Option Solving Blog

In a post-national 2020 election scenario, there is tremendous national uneasiness within the US about the way forward. Given the right circumstances, it would be useful to gather an appropriate bi-partisan panel together to consider the country’s options for rebuilding national unity. Your editor decided to have a stab at what those potential options might be. This meant starting out with a helpful question.

A likely question turned out to be: “What should be the optimal priority for rebuilding US national unity; considering 1) current deep societal divisions, 2) lack of faith in democratic institutions, 3) country wealth and culture in decline, and 4) tap into desire for constructive and insightful change?” It was proposed to stick with only four considerations to reduce the complexity of any panel’s eventual decision-making when the moment arrives: despite there being other possibilities out there.

Your editor needed to develop two appropriate yin and yang “bookends”,as these would help keep any panel’s intuitive minds focused. Bookends such as these are vital for preventing our fertile intuitive minds from wandering and losing concentration. We are mostly unaware of how powerfully valuable but foot-loose our intuition can be unless we can keep it properly focused on such occasions.   

The two bookends that came to mind were: “Let current divide continue as is” –potential civil strife;and “Divide US into proportional domains: A-A, Asian, Caucasian, Indigenous, Latino” – too much societal upheaval. You will note the italicized detractors associated with these least likely options, which help to shut such options out of consideration. Even so, these bookends will now nudge a panel’s intuitive thinking into high gear – see ourLatest Worked Example.

It would then be vital for this panel to come up with at least five realistic options, although it may ultimately come up with six within a decent amount of time. It could  then pursue emotional distancing, which is a form of objective thinking, before making his choice sometime after that …perhaps after 2 hours, later in that day, or first thing the following morning. You can replace this editor’s proposed options with any of your own. While all of these should be considered in some form or another going forward, this editor felt that: Option A: Bi-partisan election integrity commi-ssion: for both Federal and State: might show the most immediate promise in terms of reducing tensions. Then consideration should be given to picking off the other possibilities  

If the panel were to agree, they would then immediately set about formulating and setting out a timetable for this commission to be put together. Fresh groups of bi-partisan representatives would be put together to consider prioritizing and producing optimal approaches for the other suggested unity initiatives.

If you have an example of your own, please share it with this blogger, through the COMMENTS area or contact him at peter@ileadershipsolutions.com .  Thanks Option Solving. (NOTE: Our next posting will be in two week’s time: “What is my optimum option for building a positive relationship with a crucial contact?” Let’s have your COMMENTS or go to peter@ileadershipsolutions.com to connect with the blogger. Also consider buying the book: “Smart Decisions: Goodbye Problems, Hello Options” through amazon.com)

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A recent chance contact with the principal of a high impact business association created a potential opportunity for a friend to be introduced to a high-level potential EL collaborator. The likely introducer was forbidden to make any direct approaches within her venture, even though that person appeared rather interested in the issue of “leadership.” It was therefore necessary for this friend to consider other options to potentially leverage a hopeful opportunity.

The friend’s question turned out to be: “What is optimum option for securing senior level enlightened leadership  (EL) collaborator through President contact;considering there’s 1) some initial interest with President contact, 2) leadership is mutual bonding topic, 3) high stake political sensitivities could be involved, and 4) success could progress the EL cause?” You will notice that this friend should hold himself to four considerations, to reduce the complexity of his eventual decision-making when the moment arrives: despite there being other possibilities out there.

Now he had to develop two appropriate yin and yang “bookends”,as these would help keep his intuitive mind focused. Bookends such as these are vital for preventing our fertile intuitive minds from wandering and losing concentration. We are mostly unaware of how powerfully valuable but foot-loose our intuition can be unless we can keep it properly focused on such occasions.   

Two bookends came to mind as: “Give up altogether” –potential lost opportunity;and “Write directly to board members for their support” – likely to backfire. You will note the italicized detractors associated with these least likely options. Even so, these bookends will now nudge his intuitive thinking into high gear – see ourLatest Worked Example.

