I have this obsession with problems. There is a gravitational force that pulls me toward them. No doubt there is some underlying personal defect with my level of attraction. But the process of solving problems is intoxicating. I’m obsessed with it. The bigger the problem, the stronger the pull.
The industry that Liberty Supply operates in spawns an unending gamut of problems to solve. It’s ripe with inefficiencies, complacencies, and legacy. Our industry has yet to see a paradigm shift around delivering value. Instead, there is a prevailing annuity mentality. And despite all the talk of “digital transformation,” the prevailing growth strategy is through M&A. The group-think is near-universal. The actions speak.
Walk this bridge with me... The entire team at Liberty Supply understands my thoughts on leadership - it is 99% actions and 1% words. The recipe for evaluating both individuals and companies alike is to watch what they do, not what they say. When I broaden the aperture and look at the behavior of our industry as a whole, I see no innovation in providing value. I see plenty of companies and people talking about innovation. But I see no action.
Delivering value is about solving problems. The first step in solving a problem is to have a concrete understanding of it. Simple as that may sound, rare is the holistic approach of discovery to achieve sufficient understanding. People have a tough time listening through an unfiltered lens, setting aside biases, and understanding pain. Perhaps the most ironic part of deeply understanding problems is that if you exhibit a level of care, curiosity, and intent to solve them, those impacted are more than willing to help you. But you need to listen.
All of this is high-level. But that’s the point. Problem-solving is very systematic. You need to understand the system before delving into its components. Absent that understanding; you are forcing together pieces of a puzzle that don’t fit. So listen. Ask questions. Seek to understand. Then work your face off to solve problems and deliver value.