When you face a difficult problem, it's always nice to be reminded that sometimes you should try to think outside the box for a solution. But what does that mean?

Often people are so wrapped up in the problem, that they only study the obvious details. It's very similar to looking outside through a window. You will only be able to see a fraction of the entire view.

However, when you try to look at the bigger picture, more details often present themselves, and you will discover more paths leading to a solution. This is what happens when you step outside to look at the entire beautiful view, instead of staying inside to look through the window.

There are several strategies you can use when you try to think outside the box, and today I'll introduce the first one.

Strategy #1: Do the opposite

Imagine this problem: A network of city buses that is always overcapacity, and the buses are often full. Many passengers complain there is not enough room for them, and they cannot even get onto the bus. What can be done to solve this problem of overcrowding?

There are two obvious solutions:

1. Replace the fleet of buses with larger buses that can seat more passengers

2. Buy more buses so they arrive at bus stops more frequently

Both of these solutions lead to more passengers getting onto a bus.

Now let's use Strategy #1, and do the opposite. Instead of getting more passengers onto the bus, let's try to get fewer passengers to get onto the bus. How can we achieve that?

Outside the box solution: Increase bus fare!

This is a new way to solve the problem of overcrowding! But does it create other problems? Probably, but if you keep thinking outside the box, more ideas will flow, and your final solution might be something unexpected!

Give it try sometime...think outside the box.

Thanks for reading, and stay safe!

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Photos:

1. Cover photo (cropped) by Erda Estremera on Unsplash

2. Cropped windo photo by Nicolas Solerieu on Unsplash

3. Landscape photo by Sergei Akulich on Unsplash