It was then important this friend to come up with at least five realistic options, although he may ultimately came up with six within a decent amount of time. He could  then pursue emotional distancing, which is a form of objective thinking, before making his choice sometime after that …perhaps after 2 hours, later in that day, or first thing the following morning. You can replace his proposed options with any of your own. You will note one of his possible options as: Option B: Write directly to board members for their support.

In fact, he came back to these alternatives within an hour or so, after pursuing other important matters, and did make the choice of Option F. From there, he was then able to put together an action initiative, while things were still fresh. He felt this would meet his requirement in an optimal way.

If you have an example of your own, please share it with this blogger, through the COMMENTS area or contact him at peter@ileadershipsolutions.com .  Thanks Option Solving. (NOTE: Our next posting will be in two week’s time: “What should be the optimal priority for rebuilding US national unity?” Let’s have your COMMENTS or go to peter@ileadershipsolutions.com to connect with the blogger. Also consider buying the book: “Smart Decisions: Goodbye Problems, Hello Options” through amazon.com)

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What will be your optimum New Year strategic priority: using Option Solving?

This is a question that many ventures may have been asking over the past month and your editor was no different. He had many possibilities, although eventually – with his current focus on trying to have a book published – he narrowed it down through an appropriate, rational Option Solving question.

That question turned out to be: “What will be your optimum New Year strategic priority; considering 1) vaccine to offset Covid, 2) will be turnaround year, 3) most people taking fresh approaches, and 4) make up for lost ground wherever possible?” You will notice your editor held himself to four considerations, to reduce the complexity of his eventual decision-making when the moment arrives: despite there being other possibilities out there.

Now he had to develop two appropriate yin and yang “bookends”,as these would help keep his intuitive mind focused. Bookends such as these are vital for preventing our fertile intuitive minds from wandering and losing concentration. We are mostly unaware of how powerfully valuable but foot-loose our intuition can be unless we can keep it properly focused on such occasions.   

Two bookends came to mind as: “Just ride with the flow of events” –will leave too much to chance,and “Make a big splash wherever possible” – will have resource limitations. You will note the italicized detractors associated with these least likely options. Even so, these bookends will now nudge his intuitive thinking into high gear – see ourLatest Worked Example.

It was then important for him to come up with at least five realistic options, although he ultimately came up with six within a decent amount of time. He could  then pursue emotional distancing, which is a form of objective thinking, before making his choice sometime after that …perhaps after 2 hours, later in that day, or first thing the following morning. You can replace his proposed options with any of your own. You will note one of his possible options as: Option C: Continue creating following through journal and newsletter blogs.

In fact, he came back to these alternatives within an hour or so, after pursuing other important matters, and did make the choice of Option F. From there, he was then able to put together an action initiative, while things were still fresh. He felt this would continue to build support in the fastest way.

If you have an example of your own, please share it with this blogger, through the COMMENTS area or contact him at peter@ileadershipsolutions.com .  Thanks Option Solving. (NOTE: Our next posting will be in two week’s time: “What is the optimum option to present a successful article for XYZ’s journal?” Let’s have your COMMENTS or go to peter@ileadershipsolutions.com to connect with the blogger. Also consider buying the book: “Smart Decisions: Goodbye Problems, Hello Options” through amazon.com)

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Our last example set the stage for encouraging people within your organization to wear masks for Covid safety reasons. This could either be done either at your venture’s key leader level or for any teams within your organization. By opting to work with your key leader team, it chose Option A: Encourage wearing masks to reduce virus impact. This then created the challenge for your key leader team to figure out the best mode for getting everyone in your organization on board: hence their return to an option solving question to set them off on an optimum track.

Your key leader team’s rational question turned out to be: “Peel the Onion: What is our optimum approach toward personal safety and health in our COVID world – Option A: Encourage wearing masks to reduce virus impact; considering 1) causes claustrophobic feelings in some people, 2) some are embarrassed to wear one, 3) others doubt the science, and 4) yet others are immature about a team requirement?” You will see it held itself to four considerations, to reduce the complexity of the team’s decision-making when the moment arrives: despite there being other possibilities out there.

