Figure It Out - The Art of Problem Solving | Shreyans Jain | TEDxDSCE

Summary

The speaker shares a powerful approach to problem-solving, emphasizing the 'figure it out' mindset. Drawing from personal experiences, including a major crisis faced by their father, they illustrate the importance of staying calm, focusing on solutions, and visualizing positive outcomes. The talk highlights the difference between efficient and inefficient problem solvers and offers practical advice on managing and handling problems effectively. Ultimately, the speaker encourages adopting a proactive and positive attitude towards challenges, asserting that 'figuring it out' is not just a phrase but a state of mind.

Takeaways

• 😀 Gratitude: The speaker expresses gratitude to the TEDx DSC team for the opportunity to speak and feels humbled to be among such incredible people.
• 🤔 Self-Reflection: The speaker initially pondered what topic to discuss that truly mattered to them, seeking input from friends and family.
• 💬 Key Phrase: The phrase 'figure it out' is highlighted as a guiding principle in the speaker's life, used frequently in both personal and professional contexts.
• 👥 Community Support: The speaker emphasizes the importance of reaching out to friends and family for advice and insights.
• 🏢 Personal Story: The speaker shares a story about their father's factory burning down and how their father managed the crisis effectively.
• 🔍 Problem Breakdown: Problems are divided into two parts: declaration (identifying the source of trouble) and consequence (the emotional response and impact).
• 🚦 Problem-Solving Types: There are inefficient problem solvers who stress a lot, and efficient problem solvers who stay calm throughout the problem-solving cycle.
• 🧠 Mental Hacks: The speaker introduces 'figure it out 101,' a set of mental hacks to solve problems, emphasizing perspective, outcome focus, and visualization.
• 💪 Positive Mindset: Focusing on solutions rather than problems and maintaining a positive attitude is crucial for effective problem solving.
• 🌟 Encouragement: The speaker encourages asking for help and providing reassurance to others, fostering a supportive environment.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial reaction when the TEDx DSC team invited him to speak?

The speaker felt truly humbled and honored to be among an incredible group of people and to share his insights on a topic that was meaningful to him.

What phrase did the speaker frequently use in his daily life that guided his approach to problem-solving?

The phrase 'figured it out' was something the speaker often used to address both professional and personal challenges, reflecting his attitude towards problem-solving.

What is the speaker's organization called and what does it focus on?

The speaker runs an organization called Under 25, which is a media and entertainment company aimed at the youth and young people of today, focusing on solving various problems.

How does the speaker define a problem in his mind?

The speaker breaks down a problem into two parts: the declaration, which is the source of trouble, and the consequence, which holds the crux of the issue and represents the negative feelings associated with the problem.

What are the key differences between inefficient and efficient problem solvers according to the speaker?

Inefficient problem solvers go through the problem-solving cycle with a lot of stress, especially during the identification and analysis stages. Efficient problem solvers, on the other hand, maintain their composure and focus on solutions throughout the cycle.

What was the speaker's father's reaction when his factory burned down due to a short circuit?

The speaker's father handled the crisis by focusing on solutions rather than dwelling on the problem. He immediately started thinking about how to fix the situation instead of seeing it as a disaster.

What advice does the speaker give on how to approach a problem from a positive perspective?

The speaker suggests focusing on the outcome and visualizing how things would be if the problem were solved, rather than concentrating on the negative aspects or the worst-case scenario.

What is the speaker's strategy for dealing with adversity?

The speaker's strategy, which he calls 'Figure It Out 101', involves maintaining a positive attitude, focusing on solutions, and asking oneself 'how can I figure this out' when faced with adversity.

Why is it important to ask for help when facing problems, according to the speaker?

Asking for help is important because there are people who have dealt with similar issues and can provide valuable insights or support. It can also help in finding solutions and overcoming challenges more effectively.

What is the concluding thought the speaker wants to leave with the audience?

The speaker concludes that 'figure it out' is not just a phrase but a state of mind that everyone should aspire to have, emphasizing the importance of a proactive and solution-oriented approach to life's challenges.

Outlines

00:00

🙏 Thankful Beginnings

The speaker starts by expressing gratitude to the TEDx DSC team for the opportunity to speak. They share a story about being invited to speak and initially questioning what topic to choose. Seeking input from friends and family, they discover a defining phrase they frequently use: 'figure it out.' This phrase encapsulates their approach to problem-solving in both personal and professional contexts.

