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What's Your Problem?

Anything related to matters of the mind

Andy Black

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What's Your Problem?

Do you know what your biggest problem is?

If you can’t decide then these short videos might help.

Andy Black’s Video (2 mins)

Apologies for the hushed voice. All the kids were in bed by the time I did the audio.
I’ll only ever record audio during the day going forward!

View: https://youtu.be/XsDh-VPAadM



Daniel Black’s Version (age 5)

I showed Daniel the video above on my smartphone in the morning, and then showed him the Vittle app on my iPad in the afternoon.

When I suggested he create a little video, I was amazed when he churned this out.

Notice how he doesn't think about "problems" that he might encounter before he starts? He just gets stuck in.

View: https://youtu.be/h7giTLAeQUU



Transcript (of my version)

Hi, this is Andy Black

In this video you’re going to learn about your biggest problem, and how to overcome it.

Let’s consider two scenarios, Scenario A and Scenario B.

In scenario A, things get bigger over time. In scenario B, things get smaller over time.

The question is: which would you prefer?

It’s a trick question … because you don’t know what’s being measured over time.

If you’re measuring happiness, you want scenario A, where you get more happy over time.

If you’re measuring stress levels, then you want scenario B, where you get less stressed over time.

If you’re measuring profits, you likely want scenario A.

And if you’re measuring costs, you might want scenario B.

But what if you were measuring the size of problems? Would you want your problems to get bigger over time? Or would you want your problems to get smaller over time?

If you were faced with smaller problems at the start, then you and your competitors would get over them, and you wouldn’t have an edge.

If you were faced with bigger problems at the start, then you’re more likely to get ahead of your competitors, and be faced with less competition later on.

So the bigger the problem, the bigger the barrier to entry and the less competition on the “other side”.

If you knew all the problems that stood between you and the results you wanted, you could look at it as a series of hurdles in your way … each hurdle being a problem that you need to overcome.

Or you could look at it as a series of stepping stones … that take you from where you are, to where you want to be.

If you’re looking at problems as barriers between you and where you want to be, then that is your biggest problem.

Instead, if you saw problems as the barriers to entry that are there to reduce your competition, and if you saw problems as stepping stones to your success rather than hurdles, then you would no longer have any problems.

You would have opportunities to get closer to your goals, and further ahead of the competition.

Seeing problems as opportunities, and being able to welcome them, is the biggest competitive advantage there is.
 
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TheNextTrump

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Your accent is AWESOME Andy !

Such a short, basic, and simple video. But still delivers the message.

Each problem is a stepping stone, and each stepping stone has an opportunity.

I've been cranking away at my "stepping stones" for so long, and it feels like when ever I climb over the first BIG MOUNTAIN . Sure enough, I'm back at ground level looking at another mountain of stepping stones. I understand its all about the process, and patience. But the feeling you get after trying SO hard and pushing towards something for SOOO long, only to find another MOUNTAIN of stepping stones is really hard to handle.

I know I probably sound weak, and that's absolutely NOT ME (atleast not anymore) but honest question.

Have you experienced this in any of your biz/goal/dream experiences? Have you ever gave it your ALL, on a consistent basis's, and find your self not gaining the "traction" you anticipated?

I know I just have to KEEP on KEEPING on and stop "whining" but for real. Time after time, I feel like I end up back on the ground level, no matter what I'm pushing towards or how hard I try.
 

Imgal

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@Andy Black and mini Andy Black deliver once more. I know this is old, but perfect timing for some discussions I've been having over these last couple of days. I've spent the last two months tied up with some projects that were long held commitments which I honoured due to personal relationships with the people involved. It felt like a real shift into the slow lane doing all the work I now tend to immediately outsource or pass on. Six weeks in I was feeling seriously drained and everything that popped up unexpectedly felt like just another problem that pulled me down further.

The reality though were all of these feelings were down to mindset. When I stopped and thought about it none of what was happening was a problem. I chose to do the work so I was the leader of this situation and what i wasn't enjoying / struggling with weren't problems. They were opportunities to figure out better solutions to problems. I don't do this work anymore, but I do outsource it. By coding these sites and being faced with new communication issues / requests I realised systems and processes I had in place had holes in and could be improved on to lead to better, faster and cheaper results. I would never have known that if i hadn't chosen to stick with these projects.

Having said that, never doing it again. Coaching and consulting gigs, I've never loved you so much.
 
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Andy Black

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Your accent is AWESOME Andy !

Such a short, basic, and simple video. But still delivers the message.

Each problem is a stepping stone, and each stepping stone has an opportunity.

I've been cranking away at my "stepping stones" for so long, and it feels like when ever I climb over the first BIG MOUNTAIN . Sure enough, I'm back at ground level looking at another mountain of stepping stones. I understand its all about the process, and patience. But the feeling you get after trying SO hard and pushing towards something for SOOO long, only to find another MOUNTAIN of stepping stones is really hard to handle.