Now your leader team developed two appropriate yin and yang “bookends”,as these would help keep their intuitive minds focused. Bookends such as these are vital for preventing our fertile intuitive minds from wandering and losing concentration. We are mostly unaware of how powerfully valuable but foot-loose our intuition can be unless we can keep it properly focused on such occasions.   

Two bookends came to mind as: “Allow team members to do their own thing” –will create unnecessary tensions,and “Pursue a mandatory approach” – will dramatize any immature behaviors. You will note the italicized detractors associated with these least likely options. Even so, these bookends will now nudge your key leader team’s intuitive thinking into high gear – see ourLatest Worked Example.

It was then important to come up with at least five realistic options, although your leader team ultimately came up with six within a decent amount of time. The team could  then pursue emotional distancing, which is a form of objective thinking, before making its choice sometime after that …perhaps after 2 hours, later in that day, or first thing the following morning. You can replace their proposed options with any of your own. You will note one of their possible options as: Option FF: Record # of organization days without Covid infection by wearing “named” company/team masks.

In fact, your key leader team members came back to these within an hour or so, after discussing other important matters, and did make the choice of Option FF. From there, they were then able to put together an action initiative, while things were still fresh. They felt that by producing company/ team named masks everyone would feel a sense of team-belonging within the organization.

If you have an example of your own, please share it with this blogger, through the COMMENTS area or contact him at peter@ileadershipsolutions.com .  Thanks Option Solving. (NOTE: Our next posting will be in two week’s time: “What will be your optimum New Year strategic priority?” Let’s have your COMMENTS or go to peter@ileadershipsolutions.com to connect with the blogger. Also consider buying the book: “Smart Decisions: Goodbye Problems, Hello Options” through amazon.com)

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Most organizations are faced with staff health and safety issues due to our current pandemic. One of their biggest challenges is getting everyone on board with a unified approach, so as not to unkow-ingly spread the virus and impact colleague well-being. Unfortunately there are a great deal of misconceptions and conflicting views on how to address the issue: so, wherever possible, a collective view will help all around. It therefore only remained to produce a band of options for your team to review and reach a concerted approach.   

Your editor then set out a proposed rational question to help get a team discussion going: “What is our optimum approach toward personal safety and health in our COVID world; considering our 1)???, 2)???, 3)???, and 4)???” Your editor didn’t insert any considerations as each organization and team would have its own unique considerations. It should still hold itself to four, to reduce the complexity of its decision-making when the moment arrives: despite there being other possibilities out there.

Now your editor had to derive two appropriate yin and yang “bookends”,as these would help keep any team’s intuitive minds focused. Bookends such as these are vital for preventing our fertile intuitive minds from wandering and losing concentration. We are mostly unaware of how powerfully valuable but foot-loose our intuition can be unless we can keep it properly focused on such occasions.   

Two bookends came to your editor’s mind as: “Let the Pandemic play out naturally” –could be lots of unintended casualties,and “Pursue a total lockdown” – many unforeseen casualties and economic consequences? You will note the italicized detractors associated with these least likely options. Even so, these bookends will now nudge any team’s intuitive thinking into high gear – see ourLatest Worked Example.

It was then important to come up with at least five realistic options, although your editor ultimately came up with six within a decent amount of time. Any team could  then pursue emotional distancing, which is a form of objective thinking, before making their choice sometime after that …perhaps after 2 hours, later in that day, or first thing the following morning. You can replace their proposed options with any of your own. You will note one of their possible options as: Option A: Encourage wearing masks to reduce virus impact.

In fact, your team members can come back to these within an hour or so, after discussing other important matters, and then make a choice. From there, they can put together an action initiative, while things are still fresh. It would also be possible to pursue Peel the Onion for even further clarity on the way forward. In the event they chose the latter, so we will pursue Peel the Onion the next time around.

