Creative Thoughts on Creative Problem Solving

Welcome to morning coffee and mimosas. I'm Cristina. We are a father-daughter duo. We come here Sunday mornings, but you can come here anytime you please. We banter about life, about business and we do it over coffee and mimosas.

Hey 

there. Five. 

How is everything today? 

Everything is very good. Good. I am doing well. Good as am 

I 

had a Pilates session this morning? Yep. Well, that's a good way to start the day you started the day with exercise. I'm sure. Right? 

Yeah. Making the coffee can the potatoes. 

That is very, very, um, that must be taxing on you.

Is it your pointer finger that you use to press the button? And I mean, lifting of the, , the beans to dump them into the machine 

that's these are delicate rituals that must be followed. You have to have the finest of re reflexes and response. 

And you cultivate that from daily exercising daily with your reflexes in, in pouring the coffee beans into the grinder and then the ground beans into the machine.

I mean, it's brilliant. You must have just very, very strong. I don't know what that muscle is between the, the wrist and the elbow. 

Oh, that's not the one. That's just my little fingers.

Yeah. 

Muscle, muscle mass. Or is it. You're just kind of held together from maybe like the dark you're held together from like the starch and the rice that you eat. 

Yeah. That's what it is. Yeah. I can't believe I'm being insulted. How many minutes into this episode? Two minutes, two minutes. And I'm 

being insulted.

So it wasn't insulted. I was more celebrating the fact that you naturally can just be so agile and able to. get up and make your coffee without any physical activity. Well, 

all I know is that all you, people that have all this physical activity have physical 

pain and, and no, I'm always like I'm, 

you even go to a chiropractor at your age and I am fine.

I don't need a chiropractor or anybody, so let's not be. Um, pain-free and I'm going to keep it that way. 

Well, you're either paying for your, you just don't talk about any pain because from time to time, I'll complain about something and then he'll be like, oh yeah, I have that. And I'm like, you do, he's like, we're talking about like a ringing in the ear.

And he's like, oh, I have that all the time. He's like, oh yeah, I have tinnitus. And like, I'm like, okay. So I was talking to somebody else and they had the craziest thing. They have a floater in there. He's like, yeah, I'm like, do you just not complain about anything? Don't complain. You don't complain about 

anything.

I'm in the camp of, if my eyes open, I'm doing pretty 

well to that. You know what? That's a good way to look at it. We're all lucky 

to be here. That's exactly right. So I don't complain about anything. So, 

yep. We are standing on our two feet breathing. Good air eyes are opening. 

Blessed to have your company on Sundays.

Yes. You are

blessed here. Exactly. Exactly. 

True. Blessed. We are too blessed to stress. However, problems do come up in our lives don't they, they sure do. And they come up in our business lives and all that kind of stuff. 

So, yeah. I mean, like, we don't need to argue, we're not arguing yet today. I think we both agree on this, but yeah, but listeners, we're going to talk about creative problem solving.

And I, I think personally, like when I think about people that I want on my team, and probably one of the biggest, biggest skills that you can't really. I don't think you can put a weight on, you know, or an amount on how valuable the skill of creative problem solving is for team members and things like that.

Right? You can't, I want to say you can learn it, right. You can certainly like, we're going to talk about some ways that you can approach creative problem solving, but I think that whole problem solving mentality, You can learn, uh, you know, you can certainly like learn different skills, but sometimes like there's a gift of problem solving and the ability to see alternate routes.

And alternate solutions to challenges. 

Correct. And, and when you're under stress and have a problem, it very often is more difficult to see that because our viewpoint it's naturally now. We tend to focus on the problem instead of broadening the thought. So what I'm saying is, it's something that must be done.

You must do it. In other words, it's not going to pop out automatically. 

And the thing is, it's kind of like exercise. I knew you were going to 

go there. So if I want to lose my little, my little tummy, that's building up, I have to do something about it, but 

the more that you problem solve, the better you get at it.

