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Category: Problem Solving

Solving life’s little gadget problems

Like McGyver, you probably have a trick or two that you deploy when you don’t have the exact items you need for the job. Maintain your reputation as “the one who always finds a solution, no matter what,” by using these low-tech solutions for common gadget problems:

Bright ideas from who else? Edison!

Thomas Edison not only invented the light bulb, he filed for more than 1,000 patents and essentially invented the concept of R&D, or the system of looking at problems and solving them creatively. The guy knew how to innovate. What can we learn from one of America’s greatest problem solvers?

Fan the flames of optimism

Fear can paralyze even the most successful people. To make it through the recession, though, businesses need people who can be fearless. Gayle Lantz, author of Take the Bull by the Horns, says that to move back into “thrive” mode, “You’ve got to figure out how to aggressively move forward.”

Decision time? Use 40/70 vision

You need to make a decision between two options, and time is a factor. But you don’t have all the information you need, probably only 75%. Is it better to decide now or wait until you have more information? You should make the decision now, according to the 40/70 rule.

Want new ideas? Diversify your team

You probably know that a diverse group is likely to yield the most creative work. But you may not realize just how diverse a team should be, particularly if it needs to come up with new, innovative ideas. Your team needs diversity in three areas: job function, age and gender.