***Having Problems Means You're Alive

It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.nn-- Albert EinsteinnnProblems are a mind exercise. Problems can be learning opportunities. The way you describe a problem determines your ability to solve it. Some people play chess. They see it as a game. It's also an exercise in problem solving. Chess pros are passionate about strategy. The champion chess player Bobby Fischer, when asked about his technique, said, “I don’t believe in psychology. I believe in good moves.” He also boasted that he gave 98 percent of his mental energy to chess, while others gave only 2 percent. That explains his success. He enjoyed the challenge.nnMaybe we’re not all chess champions, but we can still learn how to problem solve like the pros. There’s the old saying that if you don’t have problems, then you don’t have a job. Problems are an inevitable part of any endeavor. So it’s good to know how to deal with the inevitable. I know people who see a problem as a game to be won. I know people who see every problem as a burden, which just creates more problems.nnWe’ve all heard people talk about someone who has “a lot of baggage,” meaning they’re carrying around a lot of problems. That really isn’t necessary, especially in this age when traveling light is the goal. Try to avoid the gravitational pull of dispensable weight.nnWhen I was doing the first season of The Apprentice, I had very little idea of how TV shows work, how networks operate, and how ratings are determined. Was this a problem? It could have been, but I saw it as an opportunity to learn something new. I was the new kid on the block, and it could have been daunting, but I decided to go for it. Had I known that 95 percent of all new television shows fail, I might have thought twice, but what I didn’t know worked for me. I just put all my concentration into what I was doing and, as problems surfaced, I dealt with them. Think how boring it would be if it were smooth sailing all the way. You can’t prove your merit on quiet waters, whether you’re a businessman or a mariner.nnRalph Waldo Emerson wrote: “It is a lesson which all history teaches wise men, to put trust in ideas, not circumstances.” In other words, focus on your goals, not your problems. If people waited for everything to be perfect before attempting anything, the world would be in a sorry state. Maybe I just like challenges, but I have to say that without a challenge, I would find the world a little flat. Maybe that’s one reason I like building skyscrapers.nnAs a builder, dealing with your problems head on will greatly reduce them. Be thorough and be meticulous. Don’t toss off your problems, and don’t dwell on them either. Deal with them! Who’s the boss, your problems, or you? Remember to focus on the solution, not the problem.nnIf Einstein turned his back on his problems, I doubt he would be as quotable as he is today. He admits to staying with problems for a long time--an indication of patience and perseverance. He thought about problems until he had them figured out. That’s a good way to go when it comes to just about anything. Maybe none of us are an Einstein, but we can learn from his approach. Work through the problem. Don't give up or walk away.nnIf you’ve got some problems today, that’s a good sign. It means you’re alive, for one thing. So make the most of your situation. I expect you to be making some good moves in the near future.