Problems over Solutions
Pivot around amazing problems. Not solutions.
Problems are long term but solutions are short term
Falling in love with solutions will take away lot of energy from you and your team. When an innovator becomes obsessed with an idea or a solution, they will easily turn blind to the original problem that required this solution. Instead you can ask: How can we discover the main problems of our users by observing their behaviors in their natural environment? How can we understand the main challenges of our business framed by the priorities of our executives? Do we understand the new problems our solution might be creating for people or planet? Do we seek focused problem definitions that can lead to solutions for all of the above? Can we pivot around the problem with different solutions or are we stuck trying to make one solution work?
Example:
There is a romantic image of a typical innovation initiative that starts from a brilliant idea - which usually is a prescribed solution. Let's imagine a time machine. It will be very natural for the innovator to focus on this idea to such an extent that they would forget what problem it solves. 3M never intended to invent the Post-it and it took the team almost a decade to create a viable product but the myth of "brilliant but misunderstood idea to market domination" is much more compelling than pivoting around a problem until it is solved.
© 2026 Bilgi Karan