“It’s a balancing act. Deal with problems – big ones – urgent ones. But don’t forget to invest in your future.”
If you truly understand the psyche of many of those of us who work as consultants, you’ll agree with this statement: Consultants are geared to be problem solvers, so we tend to focus our energies on problems.
Focusing on problems doesn’t make you a negative person. Some people genuinely enjoy solving problems. It can be very gratifying. That’s why people play certain games on their phones. That’s why people build puzzles. That’s why people like doing projects. Solving problems gives you a reason for your existence.
But the real question is this: Does a heavy focus on fixing problems get in the way of maximizing your opportunities? It takes a fine balance. Some business problems, if ignored, can result in financial ruin. They HAVE to be dealt with. Yet never having any time to focus on the good things – the things you do well or do best – will surely result in you falling short of your potential. Not to mention that too many problems to solve can stress you out.
It’s a balancing act. Deal with problems – big ones – urgent ones. But don’t forget to invest in your future by spending time doing more of what you do well and figuring out how to capitalize on opportunities. This is what real entrepreneurs go through every day. “Do I spend time on my problems? Or do I focus on opportunities?” You have to do both of these things!
Mark Zweig is Zweig Group’s chairman and founder. Contact him at mzweig@zweiggroup.com.