05:01

🧩 Problem-Solving Philosophy

The speaker delves into their problem-solving methodology, which they attribute to their father. They recount a vivid memory of their father's factory burning down and how he handled the crisis. The speaker explains that problems consist of two parts: declaration (identifying the source of trouble) and consequence (the negative feelings associated with the problem). They highlight the importance of staying calm and efficient in problem-solving.

10:02

🛠️ Efficient Problem Solving

The speaker contrasts efficient and inefficient problem solvers. Inefficient solvers stress throughout the problem-solving cycle, especially during identification and analysis. Efficient solvers, like the speaker's father, remain calm and focus on solutions. The speaker introduces their 'Figure It Out 101' approach, which includes staying calm, focusing on solutions rather than problems, and visualizing positive outcomes.

🔄 The Power of Perspective

The speaker emphasizes the importance of perspective in problem-solving. They share how their father focused on solutions rather than the problem when the factory burned down, setting a 15-day goal to rebuild. The speaker advises visualizing the outcome if the problem were solved and concentrating on fixing the issue rather than dwelling on worst-case scenarios. They stress the importance of asking for help when needed and maintaining a positive outlook.

🔍 Focus on Solutions

The speaker encourages adopting a mindset of figuring things out. They share their personal habit of asking themselves how to turn a situation around when faced with adversity. This mindset helps shift focus from negativity to proactive problem-solving. The speaker also highlights the importance of providing reassurance to others in times of crisis, even if the outcome is uncertain.

🧠 Figure It Out Mindset

The speaker concludes by summarizing the 'Figure It Out' philosophy. They reiterate that problems don't always have pinpoint solutions but can be managed effectively with the right mindset. The speaker hopes that their approach will help others handle problems better and leave the audience with the thought that 'Figure It Out' is more than a phrase—it's a state of mind.

Keywords

💡Problem Solving

Problem solving is the process of identifying, analyzing, and addressing issues to achieve a desired outcome. In the video, it is the core theme as the speaker discusses his approach to overcoming challenges. He uses the phrase 'figured out' to describe his method of addressing problems, whether personal or professional, emphasizing the importance of finding solutions rather than dwelling on the issues.

💡Efficient Problem Solver

An efficient problem solver is someone who can navigate through the process of identifying, analyzing, and resolving issues with minimal stress and maximum effectiveness. The speaker contrasts this with an 'inefficient problem solver,' highlighting the importance of staying cool and focused, especially during the identification and analysis stages, as exemplified by his father's response to the factory fire.

💡Perspective

Perspective refers to the way in which issues are viewed or interpreted. The video emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive perspective when facing adversity. The speaker's father, for instance, chose to focus on fixing the problem rather than perceiving the factory fire as a disaster, demonstrating the power of shifting one's viewpoint to seek solutions.

💡Visualization

Visualization is the act of creating mental images or scenarios of future outcomes. The speaker advocates for the use of visualization as a tool for overcoming problems, suggesting that by imagining a positive resolution, one can motivate themselves to work towards that outcome. This is illustrated when the speaker's father visualizes rebuilding the factory within 15 days.

💡Consequence

In the context of the video, consequence refers to the negative outcomes or feelings that arise from a problem. The speaker discusses the importance of separating the declaration of a problem from its consequences, advising the audience to focus on finding solutions rather than being overwhelmed by the negative emotions associated with the problem.

💡Stress

Stress is a common emotional and physical response to demanding or challenging situations. The video script mentions that inefficient problem solvers often go through their problem-solving cycle with a high level of stress, particularly during the identification and analysis stages, which can hinder effective problem solving.

💡Figured Out

The phrase 'figured out' is used by the speaker as a personal mantra for addressing and overcoming problems. It represents a proactive and solution-oriented mindset. The speaker shares that this phrase has become a guiding principle in his life, helping him to navigate through various crises, including professional and personal challenges.

💡Adversity

Adversity refers to difficult or unfortunate circumstances. The video script discusses how the speaker uses certain 'hacks' or strategies to deal with adversity, such as focusing on outcomes, seeking help, and maintaining a positive attitude. The concept is central to the speaker's narrative of overcoming challenges.