I know I probably sound weak, and that's absolutely NOT ME (atleast not anymore) but honest question.

Have you experienced this in any of your biz/goal/dream experiences? Have you ever gave it your ALL, on a consistent basis's, and find your self not gaining the "traction" you anticipated?

I know I just have to KEEP on KEEPING on and stop "whining" but for real. Time after time, I feel like I end up back on the ground level, no matter what I'm pushing towards or how hard I try.
Thanks @TheNextTrump.

I feel exactly the same.... that I get past one problem to immediately be confronted by another. I'm starting to expect it, and almost rub my hands together wondering what the next one will be. Bring it on!

Something I've observed is that I often seem to come back to a place that I've been before, but the "opportunities" are different this time, because I am different and see different problems to overcome. I overcame the ones previously, and a new set are in sight. The only difference in the scenario the second time round is that I am different. Weird, but that's the best I can describe it.

Don't let problems get you down. Learn to rub your hands together with glee when they come up. When you get round, under, or over them, you'll have a competitive advantage. It's what gets you further ahead of others.

I recently read a great book that had a lot of fantastic historical stories showing how people viewed and overcame their problems (I love my stories btw.) The book's called "The Obstacle Is The Way" by Ryan Holiday and I highly recommend it.
 

Andy Black

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@Andy Black and mini Andy Black deliver once more. I know this is old, but perfect timing for some discussions I've been having over these last couple of days. I've spent the last two months tied up with some projects that were long held commitments which I honoured due to personal relationships with the people involved. It felt like a real shift into the slow lane doing all the work I now tend to immediately outsource or pass on. Six weeks in I was feeling seriously drained and everything that popped up unexpectedly felt like just another problem that pulled me down further.

The reality though were all of these feelings were down to mindset. When I stopped and thought about it none of what was happening was a problem. I chose to do the work so I was the leader of this situation and what i wasn't enjoying / struggling with weren't problems. They were opportunities to figure out better solutions to problems. I don't do this work anymore, but I do outsource it. By coding these sites and being faced with new communication issues / requests I realised systems and processes I had in place had holes in and could be improved on to lead to better, faster and cheaper results. I would never have known that if i hadn't chosen to stick with these projects.

Having said that, never doing it again. Coaching and consulting gigs, I've never loved you so much.
Thanks @Imgal

I love this. All you did was change how you viewed it and you then saw things differently.


Imagine yourself sitting in a meeting or lecture (choose your poison).


Imagine thinking "This is boring."

What does that do to your posture and alertness? I dunno about you, but when I think "This is boring" my shoulders sag, my breath leaves me in a sigh, and my brain shuts down.


Now imagine thinking "How can I make this more interesting?"

Now I'm instantly sitting up straighter, and my brain is suddenly engaged. I've asked my brain a question. I've set it a challenge. Now it's naturally going to look for a solution.


I've said the same thing really. That the meeting/lecture isn't very interesting on the face of it. But one mindset has me resigned and losing the will to live. And the other mindset has me alert and trying to find good in the situation.


We possess in our brains the most incredible problem solving machines. It's up to us to direct them.

We can either look for the bad in a situation, and find it.

Or we can look for the good in a situation, and find that instead.
 

TheNextTrump

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I feel exactly the same.... that I get passed one problem to immediately be confronted by another. I'm starting to expect it, and almost rub my hands together wondering what the next one will be. Bring it on!

It's nice to know, even some one on your level knows what I'm talking about. It's very discouraging, but hey - it should be right?!

Yesterday was a tough one, usually don't vent on the forum about all that stuff, but thanks for the reply and giving me some feed back.

I recently read a great book that had a lot of fantastic historical stories showing how people viewed and overcame their problems (I love my stories btw.) The book's called "The Obstacle Is The Way" by Ryan Holiday and I highly recommend it.

Ordering a copy now, thanks for the recommendation! Love adding GEMs to my library.

Enjoy your day Andy !
 
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21elnegocio

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What's Your Problem?

Do you know what your biggest problem is?

If you can’t decide then these short videos might help.

Andy Black’s Video (2 mins)

Apologies for the hushed voice. All the kids were in bed by the time I did the audio.
I’ll only ever record audio during the day going forward!



Daniel Black’s Version (age 5)

I showed Daniel the video above on my smartphone in the morning, and then showed him the Vittle app on my iPad in the afternoon.

When I suggested he create a little video, I was amazed when he churned this out.

Notice how he doesn't think about "problems" that he might encounter before he starts? He just gets stuck in.



Transcript (of my version)

Hi, this is Andy Black

In this video you’re going to learn about your biggest problem, and how to overcome it.

Let’s consider two scenarios, Scenario A and Scenario B.

In scenario A, things get bigger over time. In scenario B, things get smaller over time.

The question is: which would you prefer?

It’s a trick question … because you don’t know what’s being measured over time.

If you’re measuring happiness, you want scenario A, where you get more happy over time.

If you’re measuring stress levels, then you want scenario B, where you get less stressed over time.

