The sentence quoted in the title reached me as a saying attributed to a businessperson.
A company and a businessperson.
But what if I am the company, and the business is my life?
Let’s start from a business perspective!
When I first planned this piece, I thought it was important to identify the source of the quote. However, as I began working on the text, I realized there was no point in trying to track down who said it first; the idea is widely used. It is enough that it resonated with me—and the moment it did, I saw it from a different perspective.
While reviewing the material, however, I came across three additional ideas that build upon the original concept. I will discuss these before presenting my own point of view.
That is a powerful framework for thinking about business. At its core, a company is a problem-solving engine, and its financial valuation is simply a lagging indicator of how effectively it solves those problems.
To break this idea down further, the ultimate value a company generates is usually determined by three distinct dimensions:
- The scale of the problem: How many people experience this pain point? Solving a niche problem creates a boutique business; solving a universal problem creates a titan.
- The intensity of the pain: How urgent or painful is the problem? People pay a premium for solutions to critical, agonizing problems compared to minor inconveniences.
- The elegance of the solution: How much better, faster, or cheaper is your solution than the alternatives? A highly efficient solution captures a larger share of the value created.
My most important business: myself
There are a few thoughts in my mind that occasionally make me reflect on why I turned out the way I am. These thoughts usually arise in a general sense. I am not unique; I belong to a certain type, and the “whys” behind it likely characterize that type.
The thoughts born from this general perspective go something like this:
A happy person is a survivor. They have had to survive a few things. Not everyone who survives something becomes happy, but I believe that those who have survived tragedy, trauma, sorrow, and joy alike have a better chance of truly “arriving.”
Happiness can be one of the benchmarks of success in the “business” called life. It is not the only metric, but I believe most “entrepreneurs” in this “business” aim to achieve this goal. A good entrepreneur works for success. One must work for the success of happiness—every single day. A good businessperson takes care of their own business.
Regarding the title: “problem” is the one word I am not entirely comfortable with. I have never seen “problems” before me, but rather “tasks to be solved.” Yet, the title resonates with me completely because it contains the word “solution.”
Upon reading the quote, I immediately knew why it resonated with me. I am a problem-solving, industrious survivor. I consider my own life a success. And I promise my shareholders that I will strive to the very last moment to live up to the trust placed in me as the company’s leader!
The Details
I also think it is worth reflecting a little on the concept of “life as a business.”
- The scale of the problem. How many people does it affect? I could say just one: myself. But I think that would be a very narrow-minded view. I am thinking about how many people might breathe a sigh of relief along with me once the problem is solved: “I’m glad you’re okay!” “It’s great to see you back to your old self!” “I can see a different kind of smile on your face!” “Now that you’re doing well, I’m counting on you!” “I didn’t want to lose you!” When I am doing well in my own life, I show up differently for others, too—for the people who matter to me, the ones I can count on, and the ones who can count on me. Every solved problem is a shared asset, simply because there are so many stakeholders in my life.
- The intensity of the pain. I believe the scale of the problem largely determines the magnitude of the success. The harder the blow, the more cathartic the relief once a solution is found—again, both for me and for those around me. The sheer size of the problem matters, too. Every task or problem requires a solution. Yet, however serious replacing a built-in microwave might feel to me, it doesn’t exactly shake the foundations of the world. It stands to reason that leaving a period of depression behind me would be met with louder applause.
- The elegance of the solution. When considering this point, my mind didn’t go to the elegance—or lack thereof—of the solutions I’ve found in the past. Not all of my solutions were elegant—I am absolutely certain of that. But right now, that really isn’t what matters to me. I paused at this point because I am hopeful. I hope that I now have enough elegant solutions and coping strategies in my toolkit to help others. Let *that* be elegant; the rest doesn’t matter to me.
Problem-solver. Hardworking. Survivor.
That’s enough for me!
If you feel the same way, join hands with me and let’s move forward together. Let’s build the business together.
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