💡Outcome

Outcome is the result or effect of a particular situation or set of circumstances. The speaker emphasizes the importance of focusing on the desired outcome when faced with a problem, rather than on the problem itself. This is demonstrated through the story of his father's commitment to restore the factory to its former state within a specific timeframe.

💡Courage

Courage is the ability to face difficulty or danger without fear. In the video, the speaker recounts how his father's simple assurance that everything would be okay provided comfort and courage to those affected by the factory fire. This highlights the role of courage in providing reassurance and leading others through challenging situations.

💡State of Mind

A state of mind refers to a person's mental or emotional condition. The speaker concludes by stating that 'figure it out' is not just a phrase but a state of mind, suggesting that adopting this mindset can empower individuals to face and overcome problems. It encapsulates the overall message of the video, which is to approach life's challenges with a proactive and solution-focused attitude.

Highlights

Expresses gratitude to the TEDx DSC team and feels humbled to be among incredible people.

Shares initial thoughts about what to speak on, leading to asking friends and family what defines him.

Reveals a guiding phrase in his life, 'figure it out,' which he frequently uses to tackle problems.

Describes running an organization called Under 25, focusing on solving problems for the youth.

Plans to talk about problem-solving and how to deconstruct and address problems effectively.

Credits his problem-solving outlook to his father, sharing a story about his father's crisis management.

Details his father's response to their factory burning down, emphasizing calmness and solution-focused thinking.

Defines a problem as a situation that needs to be dealt with and overcome.

Breaks down problems into two parts: declaration (source of trouble) and consequence (resulting feelings).

Differentiates between inefficient and efficient problem solvers based on their stress levels and approach.

Highlights the importance of staying cool during the problem-solving cycle.

Introduces 'Figure It Out 101,' a set of hacks for addressing problems with a positive mindset.

Emphasizes focusing on solutions rather than the problem itself, using his father's example.

Stresses the power of visualization in overcoming problems.

Encourages asking for help and fostering a positive environment during problem-solving.

Concludes that 'figure it out' is a state of mind, not just a phrase, and aims to inspire adopting this mindset.