And the more that you, the more that you look. Challenges and try and find alternate paths to a solution. I think it's like a flex of an exercise for your brain where you start to look at things a little bit different. And you start to see a much more broad view of possibilities versus like what you just shared when you're stressed or, you know, you've been maybe like ruminating in something for too long.

Right. You don't see, you can't really see past the like blinders that you have for what's right in front of you. Right. Correct. 

Especially, you know, and, and know I want to bring this out because we, we can. I don't know what the term is, but like when you talk about something almost sterilized, like, you know, it's just a hypothetical concept, but if you think about a problem problems, sometimes things happen to us, right.

So we can ruminate and focus on. Why did that happen? You know, why did I go down that street? And the car wouldn't have hit me and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. You know, all the things that the, what ifs, but many problems are our own fault because we made a mistake where we did something stupid. And I'm not like that.

Cause I'm always looking at you. Of course the table. I'm not looking at you. 

What I'm saying.

It felt like maybe that's my own issue. All right. You 

know, we're going to take this podcast to YouTube so that you all listeners can now watch 

the hard, hard looks. He's giving me, as he says stupid, 

see that I was not looking at her that way. Um, but since we all make mistakes and we all do things like that, and we all cause our own problems, not all of them, but some of them what happens is we start with the blame, you know?

Oh, stupid. why did I do that? I knew better than that. Blah, blah, blah. Well, all of that, all of that. Beating yourself up, you know, you don't need others to flag you. You're doing it yourself prevents you it's that narrowing. It, it causes a constriction like your heart is filled with, what is the cholesterol or something 

trouble finding our words this morning.

We 

really are. but that's my point. Is that what. I love about doing this and we're going to have a, or this can be a series, a series of episodes on creative problem solving because we first have to realize let's do some PR like, okay, the problem is here, whatever the reason was, whatever caused it, this is the situation.

And that is so important because, you can't, Start to solve a problem if you're so fixated on why something happened and like, and the kind of like the blame game blaming yourself, it could turn into self sabotage. Right? Like, and I, I think it's such an, it's such a good point because it's like a lot of times you're, you're so disappointed in yourself or disappointed in somebody else for why you're in this situation to begin with And I really try and focus on this. And I think it's just such a good mindset shift for people in general. The problem is here, how you got there really doesn't matter at that point, right? It, it matters to the extent that you don't want to repeat the same mistakes and you want to address a challenge. If it 

happens, it may be part of the solution.

It may be the way you start and just say, okay, let's. Let's back up. Why are we here? Whatever you have to do that in a sanitized way, not, oh, I'm so stupid. 

Same point in order to, in order to like, create an environment of problem solving with the people that you work with, your teams, your family in general.

Uh, any people you have to make sure that other people feel safe and they feel, and they don't, you know, while you're not beating yourself up, you're also not beating other people up. Right. Right. Because part of creative problem solving is that you don't do it alone. Right. I think that's something part of it is.

It can be a really powerful, collaborative process. And oftentimes you come up with some of the best solutions when it's not only your brain, that's thinking about, unique ways and innovative ways to solve a problem, but you're kind of getting some consensus. That's right. And 

we probably want to retitle this sometimes because creative problem solving w you use these same techniques to innovate, you know, also, and to find out new ideas, right.

And adapt to change. So does the problem, problem in quotes? It's just a creative problem. Solving is a set of techniques and we'll use that, but just realize that we can find creative solutions to problems. We can innovate for new things that we can deal with change that's either has happened or happening and so on.

So 

there's so many uses and I, I mean, really every innovation. I can't say every single one, but I would, probably, it would be a safe bet to say that almost every innovation is the result of some identified problem. Right? there's no reason to innovate unless there's a problem that you're trying to solve.

Right. That's why people innovate. Okay. Well, we're going to come up with something new because there's some kind of a. Disconnect with something that's already in place or some kind of a, like something doesn't work perfectly. Otherwise there would be no reason to come up with a better way. Correct. 

But now I'm going to throw in and I think way back, might've been maybe episode one or two or something way back.

know I brought this up. So if you are a loyal listener, you're going to have dangerous. 

