You’ve got a problem and you’re searching for a solution. Or you know what to do but don’t have time to do it.
Fear not. Sometimes, the best way to handle a problem is to ignore it.
The problem may go away by itself. Or turn out to cause damages that are relatively minor. Or manageable. Or covered by insurance.
It’s all relative, isn’t it?
Some problems are big and hairy. Others, not so much.
Before you start looking for solutions to a problem, make sure the problem is something that truly needs fixing.
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
- Why is this a problem?
- What are the benefits of fixing the problem?
- What’s the worst that can happen if I don’t fix it?
- If the worst case scenario occurs, can IÂ afford the consequences?
- What are the costs of fixing the problem?
- Can IÂ ignore the problem for now and fix it later?
- Can IÂ fix part of the problem now and fix the rest later (or ignore the rest)?
- Can I delegate some or all of work needed to fix the problem?
You may find that the problem isn’t as bad as you thought. You may conclude that your time is better spent fixing a different problem, or tackling an opportunity that promises bigger benefits.
You don’t have to fix every problem. Sometimes, the best way to handle a problem is to ignore it.
