Mary’s Minute
“Stay away from negative
people, they have a problem for every solution.”
~
Albert Einstein
I love problem solving! Being able to generate ideas with people who
share my enthusiasm for ideas is one of the greatest feelings there is. The process is generative in that one idea
leads to another and another. Admittedly,
not all ideas are great, but sometimes even a bad idea can help someone else think
of something. It feels like rapid fire
ping pong balls flying as one person suggests an idea, leading another person
to think of something different but connected, and then back to the original person
for an idea much richer than the first, and so on.
Most of us have been through
a formal brainstorming scenario and understand the rules of the process. We have been in the circle where the center
of attention is a magic marker and chart paper taking down every idea without
criticism or initial discussion, the words, “There are no ideas in
brainstorming,” looming over the fast-paced explosion of ideas. In reality, not all problem-solving ventures
are that formalized. Most for me are
informal, and I don’t even think that I am problem-solving. It is just part of everyday life. It is the constant discussion of ideas for
situations that arise or consideration of how to make things better.
In life we do not get to
play by the rules that are laid out in formal brainstorming. Instead we navigate discussions with those
around us: family, friends, colleagues.
In formal brainstorming, people would not be allowed to sabotage simple
discussions with negativity, so we need to surround ourselves with positive people.
I am lucky in life to be
surrounded by people who see solutions for every problem and not problems for
every solution! It makes a difference.
Have a
great week!
Mary
Mary, what an uplifting and encouraging post! Thank you for sharing your wisdom so warmly on this cold winter day in February. Hope you're well and warm.
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