If you have an example of your own, please share it with this blogger, through the COMMENTS area or contact him at peter@ileadershipsolutions.com .  Thanks Option Solving. (NOTE: Our next posting will be in two week’s time: “Peeling the Onion: What is our optimum approach toward personal safety and health in our COVID world?” Let’s have your COMMENTS or go to peter@ileadershipsolutions.com to connect with the blogger. Also consider buying the book: “Smart Decisions: Goodbye Problems, Hello Options” through amazon.com)

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Not so long back your editor was reviewing some of the challenges book publishers are experiencing, especially the smaller more independent ones, in today’s Pandemic world. It seemed appropriate to suggest that they consider their range of options in the circumstances.  

Consequently your editor set out to help them put an OS pictogram together starting out with the rational question: “What is our optimum book distribution mode in a post-pandemic publishers’ world; considering our 1) ???, 2) ???, 3) ???, and 4) ???” On this occasion, we didn’t insert any considerations as each publishing company would have its own unique considerations. It should still hold itself to four, to reduce the complexity of their decision-making when the moment arrives: despite there being other possibilities out there.

Now they would have to derive two appropriate yin and yang “bookends”,as these will help them keep their intuitive minds focused. Bookends such as these are vital for preventing our fertile intuitive minds from wandering and losing concentration. We are mostly unaware of how powerfully valuable but foot-loose our intuition can be unless we can keep it properly focused.   

Two bookends came to your editor’s mind as: “Remain exactly where we were pre-COVID” –likely demise,and “Join a publisher distribution co-operative” – will take time + lot of member collaboration? You will note the italicized detractors associated with these least likely options. Even so, these bookends will now nudge any publisher’s intuitive thinking into high gear – see ourLatest Worked Example.

It was then important to come up with at least five realistic options, although your editor ultimately came up with six within a decent amount of time. Any publishers could  then pursue emotional distancing, which is a form of objective thinking, before making their choice sometime after that …perhaps after 2 hours, later in that day, or first thing the following morning. You can replace their proposed options with any of your own. You will note one of their possible options as: Option B: Utilize hybrid distribution – part traditional/part direct.

In fact, your editor passed this along to the publishers concerned to sleep on his six options and then make a choice first thing the following morning. From there, each one can either put together an action initiative, while things are still fresh. It would also be possible to pursue Peel the Onion for even further clarity on the way forward.

If you have an example of your own, please share it with this blogger, through the COMMENTS area or contact him at peter@ileadershipsolutions.com .  Thanks Option Solving. (NOTE: Our next posting will be in two week’s time: “What is our optimum approach toward personal safety and health in our COVID world?” Let’s have your COMMENTS or go to peter@ileadershipsolutions.com to connect with the blogger. Also consider buying the book: “Smart Decisions: Goodbye Problems, Hello Options” through amazon.com)

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In recent times I was talking with a friend about building his Website following and how it was going. He was encouraged so far, although the question was whether he could speed things up. That introduced a conversation about his various options for doing so.

And that’s where we begin exploring that possibility with an appropriate rational question, such as: “What is our optimum option for building subscribers to our weekly newsletter; considering 1) attempts to build momentum, 2) economy is struggling with COVID, 3) others to share the load, and 4) marketplace has a lot of potential?” Again, we restricted his considerations to the four most apparent ones that are likely to have the most impact on his optimum choice. By holding it to four, it will reduce the complexity of his decision-making when the moment arrives: despite there being other possible considerations.

Now he had to derive two appropriate yin and yang “bookends”,as these will help him keep his intuitive mind focused. Bookends such as these are vital for preventing our fertile intuitive minds from wandering and losing concentration. We are mostly unaware of how powerfully valuable but foot-loose our intuition can be unless we can keep it properly focused.   

Two bookends came to his mind as: “Sit back and let natural market forces work” –will take undue time,and “Get financial backing for aggressive marketing campaign,” will take time and likely lose equity share to get backing – although sometimes that makes sense? You will note the italicized detractors associated with these least likely options. Even so, these bookends will now nudge his intuitive thinking into high gear – see ourLatest Worked Example.

It was then important to come up with at least five realistic options, although he ultimately came up with six within a decent amount of time. He would  then pursue emotional distancing, which is a form of objective thinking, before making his choice sometime after that …perhaps after 2 hours, later in that day, or first thing the following morning. You can replace his proposed options with any of your own. You will note one of his possible options as: Option A: Founding Member – Become a founding member by introducing up to 3 new members…to enhance initial numbers.

