Problems are simply opportunities in disguise

Most of us run our businesses on a day to day basis, dealing with customer needs and solving problems as they arise. As our business changes, as our custmer needs change, "problems" arise. Often, as business owners, the need to deal with these "problems" consumes much of our day. These "problems" are simply flags that tell us something is not working as it should. We cannot afford this to be normal operations.

When we are up to your neck in alligators, it is difficult to remember that we are there to drain the swamp. But as a business owner, that is what we must do.

The flags are telling us that something is not working properly. By understanding the source of the problems, we have the opportunity, not only to fix the problem, but to prevent it, thereby saving us time in the future. If we go further and understand the source of the problem, we may identify that there is a new need from our customers that we are not satisfying. This is the real opportunity. By satisfying this new need, we may be able to improve our relationship with our customers, because we are "listening".

Our business is not static. It is constantly changing. Our customers needs are changing. Our business processes must evolve along with those needs.