Where are you, you're going to, or if you're a listener like me, that you wish your memory were a little better, you may realize that you have amnesia. 

So was you. We could have the same episode. We only have four episodes, 

like a goldfish, you know, like it's like 51st dates I wake up in Groundhog's day.

Well, what I, what I mean is, and I'm going to address that about the. And you brought up a very good point. Like the, we, this innovation cause people were solving problems and the innovative, correct. Right. One thing that I've noticed of people, going to say generally your rank and file very often.

And we are all guilty of this. We will take the harder road if it's familiar versus a better way. If it's unfamiliar. Now, the reason I'm saying that is there doesn't have to be a problem for us to enter. Because the definition of a problem is this is a problem. It might not be a problem to you. Let me give you an example, 

is that the definition of a problem, 

your way, if you're, if you're 

the definition of a problem is there's a problem, 

right?

But sometimes there's a problem, but you don't consider it a 

problem. Correct? you don't recognize it as a problem. 

Okay, I'm going to take an example of, let's take a, I'm going to use technology because I'm Mr. Technology. All right. Your computer, your phone, all this stuff has a million little shortcuts.

So for example, I have in the house here, I've used Apple's home kit and those of you listening just turned off and they go, oh my God, he's getting technical or whatever. There are home automations that are. Really clever and so easy to use. And 

most of the time he's using them so that he can do less physical work in order to get things done, 

laziness and desire to avoid physical activity has helped.

He 

now sits in his recliner. People we're lucky that he hasn't found a hack yet to get the coffee made for him. But he now sits in his recliner and barks orders at his apple home kit. Hey, Siri, turn on my TV. 

Be careful. Cause Siri's going to do it. The team you'll go on and 

mess up our blood. This. 

You say that literally that 

was not a fun.

Do you see? She said, I'm sorry, I couldn't do that. Wait, the TV is on now. 

Literally listeners 

are so lazy. Dad. 

And everything went on and it's amazing. And I'm going to give you an example. mom used to, like, if she fell asleep in the living room, watching TV and then the TV, I remember she complained that the TV would be on before in the morning or something and it woke or allowed commercial came on and it woke her up.

So I said, well, when would you like to TV to go off? And she said, well, probably if it goes off at two in the morning, that's probably smart because then if she's fell asleep or then she can go to bed. So I, I have a routine in apple home kit that the TV turns off at two in the morning.

And the lamp in the living room goes on, not at a specified time, but at sunset, which means. In the summer, it goes on later than it does in the winter. Okay. Now the reason I'm bringing this out, because I want all of you listeners to pay me for consulting to set up your home. Now I'm bringing this out because when I brought these ideas up and if I bring them up to other people, They go, oh, that's too complicated.

I would rather get up and turn the TV off. I would rather be awakened at four in the morning by the TB. I would rather turn the light on and I'm thinking why I can show you in five minutes, how you can control all of that from your phone, right. Or my watch, in fact, cause it's on my apple watch or your voice or my voice even better.

And that's true. Hey Siri, turn the TV off.

And I didn't even program my voice. I could come in here and take over the whole house you could, 

and listeners, we are not lying. Everything that Cristina just did, it actually all occurred. So that's a fun example. And I'm giving you a fun example. So many people would, are willing to do extra work. Yeah.

They're willing to suffer through having to get a remote and, or like flip their light on, but no, but some of those things are very silly 

example, a true example. But it's what I'm talking about. 

No, it's true though. It is true. And I mean like the, the hack of the light going on at sunset, that's something that, you know, sometimes you may not be home, but you may want a light on, so, you know, there's signs of life in the house, right?

Like you may not be there to turn it on. So these are things. They do solve a problem. The whole thing becomes is the pain great enough for the person that is impacted for them to bother? Correct. But I see 

this bringing this to work and bringing this to your life. And so on. I see this in processes.

I know I do process improvement work, but I see this all the time. People workers are willing to actually take extra steps, do extra processes, do things that are inefficient because it is more comfortable to be inefficient in a way that. I'm comfortable with then to venture off into a different procedure.

