In Life, You Define the Problem First

A note to young leaders.

School and university are great training grounds. But life – and business – differ from them in one fundamental respect.

In school, you’re given a problem. Your task is to solve it. In life, you’re given a blank sheet. Your first and most important task is to decide what problem is worth solving.

In life, you get to choose the race you run. And if you’re good enough – you might just get to run your own.

That’s why straight-A students don’t always become standouts leaders. Scholars prefer to be given problems to resolve; leaders must resolve the problem to be given.

And defining the problem is by far the harder and more valuable skill. It demands a panoramic view of the world, and a laser-like understanding of your own gifts. In other words: other-person-awareness and self-awareness .

These are not skills in abundant supply, nor are they easily taught.

But they can be learned. And they must be, if you are to live the life of a leader.