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Learn how to solve other people's problems
Tuesday, 18 April 2006
Why is it that some people's careers go almost nowhere, while others have a spectacular rise? Of course, there are all sorts of answers to that question - politics, connections, luck. There's one trait you can possess that will almost guarantee you success, however.
The ability to solve the problems of others well.
Of course, every job involves problem solving of some sort. The server at McDonalds plays a part in solving somebody's hunger problem; the janitor solves the problem of the corridors being dirty.
But the bigger the problem, and the less people who know how to solve it, the better paid it is likely to be. Brain surgeons earn excellent money, because few other people know how to solve that problem. And if you're someone who needs brain surgery, you'd be willing to pay almost any price to get it from a reputable surgeon.
Tax consultants to the rich can save their clients millions of dollars. That's a big problem which is likely to be much better paid than just satisfying somebody's need for a hamburger.
This is also why lawyers are so well paid. If you have some sort of legal trouble, most people will pay almost anything to get out of it. Lawyers know that they're solving a big fat problem for their clients, and expect to be rewarded accordingly.
If you look around at people with good, well paid jobs, you'll find that they almost always are solving sticky problems that few others know how to. So if you want to move ahead with you career or your business, that is what you should look for too.
No career title or experience is a guaranteed path to success except professional problem solver with rare skills in a particular specialization. This is the position you want to place yourself into. If you are unsatisfied with your job, the respect you are given, and the wages you are paid, that's because you probably haven't moved yourself into that position.
Find some problem that few other people are willing or able to solve, and become an expert at fixing it. Once you demonstrate your ability to do so, all sorts of people will start knocking down your door asking you to solve it for them too.
And that's the best way to get a well-paid, satisfying career, where you are the one in control.
 | How to find yourself | | Along with the problem of trying to figure out how the world works, we also all have a similar problem of discovering exactly who it is we are. People are always surprising themselves with behavior they didn’t expect and thoughts they feel aren’t entirely in their control. |  | Generally, it's best just to tell people what they want to hear | | Some people live to tell others what they're doing wrong. They see themselves as some sort of ivory-tower dwelling soul, gazing mercifully down on the rest of us and having the generosity to point out our faults when they see it as necessary. I'm sure you meet such people all the time. |  | How to get a job paying more than $100,000 a year | | How do people get themselves into a position of earning good incomes at young ages? Why do some people work hard for minimum wage while others have cushy jobs that are well-paid? Most importantly, how can you become one of the latter? | | Becoming more self-absorbed probably isn't going to solve your problems | | There are many books and articles written about how to improve your life. Many focus on changing what's going on inside your head. They want you to think more positively, change your inner conversation, and carefully examine your past. In general, they have one thing in common, they want you to become more self-absorbed. |  | The easiest way to fool smart people | | There’s a saying among con-men that smart people are easier targets, because they don’t think they can be conned. I’m not sure if that’s true, but there’s one scam that’s almost guaranteed to make smart people switch off their brains and reach for their wallets. | | You can't trust people with money | | What is it with money that makes otherwise good people lose all moral perspective? The dubious real-estate agent may well be a good and trustworthy friend away from the office, but he'll tell his clients anything to get a few extra dollars out of them. |  | Evidence that success comes from self-discipline | | An interesting experiment on the nature of success was started by psychologist Walter Mischel at Stanford University in the 1960s. He decided to test the self-discipline of children at an early age, then trace their relative success as their lives went on. |  | If you have a problem, look in the mirror first for its source | | Consider the following scenario. Mr Smith has been a dedicated employee at a big company for over fifteen years. He has a mortgage, two children at private school, and a nice car, all paid for with debt. | | Understanding the games people play | | A very interesting book, for anyone who's interested in the psychology of human relationships, is Games People Play by Eric Berne. Dr Berne is a psychiatrist who developed the theory of transactional analysis, which looks at the ways people interact with one another. Specifically, he's interested in the psychological games people play. | | Whatever you say or do in this world, someone will strongly disapprove | | Wouldn't it be great if everyone just loved us and thought everything we did and said was right? What an easy life that would be. Unfortunately, this isn't going to happen any time soon. Pretty much anything you do or say is going to make somebody angry, upset, or despairing of your intelligence and sanity. |
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