Build with Leila Hormozi: Episode 236 – 3 Steps To Becoming A Better Problem Solver
Host: Leila Hormozi
Release Date: February 3, 2025
Podcast Series: Build with Leila Hormozi
Description: Leila Hormozi shares invaluable lessons learned from scaling businesses to over $100M by age 28 and expanding acquisition.com into a billion-dollar portfolio. This episode delves into enhancing problem-solving skills to create an unshakeable business.
Introduction to Effective Problem Solving
Leila Hormozi opens the episode by sharing her personal struggle with handling multiple problems simultaneously. She emphasizes the transformative impact of changing her approach to problem-solving, setting the stage for the three actionable steps listeners can implement to enhance their problem-solving abilities.
Notable Quote:
"I used to drown in problems because I was trying to solve everything at once. Then I changed how I work and it completely transformed my life.” — Leila Hormozi [00:00]
Step 1: Stop Solving Other People's Problems
Leila discusses the common tendency to want to help others by solving their problems. She highlights how this often leads to creating dependency rather than empowering individuals to develop their own problem-solving skills.
Key Points:
- Dependency Creation: By solving others' problems, you prevent them from developing their own solutions, making you a bottleneck.
- Personal Anecdote: Leila shares her experience of trying to help her alcoholic mother, which ultimately hindered her mother's ability to address her issues independently.
- Empowerment Over Assistance: Encouraging others to find their own solutions fosters confidence and self-reliance.
Notable Quotes:
"When you solve problems for somebody, you take away opportunity for them to learn.” — Leila Hormozi [00:02:30]
"Teaching others to solve problems is the fastest way that you can multiply your impact." — Leila Hormozi [00:05:10]
Actionable Advice:
- Redirect Questions: When someone seeks your help, ask them, “What do you think you should do?” This encourages them to think critically and develop their own solutions.
- Provide Frameworks: Instead of offering direct solutions, share the strategies and frameworks you use to approach problems, empowering others to apply these methods independently.
Step 2: Build Your Problem-Solving Skills Through Repetition
Leila emphasizes the importance of honing problem-solving skills through consistent practice, rather than relying on innate talent or time alone.
Key Points:
- Skill Development: Skills like critical thinking and troubleshooting are developed through repeated practice, not through inherent ability.
- Personal Experience: Leila recounts how solving thousands of problems across multiple businesses sharpened her abilities, allowing her to identify and address issues swiftly.
- Reframing Challenges: Viewing problems as opportunities to gain experience (reps) enhances one's problem-solving capabilities.
Notable Quotes:
"Skills aren't built by the clock, they are built by the reps." — Leila Hormozi [00:10:45]
"Every problem you solve is a rep. The more problems you tackle, the sharper your skills become." — Leila Hormozi [00:12:30]
Actionable Advice:
- Seek Diverse Problems: Engage with a variety of challenges to broaden your experience and enhance your ability to tackle different types of issues.
- Embrace Failure: Understand that making mistakes is part of the learning process. Leila shares her early business failures as stepping stones to mastery.
Step 3: Tackle Problems with Focused Sprints
Leila introduces the concept of approaching problem-solving in focused, intensive efforts (sprints) rather than spreading attention thin across multiple issues.
Key Points:
- Sprints vs. Marathons: Tackling one problem at a time with full attention leads to more effective and efficient solutions compared to attempting to address many problems simultaneously.
- Prioritization Framework: Leila outlines criteria for prioritizing problems based on urgency, impact, and reversibility.
- Urgency: Does the problem worsen over time?
- Impact: What is the significance of solving the problem? (e.g., 10%, 20%, 30% impact)
- Reversibility: Are the consequences of the problem reversible or irreversible?
- Personal Anecdote: Inspired by her friend Sharon, Leila shifted her approach to focus on one problem at a time, resulting in significant productivity gains.
Notable Quotes:
"Problem solving is not about being busy. It's about transforming how you work." — Leila Hormozi [00:20:15]
"Big progress happens in small, focused sprints, not endless marathons." — Leila Hormozi [00:25:40]
Actionable Advice:
- Dedicated Time Blocks: Allocate specific time slots to address individual problems without distraction.
- Reward Systems: Implement personal rewards for solving problems to reinforce positive behavior and maintain motivation.
Conclusion: Transforming Your Problem-Solving Approach
Leila summarizes the three steps to becoming a better problem solver:
- Stop solving others' problems to foster independence and prevent dependency.
- Develop your problem-solving skills through repetition, treating each challenge as an opportunity to gain experience.
- Use focused sprints to tackle one problem at a time, ensuring effective and efficient resolutions.
She reinforces that effective problem-solving is about strategic thinking and disciplined execution rather than merely being busy. By adopting these steps, individuals can enhance their confidence, reduce overwhelm, and achieve significant progress in both personal and professional realms.
Notable Quotes:
"Problem solving is about transforming how you work. It doesn't mean that you need to work harder. It means that you need to put more time into thinking about what you work on, at what point in time.” — Leila Hormozi [00:30:50]
"Which problem, of all the problems on my plate, if solved first, will give me the most attention back? And that's the one you want to start with." — Leila Hormozi [00:32:10]
Final Thoughts
Leila Hormozi's episode provides a comprehensive framework for enhancing problem-solving skills, emphasizing empowerment, skill development through repetition, and strategic focus. By implementing these steps, listeners can cultivate an unshakeable approach to business and personal challenges, driving sustained growth and success.
Thank you for tuning into Build with Leila Hormozi. Stay tuned for more insightful episodes every Monday and Wednesday!