Transcripts

before I begin firstly I'd like to thank

the tedex DSC team for having me here it

is it is my pleasure to not just be here

but I feel truly humbled to be among

such an incredible bunch of people

speaking on the stage today and actually

I'll tell you a story about when the

tedex team just reached out to me and

said you know what we'd like to have you

speak at the tedex DSC the first thought

that went through my head was what is it

that I should speak about what is it

that means so much to me that I want to

be here and share my insight about it

with you today so I did what I would do

best I went to my friends and family I

reached out to them and I said what do

you think defines

me and the I I'll be honest with you the

narcissistic side in me had an amazing

time asking that question because I got

really nice answers right I felt really

good about it and one of my high school

best friends and I think she's in the

audience today as well she pointed out

to me that there was this one thing that

I said way too often it was this one

thing that guided my life in more ways

than one it was a phrase that I used in

just regular language that phrase was

figured

out and what happened was I'd say

figured it out for everything from a

professional or a personal crisis my

answer to pretty much everything was

don't worry we'll take care of it we'll

figure it out and it was actually as

simple as that for me I'd say it in

passing so the more deeply I thought

about it like I run an organization

called under 25 it is a media and

entertainment company which is for the

Youth and the young of today's country

and which makes me essentially a part of

the business of solving one problem

after the other so today I want to talk

to all of you about how I solve my

problems and how it is possible to

deconstruct any of these problems and

absolutely kick ass in life I hear you

I've been I've been interacting with

students it hasn't been too long since I

graduated I've been interacting with

students and I know the kind of problems

we all face and what I want to tell all

of you is that it is possible to break

down each problem and actually

deconstruct it in a way where you just

achieve way more prod AC ity

usually now the more deeply that I

thought about how my Outlook towards

life the way I solve problems why I look

at problems the way I do I realized that

I got it from my dad I'm truly blessed

to have gotten his Outlook towards

problem solving apart from I think the

good looks of course uh but let me tell

you a story about my dad my dad is an

industrialist and he manufactures

various different products and I I still

remember this night very very vividly uh

it was a couple of years ago when his

manager called him from the factory and

said that the factory had completely

burned down this was because of a short

circuit that happened uh in some corner

of the factory and the entire place was

in shambles now what I want to talk to

you all about today is how my dad

handled that crisis that night and what

we all have to learn from it and more

import I through the course of this

presentation I'm also going to tell you

about what he did but let's look at what

a problem really is first right what is

the dictionary definition of a problem

is a matter or situation that is

regarded as unwelcome or harmful and

needing to be dealt with and

overcome now in my mind there are two

parts of a problem when I break it down

in my head there are two parts to a

problem the first one is the Declaration

where you go out there and you say this

is my source of trouble this is what is

bothering me and in this case the

factory burning down was what was

bothering my dad and that's the source

of the trouble part two is the

consequence the consequence actually

holds the Crux which is where you say

this is the reason why I'm unhappy this

happened my declaration and this is the

consequence I'm feeling annoyed I am

bogged down I'm feeling and all the

negative connotations that you can draw

they all happen in the

consequence now I don't think everybody

realizes it but in a uh in a situation

where the problem solvers exist there

are two kinds there are the inefficient

ones there are inefficient problem

solvers and there are the efficient

problem solvers the way I think of them

is that we don't realize but

subconsciously we all have a problem

solving cycle we all go through with it

and we all but we don't realize it there

are a couple of steps that everybody

here follows if you are an inefficient

Problem Solver or an efficient one there

are CLE of things that you do very

generally the first is you identify the

problem right and in the identification

process this is where you go you're told

that there is a problem this is the part

which I told you about the Declaration

this is where you state your source of

trouble after that is when you analyze

the problem now an inefficient Problem

Solver this is the part where as the

consequence for the the analyzing part

what he essentially goes on to say is oh

I am ruined this is the end of me

this is where life comes to an end this

is where the breakdown is I I'm

obviously OV exaggerating this but you

get the drift the consequence happens in

the analyzing part then you essentially

after you're done brooding over it and

you overanalyze and you are upset and

you are super worried about everything

that has happened then you sit down to

think okay now it's time I really need

to fix this and I'm going to figure out

a way to find a solution to this and

that's when you start generating the

solutions

after generating those Solutions is when

you plan one of those solutions that you

came up with and then you implement that

now the thing to remember about

inefficient problem solvers is that they

go through this entire cycle with a

truckload of stress in the center of

this entire problem cycle of solving the

problem there is these problem solvers

operating at insane levels of stress

especially on step one and two where

they need where they you needed most to

not be stressed where you identify and

analyze the problem now here's the thing

about efficient problem solvers and I

like to put my dad in this category now

there is no secret source to the problem

solving cycle itself the problem cycle

the problem solving cycle for an

efficient Problem Solver is exactly the

same as an inefficient Problem Solver

the only difference of what they do

differently is that they go through this

entire cycle by staying

cool what they do and especially when

they need it the most which is in the

identif the identifying and the

analyzing part where you need to

absolutely stay cool and you go through

this entire cycle now how what I think

is what I have put together is what I

like to call my figure it out 101 these

are essentially a bunch of hacks that I

use in my life to solve pretty much any

adversity that comes my way and I think

that these hacks would be useful to you

as well to not just solve a problem but

