Here are three tips to deal with problems: 

Be Humble  

Innovative solutions require humility. Humility helps you realize you don’t know everything. You only grow by admitting you don’t know. Learning begins when pride ends. Coach John Wooden said, “It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.” People who think they know how everything works never open themselves up to learning new information. If you think you already know everything there is to know, about whatever it is you think you know, you will never fully know it. 

The greatest enemy of creativity is pride. The moment you think you know it all is the moment you’ll stop growing. When you stop seeking new ways to innovate, you stifle your ability to produce greater results. Unfortunately, many people have stopped growing because pride blocks them from learning. It’s only when we admit that we don’t know, that we can hope to know more. Vernon Howard said, “Always walk through life as if you have something new to learn and you will.” Humility is the key that unlocks creativity.

Be Honest

Don’t sugarcoat your challenges. Don’t hide from having problems. When we try to cover up what is holding us back, it only backfires on us and everyone around us. Being honest about what is trapping you is the key to discovering the way out. You can’t shrug problems under the rug and expect them to go away. 

Honesty requires vulnerability and being vulnerable requires courage. In fact, the word courage comes from the French word Coeur, meaning heart. Courage comes from our hearts. It takes heart to be an innovative person. In order to be a great leader, you have to display the courage to step out and be exposed. Honesty validates your character and builds your influence. True problem-solving thrives in honest and vulnerable environments.

Be Hungry

You become successful by creating an appetite for challenges. Growth organically generates challenges. And the more growth you experience, the more problems will arise. Don’t get worn out with problems. Keep yourself healthy. Lean in and engage your problem-solving ability. Curiosity breeds courage. 

I have met and coached many people who have stopped growing because they stopped being curious. You never lose if you never give up. Don’t allow yourself to settle for average. When you settle for average, you surrender your potential for greatness. Keep your mind fertile for new ideas and new ways of thinking. Don’t get so full of yourself that you stop moving forward.