Problem space vs solution space

Edition #60

Recall that iconic scene from the film '3 Idiots' where "Virus," or Dr. Viru Sahastrabuddhe, unveils the astronaut's pen to his students. He explained that conventional pens failed to function in space, leading scientists to invent a space pen as the solution.

In response, our beloved Rancho humorously quips, 'Why didn't astronauts simply use pencils?' Virus found himself at a loss for words.

This serves as a perfect example of the 'problem space' versus 'solution space,' two key approaches to problem-solving.

Approach 1️⃣

When tackling the pen problem from the 'solution space,' we ponder over:

How can we create a pen that operates in zero gravity?

Approach 2️⃣

On the other hand, delving into the 'problem space' urges us to ask:

What is the problem? - Pens don’t work in zero gravity.

Why is this problematic? - Astronauts need to take notes from time to time.

Thinking from this perspective leads us to find the humble pencil as a feasible solution.

The second approach is much better, although a pencil isn't a perfect solution because the pencil lead can break and enter astronauts' eyes or noses, potentially causing machine malfunction. Nevertheless, this problem highlights that we often jump to solutions without understanding the problem first.

We often fixate on the 'how' (solution space) rather than the 'what' or 'why' (problem space). We do the same thing when we search for answers to our problems on YouTube.

Suppose you search on YouTube:

'How to read 100 books in a year?'

Though it’s entirely legal to do that 😉, but again we are using the approach 1. It may be wiser to take the other approach. To better understand the problem ask yourself:

What is the problem? Why is this problematic?

You might answer this as:

What is the problem? - “I'm lacking in knowledge.”

Why is this problematic? - “I lack confidence when interacting in new social circles.”

In essence, your goal is to boost your confidence when mingling with new groups of people through reading. Reading 100 books in a year may not be the necessary path. Instead, identify your areas of interest and delve into few high-quality books aligned with your interests.

This is just one of the many YouTube queries among many others like:

'How to get six-pack abs?'

'How to earn 1 crore rupees?'

It's great that you aspire to achieve these goals, but it becomes even more impactful when you understand the 'why' behind your endeavors.

So, before embarking on your next YouTube 'how-to' quest, remember to take approach 2.

Quote of the week

Author John Maxwell on finding your ‘why’:

Find your why and you will find your way.

Until next week, ✌

Jainuine

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Happy Reading.