If you’re measuring profits, you likely want scenario A.

And if you’re measuring costs, you might want scenario B.

But what if you were measuring the size of problems? Would you want your problems to get bigger over time? Or would you want your problems to get smaller over time?

If you were faced with smaller problems at the start, then you and your competitors would get over them, and you wouldn’t have an edge.

If you were faced with bigger problems at the start, then you’re more likely to get ahead of your competitors, and be faced with less competition later on.

So the bigger the problem, the bigger the barrier to entry and the less competition on the “other side”.

If you knew all the problems that stood between you and the results you wanted, you could look at it as a series of hurdles in your way … each hurdle being a problem that you need to overcome.

Or you could look at it as a series of stepping stones … that take you from where you are, to where you want to be.

If you’re looking at problems as barriers between you and where you want to be, then that is your biggest problem.

Instead, if you saw problems as the barriers to entry that are there to reduce your competition, and if you saw problems as stepping stones to your success rather than hurdles, then you would no longer have any problems.

You would have opportunities to get closer to your goals, and further ahead of the competition.

Seeing problems as opportunities, and being able to welcome them, is the biggest competitive advantage there is.




This is a phenomenal way to think about your problems @Andy Black loved Daniel's video as well. He is already an entrepreneur in the making.
 

Andy Black

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An indication you're making progress is that you're confronted with new problems.

If you're still faced with the same problem, then you're obviously not making progress - you're stuck.
 

Andy Black

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Related video that I dropped into my AndyTalks progress thread (here):

 
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minirich

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An indication you're making progress is that you're confronted with new problems.

If you're still faced with the same problem, then you're obviously not making progress - you're stuck.

My issue with problems often is, that as soon as I have thought it through and have found a solution my motivation to implement that solution is greatly reduced or in some cases non existant, because then next problem looks so sexy to be resolved.
 

Andy Black

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My issue with problems often is, that as soon as I have thought it through and have found a solution my motivation to implement that solution is greatly reduced or in some cases non existant, because then next problem looks so sexy to be resolved.
Haha. Solved in your head is very different from solved in reality. Very different. It rarely works out so neat.

It could also be that once you see the path, you then get someone else to implement.

Either knuckle down, or delegate.


Actually, here's my series of tests:
  1. Dump it (Does it need to be done?)
  2. Delegate it (Does it need to be done by me?)
  3. Defer it (Does it need to be done now? If not, put it into your calendar for a later date and forget about it.)
  4. Do it.
 
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Andy Black

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"Over-thinking is the art of solving problems you don't have."

The trick is to solve the (right!) problem in front of you, and keep doing that.
 
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@Andy Black Thanks for sharing.

I was actually thinking about a need/problem that I may be able to fulfill in the market, but I found myself unconsciously shrinking away from it due to all the "schleps"/barriers that are in the way. This post reinforces what MJ shares in Unscripted ; the "hardness" of an idea is AN OPPORTUNITY.

Thanks for sharing!
 

Andy Black

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“The Obstacle Is The Way” is a good book.
 

LuckyPup

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"Over-thinking is the art of solving problems you don't have."

The trick is to solve the (right!) problem in front of you, and keep doing that.
Amen to that. I can't count the number of times I've tried to hack my way through an open door with a machete. K.I.S.S.
 
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Andy Black

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Amen to that. I can't count the number of times I've tried to hack my way through an open door with a machete. K.I.S.S.
Haha. I love that analogy.
 

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It's an interesting video, but I've been knowing what my biggest problem is for a very long time. All my problems are in my head. I make something up, start believing in that, and it causes a lot of problems for me.
 

Andy Black

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It's an interesting video, but I've been knowing what my biggest problem is for a very long time. All my problems are in my head. I make something up, start believing in that, and it causes a lot of problems for me.
Which is why it’s so important to ask ourselves better questions. Our brains will try to solve/answer whatever question we ask it.

Why can’t I do this? (... brain helpfully responds with 10 reasons why you can do this.)

What happens if I get over this hurdle in front of me? (... brain helpfully responds with lots more hurdles).

It does sound like you’re in your own way.

What’s the immediate problem in front of you? What’s The ONE Thing you need to do that will make everything unnecessary or easier to do? (Maybe read/listen to “The ONE Thing”... or not, because I just summarised it for you.)

What are you trying to do that you don’t actually need to do?

What are you doing that you should stop doing?

What are you not doing that you should doing?

Are you making sales? Why not?

Are you losing customers? Why?

If you don’t know what your ONE Thing is, then working it out *is* your ONE Thing.
 
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Andy Black

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Lack of revenue. That's why I want to exchange my labour for cash. Or build a product and sell that.
Business is simple: Add value. Get paid.

There’s many ways to add value.

Have you figured out how to add value and get paid yet @LittleWolfie?
 

Andy Black

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Wow. Daniel was 5 back then. He turned 15 this week.
 
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Andy Black

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Loads of people complaining about problems, not realising they're the stepping stones on your journey.
 

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