description of an issue that outlines what needs to change. It helps you and others understand the problem, its significance, and who it affects. Problem statements give you clarity around an issue. Here was my problem statement for the internet issue: I can connect to the internet via my modem, and I see my network being broadcast from my router, but no device is able to connect. This is a problem because the router is the access point for every device in the house.

2. Start simple. I’m a big believer in Occam’s Razor. I think it is because deep, deep down…I am lazy. Occam’s Razor states pluralitas non est ponenda sine necessitate, “plurality should not be posited without necessity.” Basically, the simplest solution is often the correct one. It tells you that when you have multiple explanations for an event, you should choose the one that requires the fewest assumptions. In my case, I tried a different ethernet cable, double-checked my password, and just restarted the dang thing.

3. Break it down. Alright, with the problem statement nailed and the obvious things tried, it is time to eliminate variables. Complex problems need to be simplified. To do this, you need to tear down your problem or system to the most basic components. Get the basic case working, then one by one add back components and increase your complexity. Since I knew the internet from the modem was fine, I took all the devices off the network. We have multiple Google Home hubs, access points, and smart speakers. I unplugged them all except for one of the hubs and locked in on getting that working.

4. Ask for help. As you are working on your problem, you can get help in a number of ways. Since I am still somewhat hobbled (recovering from a broken ankle), my wife unplugged and gathered devices for me. I got some funky message as I was trying to set up the hub, so the internet came to the rescue. My daughter helped me confirm the password we use. Even if you are the resident expert, you don’t have to do it all by yourself. Look for help and you will find it.

5. Take breaks. The gnarlier the problem the more important it is to take breaks. You want to stay focused and keep your momentum (if you have any) but a 5-minute respite helps you keep at it. Use a timer if you must to remind yourself to stop for a few minutes.

6. Check your assumptions. Even if you have a great problem statement and have broken down your problem, it can be very tempting to skip steps in your process or try to jump ahead. Remember I said that if you can get the basic case going, to add variables back one by one. Don’t assume you can just throw everything back in the mix at once. And don’t rush. Even though I had checked my password, this still bit me in the ass later on other devices. I also didn’t read the troubleshooting guides clearly enough and thought the factory reset I was performing wasn’t working. It turns out the hubs take up to 10 minutes to do a clean reset. A meticulous march through your issues will save you time in the long run.

7. Keep going. Really tricky problems with high stakes can be a grind. The stress and pressure can get to you, especially when other people are depending on your success. Progress can feel slow, but keep going. Tricky issues can take a while and you might need to solve a series of problems to get to the other side. Begin with a minimum viable product and then build from there. You don’t have to solve all the problems at once, just chip away until your big problem becomes a series of small solutions.

8. Be grateful. I know this can feel impossible. I spent two hours on a Saturday fixing my internet. Why should I be grateful? Again, this comes back to mindset. It can be way too easy to let a problem ruin your day. It helps you get your head right and move on and even benefit from your problems. In my case, I was grateful that I was here to solve the problem and not leave my family stranded. Not only did I get my internet fixed, I labeled (with my wife’s help) the access points and hubs. I positioned the components better as well so we now have a stronger signal in the house. The whole thing was a hassle but our system is now stronger for it and it felt pretty cool to feel like a tech genius.

So let’s check on the day’s problems. The cat poop is cleaned up. The internet is working. The backup camera on the car magically started working (sometimes the best solution is to turn it off and then turn it on again). The work issue is addressed enough until Monday. Which brings us to the goddamn Denver Nuggets.

This has no solution.

They lost to an inferior team and jeopardized their number 1 seed in the process. Which in turn, jeopardizes their chance of repeating as champions. The West is so tough, and they need every advantage they can get, and they blew it. They were up by 23 points at one point and lost. Just awful.

And so we arrive at the final part of our roadmap. Some things are simply out of your control. No matter how frustrated you get or what you try, you can't solve some problems. It’s upsetting, but the only thing to do is find some level of acceptance. Anything less leads to madness. Today, I am accepting that the Nuggets might not repeat as NBA champs. I can’t change it, and I accept it. Yep, I really do. Sigh.

Maybe I’ll accept it tomorrow.

On Gratitude…

Do you have a gratitude list? Creating a gratitude list is a just a little reminder of what is going well in your life. This is just a little something to help you feel grounded, reset your perspective, and reduce stress and anxiety. Don’t overthink it and don’t judge what goes on the list. Here are a few examples:

Today I am grateful for:

• The sun is shining

• I have a roof over my head

• My ankle is making progress

• A hot shower

• At least one of my dogs

• Time spent with family

• The mountain is out #pnw

• I have the day off

• I slept well

• The internet is working.

As always, thanks for reading. I hope you found value in this and I appreciate that you are here.