SOLVING NON-PROBLEMS

THE SIMPLE NEWSLETTER - ISSUE # 009

Welcome to another edition of The Simple Newsletter, where my goal is to share insights and lessons that inspire you, help you think differently, and ultimately equip you to “Do The Thing.”

This week, I’ve been reflecting on problems—specifically, the problems we create that don’t actually exist yet. Let’s get into it.

ADAM'S THOUGHT

Over the course of this week, I’ve spoken with so many people who are consumed by the “what ifs.” They’re hyper-focused on potential problems that haven’t even materialized. My advice to them? Deal with your problems when they come.

But the issue is, when we overthink and obsess about these possible scenarios, we inadvertently create new problems—problems that revolve around addressing issues that aren’t even issues yet. And in doing so, we lose sight of the opportunities sitting right in front of us.

Here’s something I heard once that struck a chord with me: we have this default approach to problem-solving that tends toward adding things instead of removing things.

It made me wonder—are we adding new layers, new worries, and new tasks to “solve” problems that might not exist? Or are we doing it because we’re avoiding the opportunity we know is right there beneath the nonsense? Are we afraid to see what happens if we succeed or to handle everything that comes with chasing that opportunity?

Think about it. When you create a new “problem” for yourself—whether it’s another plan, another checklist, another “what if”—it feels productive at first. But then, that feeling fades, and you’re right back to the same spot. Then what? Do you keep stacking fears, worries, and plans for more non-problems?

Here’s something to chew on: fear is just an acronym—false evidence appearing real. But how often do we fall for the illusion?

Will we finally strip away the nonsense and face the opportunities before us, or continue burying them under imagined fears?

ADAM'S LESSON

From my experience as a business owner, I’ve learned that most of the problems we fix are ones that haven’t even become real. The good news? There are two ways to handle this constructively.

1. Communicate

More often than not, we get trapped in the “what if” spiral—trying to account for every possible outcome, every variable. What if they say this? What if they choose that? But there’s a simple way to cut through it all.

Just ask.

Pick up the phone. Send the email. Have the conversation. Ask that lingering question.

You’d be surprised how often the thing you were overthinking ends up being far simpler, far easier, and far less dramatic than you feared. Instead of wasting days or weeks mapping out an elaborate strategy for every single potential “bad” outcome, you can save yourself time and energy by getting clarity directly.

Yes, sometimes the answer might not be what you hoped for. It can be painful or even disappointing. But clarity is always more useful than speculation—and infinitely less wasteful.

2. Accept It’s Not a Problem Yet

This one’s trickier because it requires you to stop overthinking. When your mind starts churning—"What if this happens? What if that falls apart?"—your job is to step in and say, “We’ll find out when we find out. Right now, I’ve got something more important to focus on.”

This approach? It’s akin to equanimity—a concept often found in meditation. It’s about letting those thoughts exist without grabbing onto them. If you’re not used to this, it can feel tough at first. But here’s a tip if your subconscious really won’t leave you alone: schedule it.

Literally block out time on your calendar to revisit the potential problem. Say to yourself, "I’ll check in on this next week." By doing this, you train yourself to stay focused on what matters now without ignoring your concerns entirely.

When the scheduled time rolls around, you’ll often find that the issue hasn’t materialized at all. And if it has? Great, now you deal with it. But until then, you can focus on the opportunities in front of you, not the fears you’ve stacked up in your head.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

“Nothing’s more wasteful and stupid than doing something efficiently that shouldn’t be done at all.”

— Peter Drucker

Most of the “what if” scenarios we plan for never happen. Ask yourself, how much more of your precious time will you waste solving problems that aren’t real yet?

Don’t get caught in the loop of imaginary issues. Use your time to tackle the opportunities—and the real problems—when they arrive.

Here’s to stripping away the nonsense and making space for what really matters.

Until next time,

Adam

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