That would be more efficient, but I'm not as comfortable with that yet because it's unknown until you do it. Right. so these are. I bring this all out because if, really, if we were to just, know, summarize where we are, as we move forward here, the process of. Of being creative an applying a creative problem solving solution.

We have to get away from the woe is me, or it was my fault, or it was your fault and move away from that to okay. Let's deal with the problem. Right. and then we also have to identify, is it a problem, that a, I want to solve? Cause maybe I don't care about the. Or I'm not comfortable caring about the problem and I'd rather deal with this, you know, then not 

well, and I think that's the whole thing you don't have to it's it's about finding.

Creative solutions to complex problems. You don't need to use creative problem solving all day every day, right? Like there's a certain point. Like, you know, it's a flex for the brain, right? It's exercise for the brain. You don't need to creative problem solve in order to decide necessarily what you're going to have for lunch.

You know, or whether you should have you do like brainstorming sessions and mind mapping for your, uh, for your, your dinner order. 

After breakfast, I'm stressing about what's for lunch and how I'm 

going to get lunch. I really don't doubt that, but I'm actually very surprised that you haven't found an innovation for how you can get Siri to be.

Managing your, you know, cadence of your lunch and dinner orders throughout the week, like, so that you can make sure that you've got, you know, your Cuban lined up Tuesday, evenings, 6:00 PM, on, you know, that is shocking to me that, you know, Problem solved around that yet it could be because you basically have like a personal chef at home through mom.

You're very lucky. She basically delivers like every meal, like here's a well-balanced meal for you. Yeah. So

you just,

you just called it. I don't have a 

problem. That is not a problem for you. Correct. But I, I think about poor Brad that's at home or, me when, you know, we're both looking at each other because we both worked and we look at each other.

What's for dinner. It's like 7 30, 8 o'clock should we? We should probably eat. Huh? Maybe a bowl of cereal. You guys eat pretty well in this house. That's why I come here on the weekends. Right? Because I'm guaranteed a very good breakfast to 

even care about the podcast. You just want to, I mean, 

it's sad. It is very much about the podcast, but the catalyst of this was really to at least make sure I had one well-balanced meal that wasn't prepared by a restaurant or, you know, some outside service once a week.

So, you know, you could see why this is a series. We can't cover this. 

Yeah. It's not something that we can bite off. So I think like, through, through this, this series, we're going to talk about different things. Like what are different tools that are available for us as we're looking at.

How to go about creative problem solving because it doesn't come easy to everybody, right? Like I keep talking about it. Like it's an exercise. It's something that you have to flex because creative problem solving it's important because you know, you, you find new and innovative ways to solve complex problems.

They've been established, but it's also so much about adapting to change. It's about helping to drive innovation and growth and it doesn't come naturally to everybody. Like sometimes it's very, uh, stressful thinking about. You know, like when you see there are certain people that can't see past the problem to try and get to the solution.

Right. So we're going to talk a little bit in a subsequent episode about different tools and kind of like a template or process that you can follow. To try and, put some steps around, how do you approach creative problem solving? What are different ways that you can, that you can approach it so that it isn't so daunting, right?

Like, so you kind of know where to start or how to get other people engaged in the process. So I think we'll have some fun with that in the 

coming weeks. No, we absolutely. We absolutely will. And, and even the, you know, the tools that you mentioned, you know, we, we didn't mention them, but there are, very, when I say tools, they're not things you have to buy, you know, they're, uh, ways to do this.

And so I'm 

sure there's some kind of tool you can buy though. There is a, there's a product for everything. That's true. Hey, Siri, what's a tool that we can buy for creative problem solving.

I can show them. If you ask again 

seriously, you don't need us here. We got serious, serious,

and it works. And you don't need Siri. You could use Google play or you can use Alexa, whatever you want, choice your bot of choice. I love that. Exactly. 

We should create a little bit. You're kind of my bottom of choice, dad. I just call you. But we should, uh, you know, maybe we can create something with that.

