Seth Godin, in one of his blogs, clarifies the difference between a problem and a situation. He writes, “We can also have conversation on whether it’s a problem (problems have solutions) or whether it’s simply a situation, something like gravity that we have to live with.” He writes this in reference to making a plan. The idea being that a problem can be planned for, a situation… not so much.
When you don’t take the time to clarify if something is a problem or a situation, you are unable to address it in a productive manner. Investing time in trouble shooting a situation is both frustrating and futile. You never find adequate plans, nor clear solutions. Understanding something is a situation allows you to learn contentment. You live in it. You are able to reserve energy for the things you can do something about.
A problem has a solution. The solution may not be readily available. The solution may not be easy to find. The solution may not be what you think it is. But somewhere lies an opportunity to solve the puzzle.
It is true that we often mistake a situation for a problem. However, what is more rampant is the tendency to view a problem as a situation…something you can do nothing about. You run into a challenge. You encounter a perceived limitation. You quickly labeled it a situation. You move on without clarifying if the situation is really a problem.
Remember, a situation is something you can do nothing about. Too often the difficult is viewed as ‘there is nothing I can do.’ It is an easy way to avoid addressing a problem.
Brothers Frank and Dan Carney founded Pizza Hut in Wichita, KS in 1958. There are few people who are not aware of this iconic pizza brand and name. What I found intriguing is how the brothers determined the name of their pizzeria. Surely it was a determination of market research. Investing in ad agencies to create the well known name. It was neither of these.
In watching “The Pizza Wars,” as part of the History Channel’s The Foods that Build America it seems the name was birthed in both a situation and a problem. Low on cash in beginning this venture they had purchased a used sign that had only 8 slots for letters. They knew the first five would be Pizza. But what about the other three?
They took out a pad and pen and began brainstorming three letter words. And when Hut was written down they went with it. Why? The original building looked a bit like a hut.
Did they have a situation? They did. They had a sign with only eight places for letters…they could do nothing about it. But they approached that situation as a problem. And, the rest, as many say, is history.
Do you have a problem or a situation? Or is your situation really a problem?