“Great problem-solvers avoid being trapped into solving the wrong problem by defining the problem without prejudice or assumption” — Nat Greene Problem solvers Copy Share Image
“Perhaps the most useful approach for defining the problem well is structuring it as a measurable variable.” — Nat Greene Measurable Copy Share Image
“The practice of guessing so obviously fails in detective work that it’s almost shocking that we guess when we have important problems… — Nat Greene Detective work Copy Share Image
“Many people accept the world the way it is, and don’t see the incredible potential that is locked behind hard problems.” — Nat Greene Potential Copy Share Image
“When you move down your tree, keep in mind there may be multiple variables contributing to the failure.” — Nat Greene Failure Copy Share Image
“Always check that you are operating at the right level and get the facts to confirm that, even when you are not… — Nat Greene Check Copy Share Image
“They realized they were on the frontier of understanding, and the assumptions they formed from past experience were detrimental.” — Nat Greene Learning Copy Share Image
“Even when diving into a problem, there’s a fear of looking ignorant or “stupid” by asking questions one is “supposed to know.” — Nat Greene Asking questions Copy Share Image
“Great problem-solvers know that they must become masters of the unique problem and the process it affects, and that when they walk… — Nat Greene Education Copy Share Image
“So what is a relevant fact? It’s a fact that’s going to answer the question you’re asking that takes you to the… — Nat Greene Habits Copy Share Image
“If you believe that complex solutions are better than simple ones, or if you believe it’s better to take a simple guessing… — Nat Greene Guessing Copy Share Image
“how do you utilize experts properly? The first rule is stop asking them to solve your problem. Don’t ask them, “what’s causing… — Nat Greene Experts Copy Share Image
“There are in fact two things, science and opinion; the former begets knowledge, the latter ignorance. —HIPPOCRATES, ANCIENT GREEK FOUNDER OF THE… — Nat Greene Ancient greek Copy Share Image
“The last major risk to getting good facts is our own prejudices. While we may not always test a solution based on… — Nat Greene Bias Copy Share Image
“A problem well-stated is a problem half-solved.1 —CHARLES KETTERING, AMERICAN ENGINEER, HOLDER OF 186 PATENTS, INVENTOR OF THE ELECTRICAL STARTING MOTOR, LEADED… — Nat Greene Inventor Copy Share Image
“One of the most dangerous—and most pervasive—mistakes when creating a problem definition is letting some assumption about the key drivers sneak in… — Nat Greene Mistakes Copy Share Image
“When a system isn’t working right, someone has to understand how it’s meant to work, at the right depth, in order to… — Nat Greene Dig deep Copy Share Image
“Great problem-solvers aren’t afraid of their ignorance, and they’re not afraid of others seeing it. Great questions shatter assumptions, provoke new insight,… — Nat Greene Ignorance Copy Share Image
“Utilizing an expert means asking them questions that will help you understand a science, process, or asset; it means getting their help… — Nat Greene Expert Copy Share Image
“Know what problem you’re solving. Often, people work on the wrong problem entirely by making some implicit assumption about what’s causing it.… — Nat Greene Problem solvers Copy Share Image
“People mythologize hard problems in this way because it is comforting. If a problem becomes a supernatural titan, we can tell ourselves… — Nat Greene Root cause Copy Share Image
“As some of my Canadian friends have told me: “There is no such thing as bad weather; just the wrong clothes.” This… — Nat Greene Bad weather Copy Share Image
“Life gets painful both at work and at home when you’re not making decisions with facts. When all you hear are people’s… — Nat Greene Life Copy Share Image
“There are even a lot of formal problem-solving methods that actively encourage expanding possibilities when problem-solving. As I’ve said before, expansive thinking… — Nat Greene New things Copy Share Image
“If you believe that success is inevitable, you’re less likely to work your tail off in order to achieve it. Hard problems… — Nat Greene Faith Copy Share Image
“Variable Analysis 1. Define the problem. a. What problem are you trying to solve? b. Determine the primary variable • Closely inspect… — Nat Greene Variable Analysis Copy Share Image
“Being willing to expose your ignorance can be hard, until you learn the costs of not doing so.” — Nat Greene Expose Copy Share Image
“Defining the acceptable and unacceptable ranges for this variable means that the problem definition is objective and immune to opinion.” — Nat Greene Means Problem Copy Share Image
“Staying on target means understanding and measuring only what you need to in order to drill to the root cause and find… — Nat Greene Goal Copy Share Image
“Great problem-solvers resist the temptation to guess at every stage of the process. Guessing is a tough habit to break, so get… — Nat Greene Guessing Copy Share Image
“Don’t Rely on Experts Doveryai, no proveryai (trust, but verify). —OLD RUSSIAN PROVERB,” — Nat Greene Proverb Copy Share Image
“whenever you read a method step such as “determine possible root causes,” this is a red flag for your problem-solving method.” — Nat Greene Problem solving Copy Share Image
“We need to understand what variables most directly control our primary variable by understanding the science behind how the system works.” — Nat Greene Science Copy Share Image
“Great problem-solvers also have opinions; what makes them different is that they recognize them for what they are and then set them… — Nat Greene Opinions Copy Share Image
“Brainstorming might be useful in situations where creativity is required. However, solving hard problems is not one of these.” — Nat Greene Brainstorming Copy Share Image
“To solve truly hard problems, you’ll need to use a method that doesn’t involve guessing in any step.” — Nat Greene Method Copy Share Image
“Keep in mind that the method you choose to guide you is of little use without strong problem-solving behaviors.” — Nat Greene Behaviors Copy Share Image
“If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough. —ALBERT EINSTEIN, PHYSICIST” — Nat Greene Albert einstein Copy Share Image
“Don’t confuse believing in a simple solution with hoping that a simple guess will work.” — Nat Greene Believing Copy Share Image
“You must unlearn what you have learned.1 —YODA, IN STAR WARS: EPISODE V—THE EMPIRE STRIKES” — Nat Greene Star wars Copy Share Image
