A Case study in the Lessons of Problem Solving...

Now I have a problem and it's winter, so this is a particularly inconvenient problem... I mean, now I actually have to lift the door manually (oh the horror). 

Off to my local hardware store I went to understand how much a new garage door opener would be, and also investigate if they had the part to repair my current one. What I found out was a new GDO would cost about $200, and that I could get the part I needed, although I would have to get it directly from the manufacturer which usually was expensive. As I was speaking to the clerk, he suddenly said, "Follow me", and I did. Soon he was showing me a non functioning demonstration unit exactly like my GDO that was destined to be scrapped — $20 later I was the proud owner of the demonstration unit with the coveted replacement gear inside. I had decided to go with Plan C, repair the GDO. 

(Second Execution thought — Develop an understanding and feasibility of your plan (s), as well as acquire the resources needed. Once you have decided your direction, focus all your resources on it).

So now, in my mind, it was just a matter of taking the gear out of the $20 demonstration unit and replacing the broken one with it. Out come my tools... I quickly dismantle the demonstration unit, retrieve the replacement gear, and then dismantle the GDO and remove the broken gear. To my surprise there was a big cog on the broken part but not on the replacement part; no worries, I will just switch the cog over to the replacement part and then I am good to go. It didn't take me long to realize that I couldn't get the cog off, and I needed the right tools to do it (which of course I did not have). It did cross my mind that maybe I should just go buy a new GDO at this point. 

(Third Execution thought — Problems have agendas of their own, and more often than not they are not in alignment with yours. Don't assume that solving problems will be easy. Also, stay focused on your plan and don't let the other possible solutions distract you. Shame on me for even thinking about buying a new GDO)

I needed a machine shop; a quick Google search and a short drive later, I was telling a machinist my troubles. Ten minutes after that, he had moved the cog over to the replacement part and I now had my replacement gear all ready to be installed. He didn't even charge me saying it was a favour. The reassembly was straight forward and soon enough I had my functioning GDO back up and running. 

(Forth Execution thought — More often then not, you need a team to solve your problem and execute on it. Look to those people and resources you need to solve the issue; resource management is key to your success. As I have mentioned, problems have their own agendas and usually aren't straight forward or easy; sometimes the universe sends a favour your way... so don't forget to repay it in kind somewhere else.) 

So there you have it — Ultimately I was able to repair my garage door for $20 plus the time it took to do it, as opposed to just buying a new one for $200. As I look back on my little "handy man adventure", I am struck by something else, something counter intuitive. Maybe we shouldn't necessarily look to that which is easy, because we learn and grow from challenge and adversity.

We naturally look to what's easy, comfortable and known, while conversely we shy away from that which is difficult, unknown and perceived to cause pain and discomfort — But maybe we should look to that which is difficult. 

Looking at my GDO situation, I could have just bought a new GDO and installed it easily, and although it was $200, it would not have broken me. However by deciding to repair the GDO, which in comparison was not as easy, I expanded my knowledge base, made new connections, developed some new skills, challenged my thinking process, and ultimately saved $180. I gained so much more by not buying a new garage door opener. 

While with "easy", it doesn't really allow you the opportunity to learn, develop, master adversity and grow; also as I look back at my story the easiest solution was not the best economic route to take. As much as we may want it all to come easy, it is actually in our best interest to embrace the adversity and the challenges that comes our way. When you are looking at your possible solutions to execute on, don't instinctively default to what is easiest; it may not be good for business, and most definitely will not help you grow. 

And one last point, and I think it's an important one, doing what's easy tends to be the result of familiarity and having done it before — So doing what's easy runs in the face of doing things differently.

And we know how important different is.

iamgpe 

www,gpestratagem.com