In fact, he decided to sleep on his six options and then make a choice first thing the following morning. From there, he will either put together an action initiative, while things are still fresh. It would also be possible to pursue Peel the Onion yet again for even further clarity on the way forward.

If you have an example of your own, please share it with this blogger, through the COMMENTS area or contact him at peter@ileadershipsolutions.com .  Thanks Option Solving. (NOTE: Our next posting will be in two week’s time: “What is our optimum book distribution mode in a post-pandemic independent publishers’ world?” Let’s have your COMMENTS or go to peter@ileadershipsolutions.com to connect with the blogger. Also consider buying the book: “Smart Decisions: Goodbye Problems, Hello Options” through amazon.com)

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Sometimes it’s necessary to go even deeper in option solving to sharpen focus and simplify your strategy. This is called Double Peel the Onion. If you wanted, it could go to Triple Peel the Onion and so on. After due thought, I picked option CC in Double Peel to pursue my “500 LinkedIn relations and any other contacts” connected to those. This would likely be unchartered territory for you, so you would need to approach this activity in small bites to test the best way to proceed.

The related rational question I developed was as follows: “What is my best way to sustain focus on an effective book strategy: Peel the Onion – Option F: Expand potential reader base; now Double Peel the Onion – Option CC: Pursue 500+ LinkedIn relations plus other known contacts; considering 1) will only have one shot, 2) have concise message and on target, 3) beware of overlap with prior contacts, and 4) minimize suspicion?” Again, I restricted myself to the four most apparent considerations as before that are likely to have the most impact on my optimum choice. By holding it to four again, it will reduce the complexity of my decision-making when the moment arrives: despite there being other possible considerations.

Now I had to derive two appropriate yin and yang “bookends” once more,as these will help keep my intuitive mind focused. Bookends such as these are vital for preventing our fertile intuitive minds from wandering and losing concentration. We are mostly unaware of how powerfully valuable but foot-loose our intuition can be unless we can keep it properly focused.   

Two new bookends came to mind and were: “Random contacts on Internet” –difficult to catch people’s attention w/o prior contact,and “Buy potential buyer lists,” authenticity questions and cost? You will note the italicized detractors associated with these least likely options. Even so, these bookends will nudge my intuitive thinking into high gear – see ourLatest Worked Example.

It was then important to come up with at least five realistic options, although I came up with six within a decent amount of time. I would  then pursue emotional distancing, which is a form of objective thinking, before making my choice sometime after that …perhaps after 2 hours, later in that day, or first thing the following morning. You can replace my proposed options with any of your own. You will note one of my sub-sub-options as: Option BBB: Create short, sharp, topical message in test batches of 10.

In fact, I decided to sleep on my six options and then make a choice first thing the following morning. From there, I will either put together an action initiative, while things are still fresh. It would also be possible to pursue Peel the Onion yet again – Triple Peel the Onion – for even further clarity on the way forward.

If you have an example of your own, please share it with this blogger, through the COMMENTS area or contact him at peter@ileadershipsolutions.com .  Thanks Option Solving. (NOTE: Our next posting will be in two week’s time: “What is our optimum option for building subscribers to our weekly newsletter?” Let’s have your COMMENTS or go to peter@ileadershipsolutions.com to connect with the blogger. Also consider buying the book: “Smart Decisions: Goodbye Problems, Hello Options” through amazon.com)

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With now working through the book strategy to build buyer support so as to secure a publisher, it is now a question of refining that further, so as to continue pursuing an optimum approach. Based upon the prior option solving exercise that produced options A-F, I decided to pursue Option F: Expand the potential reader base. It was now a question of the optimum way to do that. So I now pursued a Peel the Onion cycle to produce sub-options.

The new rational question I came up with was as follows: “What is my best way to sustain focus on an effective book strategy: Peel the Onion – Option F: Expand potential reader base; considering 1) slow progress for now, 2) economy is not in our favor, 3) severe loss of pride in letting go, and 4) w/right strategy, only a matter of time to secure publisher?” Again, I restricted myself to the four most apparent considerations as before that are likely to have the most impact on my optimum choice. By holding it to four, it reduces the complexity of my decision-making when the moment arrives: despite there being other possible considerations.