just generally have an attitude of

figuring it out firstly perspective is

everything my dad very easily could that

night could have thought that that fire

was a disaster but what he did instead

and I remember this very clearly because

he stopped thinking about the problem

immediately what he was doing was he was

trying to find ways to fix it what what

needed to happen had happened but he was

not looking at the problem but he was

looking at how to fix it which

essentially goes on to say that it he

wasn't concentrating on the problem but

he was concentrating on the solution and

isn't that what all problems are they're

all solutions waiting to be found don't

you think so I mean give that give that

a thought for a second problems are

solutions waiting to be found two focus

on the outcome now I remember that night

my dad reached the factory the place was

in shambles it was completely reduced to

ashes and he looked at the place and he

said I'm going to give this 15 days I'm

going to take the next 15 days to bring

this place back to life kicking ass the

way it's meant to be and that's exactly

what he did he spent the next 15 days

visualizing his outcome and everybody in

this room today whatever it is that

you're having a problem with any area in

your life personal or professional if

you have a problem visualize how it

would be if that problem did not exist

visualize if that problem was solved how

would you feel I want to point out

ladies and gentlemen that the power of

visualization is absolutely incredible

and we completely undermine something

that is so important in our lives and if

you do this in your life I sure as it

has helped me and many others that I

know it will be of real good use now I

know too many people who spend too much

time on thinking about the worst case

scenario they keep thinking about what

is the worst that could happen you know

what the worst has happened but what if

you started focusing your energy to

actually fixing it or rather thinking

about what is the best that you could do

in that scenario and that's what is the

real game changer right because that's

what's important you need to figure out

a way to fix it and that's more

important than the consequence which is

negativity

itself and now more importantly going on

to something that I do in my life is I

have wired myself over the years to ask

this question to myself every single

time that I'm faced with an adversity

the first thing that I say is shance how

can I figure this out think about it I I

do talk to myself in first person a lot

so uh but a lot of times I go to the

extent of saying okay how can I figure

this out how can I turn this around and

all of us should try and do that because

if you go to a point where you say and

you start facing problems just in any

generic way think about how you can turn

this around because you know what as

soon as you start thinking about how you

can turn it around you have already put

yourself on the path of solving that

problem and that's what's most important

trying to get on the path of stop

thinking about the negativity but start

concentrating on the fact that you need

to fix it and I think that's more

important than anything

else so there are a lot of other people

in this room who have had problems and

have reached out to others for help I

sincerely suggest you do so because

because there are people who've dealt

with what you are going through and they

might have come through and come out

stronger it makes sense to ask for help

just like how I did for this

presentation and you know what I figured

it out and I'm here knowing that I had

asked for help now and this is and this

towards the end of the figure it out 101

is that night when the factory burned

down the household was very shaken right

it was the fear in everybody's faces was

very palpable my dad knew that I was

bricks uh I was really really

scared he looked at me and he said shans

you know I got this you know I'll take

care of it you don't need to be worried

about it and boom like that instantly I

felt much better now you know what I'm

not sure if he knew he was going to fix

that problem but the but the fact of the

matter was he went down to tell me that

it was going to be okay sometimes when

you're in a room where everybody's

facing the same problem it just takes

that much courage to just say you know

what it's going to be okay maybe it's

not going to be you don't know if it is

going to be but say that because when

you establish that level of comfort

everybody in the room is already feeling

much better because you're going in it

with the right state of mind so I

actually think of it as a lot of things

that you can do to figure it out but

this is something that we discussed a

little earlier right what the essence of

a problem really is the dictionary

meaning stated that it was a matter or

situation that is regarded as unwelcome

or harmful and needing to be dealt with

and overcome as soon as you apply the

figure it out 101 to this you stop

thinking about the fact that it is

unwelcome or harmful you start thinking

about the fact that it needs to be dealt

with and it needs to be overcome because

that's your figur it out mind thinking

and the two parts of the problem that I

told you about earlier the Declaration

does not change that is your source of

trouble keep it real it is what is

bothering you you acknowledge the

existence of that problem and that's

where you leave the Declaration at but

the consequence after you do your figure

it out 101 to this is when you go you're

not unhappy you're not bogged down you

are not feeling negative your immediate

reaction is that you're going to figure

this out focus on your consequence being

the fact that you're going to figure it

out for every declaration and it'll be

far easier for you to deal with a

problem than it just generally is now I

like to think that there is no and

youall must be thinking that you know

what like you're coming here and uh

telling me about ways to solve my

problem you don't know what my problem

is you know what you are right I don't

but you know what the most important

thing to remember is every problem does

not have a pinpoint solution because if

that was the case the only way that

would be possible is if you went back in

time change the course of things that

happened and and the whole the whole

picture changes but that's not how life

works right what's happened has happened

but what you need to remember is that

all all problems do not have Solutions

but all problems can be very very well

managed and very very well handled which

is why I hope that I've been able to

tell you about how I figure it out and

you're able to use the figure it out

mind space in your lives as well but I

want to leave you with one concluding

thought ladies and gentlemen and that

concluding thought is the fact that

figure it out isn't just a phrase figure

it out is a state of mind and that is

where we should all aspire to be thank

you so much for having me

[Applause]

here