We had suggested pocket pop to, the M Y a or auto advocates or your advocate Alliance rather. I don't think they ever used it, so maybe, maybe we'll create a pocket pop. Yeah. 

But I think, I think they researched it and someone had, had, had taken that or something, so they couldn't use it.

Yeah. Yeah. So rather than get, sued, they decided not to. 

Yeah. So listeners, let us know if you would like this Joe in your pocket, be 

careful with it. It would be morning coffee and mimosas in your pocket.

That'd be really cool. We figured out a way to have a cup of coffee and a mimosa. Well, if you drink enough, MOSIS you get very creative, 

but you know what that is, uh, that is a path to creative problem solving. If you want 

to take it and the coffee gives you the, like adrenaline, 

the caffeine, 

right.

And then the mimosa mimosa kind of like opens your, perspective to new ideas. Yeah. Something here. This 

is brilliant. Yeah. We need FDA approval 

for this. 

We need FDA approval. 

Yeah. I mean a morning coffee. My most in the pocket could get meth. 

Pill 

hill. Oh man. We're going to start selling morning, copy on most of the pills, pills for problem-solving. 

I just had some creative ideas and it relates to, but we're 

brainstorming right now. And that's kind of like, you know, just a tease to some of like where, where you can ultimately go brainstorming part of creative problem solving is literally throwing any idea, no matter how crazy it is at the wall.

And you see what comes out 

of that. um, but I'm not going to say it on the, on the podcast right now. 

When are you going to say 

it? you want the listeners to come back next 

week. I hope that you're going to write it down because I'm a little concerned that you may not remember it by next week.

Who are we and why are we here? I had to say that. So, uh, So, no, this was good. So, do a little quick recap and a little preview for 

next week. , I guess the, the biggest piece that we'll leave you with is. if you can flex one skill that you can improve, creative problem solving is probably one of the most valuable skills that you can bring to any aspect of your life, your career.

because ultimately regardless of. Area you are in, people rely on other people that can solve problems and find creative and innovative approaches that they wouldn't otherwise have found. That's why people hire consultants. That's why. You know, if you're somebody that is looked at as a problem solver, you become indispensable.

So, you know, one of the main, I think, you know, as we were talking about in this episode of why is it so important and, what are some of the barriers to creative problem solving? The first step is really getting out of your head, right? And, and stop the stop. The constant thought of. What the problem is and why it happened.

Move passed that onto we are where we are. And now we've got to figure out what we do with where 

we are. Yes and no, that there's hope. And it's not only hope, but there is actually a very bright light that will bring you better than you were before. If you approach this. Right. That's almost a guarantee because all of these innovations.

So many of them, as you brought up earlier, come from either a devastating loss or a problem that was needed to be solved or for 

a new sense of something or something loosened. So yeah, don't stress. And I think the other piece as we're recapping this is that recognize that a big piece of creative problem solving is being open to an adapting to change.

So you have to, it's, it's a big piece of change. Management is creative problem solving innovation and being open to and adapting to that change. So more to come. This is the beginning of what, you know, I think will be a really good and important series. I love these because it's always a good refresher for us to add.

and more to come. So listeners, if you have any tips or tricks or experiences that would lend themselves well to creative problem solving and the series, please give us a shout. Let us know. We would love to feature that in the podcast. if you like what you hear, drop us a subscribe on our channel.

Leave a review, share it with a friend. We always appreciate that. And it certainly helps our podcast then to get in front of other people that may find value in it as well. That's right. 

Thank you. 

You're welcome to add. I love that. You always thanked me at the end of these episodes. Thank you, dad. 

No, thank you.

No, thank you. 

No, thank you. 

Wherever you are, whatever your story. Thanks for spending time with us this morning. Now go and make a difference in your world.

Actually, we should give hallmark to all of you listeners. If you're still here during this song, we want to solve your problem. 

Think of your problem, your problem. That's your problem. Brainstorm around it. There you go. Bye everyone. Have a great week, everyone.