Now I had to derive two appropriate yin and yang “bookends” once more,as these will help keep my intuitive mind focused. Bookends such as these are vital for preventing our fertile intuitive minds from wandering and losing concentration. We are mostly unaware of how powerfully valuable but foot-loose our intuition can be unless we can keep it properly focused.   

Two new bookends came to mind and were: “Random contacts on Internet” –difficult to catch people’s attention w/o prior contact,and “Buy potential buyer lists,” authenticity questions and cost? You will note the italicized detractors associated with these least likely options. Even so, these bookends will nudge my intuitive thinking into high gear – see ourLatest Worked Example.

It was then important to come up with at least five realistic options, although I came up with six within a decent amount of time. I would  then pursue emotional distancing, which is a form of objective thinking, before making my choice sometime after that …perhaps after 2 hours, later in that day, or first thing the following morning. You can replace my proposed options with any of your own. You will note one of my sub-options as: Option CC: Pursue LinkedIn plus other known contacts.

In fact, I decided to sleep on the six options and then make a choice first thing the following morning. From there, I will either put together an action initiative, while things are still fresh. It would also be possible to pursue Peel the Onion again for even further clarity on the way forward.

If you have an example of your own, please share it with this blogger, through the COMMENTS area or contact him at peter@ileadershipsolutions.com .  Thanks Option Solving. (NOTE: Our next posting will be in two week’s time: “Double Peel the Onion: What is my best option for pursuing LinkedIn plus other known contacts?” Let’s have your COMMENTS or go to peter@ileadershipsolutions.com to connect with the blogger. Also consider buying the book: “Smart Decisions: Goodbye Problems, Hello Options” through amazon.com)

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Following a valuable break, I now need to sustain an optimum book strategy focus in order to eventually secure a publisher.

Having reviewed all my recent option considerations, I came up with a fresh appropriate question: “What is my best way to sustain an optimum book strategy focus; considering 1) slow progress for now, 2) economy is not in our favor, 3) severe loss of pride in letting go, and 4) with the right strategy, it’s only a matter of time?” Again, I restricted myself to the four most apparent considerations that are likely to have the most impact on my optimum choice. By holding it to four, it reduces the complexity of my decision-making when the moment arrives: despite there being other possible considerations.

From there it was necessary to derive two appropriate yin and yang “bookends,”as these will help keep my intuitive mind focused. Bookends such as these are vital for preventing our fertile intuitive minds from wandering and losing concentration. We are mostly unaware of how powerfully valuable but foot-loose our intuition can be unless we can keep it properly focused.   

The two bookends that immediately came to mind were: “Give up” –not able to live with myself,and “Leave it all to Literary Agent,” unlikely prospect w/o more $. You will note the italicized detractors associated with these least likely options. Even so, these bookends will nudge my intuitive thinking into high gear – see ourLatest Worked Example.

It was then important to come up with at least five realistic options, although I came up with six within short order. I would  then pursue emotional distancing, which is a form of objective thinking, before making my choice sometime after that …perhaps after 2 hours, later in that day, or first thing the following morning. You can replace my proposed options with any of your own. You will note one of my options as: Option B: Sustain article efforts with likely journals.

In fact, I decided to sleep on the six options and then make a choice first thing the following morning. From there, I will either put together an action initiative, while things are still fresh, or pursue Peeling the Onion for further clarity of the way forward.

If you have an example of your own, please share it with this blogger, through the COMMENTS area or contact him at peter@ileadershipsolutions.com .  Thanks Option Solving. (NOTE: Our next posting will be in two week’s time: “Peeling the Onion: What is my best way to sustain an optimum book strategy focus?” Let’s have your COMMENTS or go to peter@ileadershipsolutions.com to connect with the blogger. Also consider buying the book: “Smart Decisions: Goodbye Problems, Hello Options” through amazon.com)

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