A Guide to Being Solution Oriented
Because the problems aren't for posting, they're the work to be done.
Before we get started, a bit of housekeeping: Next time we meet, things will look a little different around here: nouvôt is rebranding. The content, themes and well, me will all remain the same but the name will get a rejig to match. After a whole bunch of semantic satiation, hours spent on my beloved canva and overthinking everything just one last time…it’s high-time to release the rebrand and it’s coming next week.
Until then, let’s dive in to solution-orientation 101!
“I don’t want to hear problems, I want to hear solutions”
A phrase embedded in my brain courtesy of one boss over 15 years ago. These days it’s probably considered semi-toxic on some level, but personally, I find the vibe to be right. Not in a bullshit Lunatics of LinkedIn ‘advice for managing upwards’ kind of way, but as a core way to live your life.
Start with the problems, yes. And then focus on the solutions.
All Talk, No Trouser
Living through interesting times means there’s an abundance of problems to go around and much that is more than worthy of our criticism, but the solutions in circulation appear to be few and far between - or more likely - simply lack the emotional trigger needed for engagement & virality.
Our lizard brains cling to the drama of problems and gloss over the snoozefest of solutions. Or get caught in the perfectionist trap: in pursuit of the fantastical silver bullet. But no single solution is a fix-all because the problems are the work and frankly, if every single one of our problems vanished tomorrow, we’d probably be quite bored. Celebrating at first yes, but bored later. More bored than reading about solutions.
A little less conversation, a little more action pls
How to be more solution-oriented? Well, it all starts with us.
So you’ve identified a problem and you’re ready to rage against the machine. Great.
Step One
Now step back from the emotion and take a walk. Avoid immediately posting anything, anywhere; it’ll give the dopamine of a job well done, without any real-world change having taken place. The days of sharing information with the goal of driving awareness are what’ve got us here. Now we have to add in the action…first, not second.
For especially shitty problems or even seemingly pointless problems, I like the reframing of ‘The problem is the work to be done’ which flips the switch to opportunistic thinking quick-time.
Step Two
Problem identified, walk taken, emotional turmoil (semi?) detached. Now it’s time to get curious. Ask all those Warren Berger What Ifs? And put that imagination to use. We’ve all got one, it’s just that these days it’s mostly put to use imagining all the worst ways in which the world will go to shit. Put it to better use.
Step Three
Make up a silly little story in which the problem has been solved. Who solved it? How? What had to happen to start and what were the mini challenges along the way?
Step Four
Now share this silly little story with others and use ‘You know how…[insert problem], but wouldn’t it be cool if…[your amazing solution]’ to frame it. It’ll help to keep it accessible, light and makes it easier for people to immediately grasp the problem, solution and - most critically - where they can help.
In the end, problem solving isn’t a personality trait but a human trait. It’s a part of why we love things like music and stories: trying to figure out how it’s all going to come together in the end. Well…that and pattern recognition.
Note: systemic problems cannot be simply positive-mindsetted out of, that’s a bit on-brand for cruel optimism. Instead, let’s think big by starting small and view individual action as the starting point, the first domino to fall in a long, long line towards collective action. Everything is connected afterall.
All Work, All Reward
Being solution-oriented is part of the motivation behind starting my consultancy, nouvôt. I’ve nearly two decades helping brands look good online and more compelling to their potential customers, so why not put that to better use than just selling pointless collabs nobody asked for?
And it goes without saying that I’m not alone in this, here are some fantastic, solution-oriented people you need to know about too:
Matilda Lucy’s Broken Growth interrogates our obsession with growth-at-all-costs alongside practical strategies for better, intentional growth goals.
Anu Lingala’s Revisionary Space is decolonising our aspirations by centering BIPOC creators and shifting our somewhat singular aesthetic vision. A massively-needed space outside the conventional fashion system to reset our exclusive default-setting.
Karl Dunn of Undividing does what it says on the tin: reconnecting in a divided world. Consider this the antidote to all ragebait the (digital) world over.
Rosie Spinks’ What Do We Do Now That We’re Here? addresses the chaos of life head-on without falling into the usual doom and gloom despair. Relateable essays injected with subtle, yet persistent positivity.
Anna Mack’s Stack is the no-nonsense run-through of building an alternative career pathway aka the Portfolio Career. Pro-tips and solutions aplenty in reimagining what your working life could look like beyond the cookie cutter.
Seth Werkheiser is the cool Uncle all Substackers truly deserve. You’re probably already rightly subscribed and joining Zoom calls a-plenty. If there’s anyone who can get us offline, it’ll be Seth’s Social Media Escape Club, right?
Kel Rakowski of Work Unseen is bias to action incarnate: experimenting, zine-making, building and reimagining through the messy middle of the creative process.
The list goes on…
In truth, I could have copy pasted everyone I subscribe to on here given my bias to the doers, the dreamers and the non-complainers. Go forth and subscribe to them as well.
Basically, be less shit and more solution-oriented and we can start to right some wrongs. Think big by starting small. And it’s never too late to start.
So let’s create, share and discover more solutions and the work of solution-oriented people.
The problems aren’t for posting, they’re the work to be done.
Until next time! What problems are you working on finding the solutions for?
Here’s to doing 🤝🤝🤝
Yeah love this. I once learned: accept it, change it or leave it, more related to something in your life you are unhappy about, but rings true when it comes to problems as well. Also I love step 3, will remember that one!
Ps can’t wait to see the re-brand.