Finding a Different Approach to Solving Problems

Four and a half years ago we miraculously were able to buy a brand-new home in Utah County. We loved the neighborhood, the floorplan, and the beautiful canyon setting. The only thing I wasn’t so fond of was the home’s wood. I was able to paint walls, change out lighting, even switch from brass knobs/door handles to pewter, but the 80′s golden stained oak wood greeted me everywhere and I didn’t like it. I thought maybe perhaps one day we could switch it out or maybe I would paint it, but it seemed a shame to paint new wood, even if I didn’t like it…someone made it beautiful, so I should just be grateful for my house and enjoy the parts I did love. But it still bothered me…

Last month I was at a home improvement store and I happened to notice the wood stains available and there was a wall display showing almost 100 different stains for oak wood. Suddenly I saw that it wasn’t the wood’s problem at all–it was the stain! I realized that what I didn’t like was the “golden oak” stain, that actually a “dark walnut” stain was gorgeous on oak. I was so happy that I now had some options and I could see things in a new way–literally like I flipped my perspective like doing a headstand. Why hadn’t I ever thought of changing the stain? It was exhilarating to realize that I didn’t have to rip out the wood…just change the color. We’re currently in the process of striping the wood in our living room (staircase) and fireplace mantle. When our painter lifted the golden oak stain from the wood and re-stained the new dark walnut color I was so pleased with the results! I think the painter thought I was nuts because I kept saying how much I loved it.

This experience taught me some valuable lessons–I think we often think get stuck on solving our problems in one particular way (and in my case waited 4 years to solve it), but when we are open to other suggestions and step away from it, there just might be a different approach that we never saw was possible and we just might be really happy with the results.

My experience as an entrepreneur has been this way… for 2 years I thought I had to launch my business, “sweet & charming” in a mall setting…I had to “go big or not do it at all,” and I dismissed many mentors and Fairy Godmothers advice about trying a different approach until I finally realized that it was better to try something than to just keep planning for the perfect way to start my business and I listened to one of my Fairy Godmothers Kristen Lamb who said, “what can you do well with your limited budget?” I decided to be ok with starting small and took the little cash I did have and bought $2500 in product and planned a couple of over the top holiday children’s events, then suddenly another opportunity to share a kiosk at the mall opened up and I was able to get going with my idea and gain insights that I would not have experienced otherwise and you know what? I realized I’m not ready to have a store at the mall! As much as I prayed for it for so long and thought it was what I wanted… it isn’t what I want right now, the responsibility, the time, the expense, etc. So, I’m glad I got a taste of it before I made a huge commitment financially with investors, signing my life away with a five year lease, etc. and I’m SO glad I listened to my mentors’ advice!

Now I’m trying not to be so stuck on doing things “my way,” and be more open to the possibilities…including listening to others’ ideas on how to solve my problems!

Today’s Magic Wand: If you are “stuck on a problem” and aren’t sure how to solve it in a new or different way, take it to your small business development center or ask one of your mentors/friends/or one of us here at Start Up Princess and perhaps we can help you see things in a new way.