Are you solving the right problems?
In an earlier post, we discussed the three step process that Astro Teller uses at X for his team’s “Moonshot” process for accomplishing audacious goals.In that post we discussed solving significant problems. In this post, I challenge you to think bigger to solve one of five significant problems that you or your customers are currently facing.
Murfield Coaching, works with leaders in Real Estate, Sales, and Business to deliver breakthrough success by thinking bigger and reaching higher.

The Problem – Their Pain
Many leaders in business face one or more of the following problems. Each of the five problems come down to two core issues. First, someone is in pain and second, someone needs compassion to resolve their pain
“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”
Thomas Edison
- Disengaged and distracted employees are hurting and that disengagement hurts the business by damaging performance, production and profits.
2. We are in a temporary transition to the New Normal. We didn’t see this coming and were not prepared. Even after 5 months, we are still struggling to open schools, play sports, and hold elections.
3. The COVID 19 shutdown has traumatized many employees, managers, and business owners. Traumatized leaders or employees often make poor decision, turn in a poor performance, and have decreased productivity. In the end, that means poor profits.
4. People are becoming proficient with zoom conferencing but desiring to return to the face to face communication. Communication has become almost one dimensional and that impacts productivity and profits.
5. Even before COVID 19 shutdown, 70% of workers were disengaged. Has it improved? Or has it become harder to engage your team?
From a business perspective, when leaders care to notice the pain, they find opportunities to unleash the ultimate performance, production and profits. That is why we argue that compassion is the best business strategy and practice. That’s why we agree with the Thomas Edison quote above. To solve these problems, we need to re-engineer our thinking.

Innovative Thinking
Unfortunately, most of us have not changed our pattern of thinking since our mid 20’s when we finished college and started to find our way in the world. If anything, our thinking has become entrenched, reinforcing what we have determined is the right and best way of resolving a problem. We generally fail to keep an open mind to new ideas and new ways of solving problems.
Before you become too puffed up thinking that is someone else’s problem, stop and consider how willing you are to consider alternative methods. Ask yourself, why do you still struggle with persistent problem?
ASK YOURSELF: On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the most innovative and 1 being the most repetitive, how open are you to new methods when attempting to solve a persistent problem?
Extremely Repetitive 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Most Innovative
(c) 2020 Murfield International, Inc. All rights reserved.
THINK BIGGER.
REACH HIGHER!
DO THE IMPOSSIBLE
Loren Murfield, PhD
I work with leaders and entrepreneurs in small business, sales and Real Estate to think bigger and reach higher to find their breakthrough success.
Check out my two podcasts, “Holy Crap, How’d They Do That?” and “Trends, Bends & Opportunities.”


Learn how you can engage employees during their most traumatic moments in our newly revised and just-released book, “The ROI of COMPASSION.” Click here to purchase your copy of “Leading with the Power of Compassion.”
Check out the 4 books I published in 4 days last week.




Follow and share this blog.