The Formula For Solving Any Problem
Show notes
We all deal with problems, right? As accountants, we’re used to solving all kinds of issues for other people. But when it comes to our own lives, things can feel a little more overwhelming.
Have you ever had a problem that just seemed too big to handle? Maybe you didn’t know where to start, and it felt like it was never going to get better.
Now, imagine this: What if you could handle any problem—big or small—with a sense of calm and confidence? How much easier would things be if you knew exactly how to deal with whatever life throws your way?
Let’s be real—most of us have freaked out when we’re hit with a new problem. Our brains start spinning, we feel stressed, and suddenly it feels like the problem is impossible to solve.
But what if you didn’t panic? What if you could stay calm and focused, and actually think of better solutions? Imagine being able to see problems as something you can handle, not something that’s out to get you.
Think back to a time when you were doing something you really enjoyed—maybe a work project that lights you up or a hobby you love—and everything just clicked. Ideas flowed, and solutions came easily, right?
That’s the kind of mindset I want to help you tap into when facing any problem. When you approach things with an open mind and curiosity, you can unlock your brain’s full power.
But how do you get into that mindset more often?
Here’s the key: You need a plan. Without a clear plan, it’s easy to get stuck, miss steps, or feel overwhelmed. A structured approach helps you stay organized and find solutions more easily.
Whether it’s a personal problem or something at work, knowing how to solve any issue with a clear plan makes life way easier—and a lot less stressful.
If you are ready to try a new way of solving your problems, let’s start with the best formula I’ve found for tackling any problem head-on.
The Formula Behind Every Solution
Have you ever noticed how some people just seem to handle life’s problems so easily, while others get stuck? It makes you wonder—what’s their secret?
Well, there’s actually a formula that can help you solve any problem, and it’s called “The Model.” If you’ve read my book, “The Smarter Accountant,” you might remember me talking about it in more detail. But basically, this formula is one of the best tools out there for solving any problem—big or small.
The reason The Model works so well is that it breaks things down into simple steps, helping you see how your thoughts and actions lead to your results. So, what is The Model, and how does it work?
The Model has 5 parts: Circumstances, Thoughts, Feelings, Actions, and Results. You can remember it as CTFAR.
Here’s a quick rundown of each part:
Circumstances: These are just the facts of any situation. They’re neutral, meaning they don’t have any feelings attached to them. Why does this matter? Because when you focus on the facts without mixing in your emotions, you’re less likely to feel overwhelmed.
Thoughts: These are the stories you tell yourself about the circumstances. We all have tons of thoughts every day, and most of them run on autopilot. But here’s the thing: these thoughts change how we see things and affect what we do.
Feelings: These are the emotions that come from your thoughts. If you’ve ever noticed how your mood shifts depending on what you’re thinking, that’s what this is about. Once you understand the connection between your thoughts and feelings, you can start to manage them better.
Actions: This is where your feelings push you to do—or not do—certain things. So if you’re wondering why you act a certain way in different situations, it’s because of how you’re feeling in that moment.
Results: Finally, your actions create the results you see in your life. If you look at where you are right now, those results are tied to your thoughts, feelings, and actions.
When you understand The Model, it’s like having a map for your mind. It helps you take a step back, look at the situation clearly, and make changes to get better results.
So, how do you actually use this formula in real life? Let’s break it down.
Getting Started With Solving Any Problem
Now that you know what The Model is, it’s time to actually use it. Understanding it is one thing, but the real magic happens when you apply it to your own life. So, how do you start solving your own problems?
First, you need to pick a problem. I know, that sounds easier said than done. But the trick is to choose one specific thing to focus on. It doesn’t have to be a huge problem; it could be something small that’s been bugging you.
Think about what’s been on your mind lately. Is there something stressing you out—maybe at work or at home? As accountants, we’re used to handling a lot at once, so I’m sure you have plenty to pick from!
Maybe it’s a deadline that’s getting close, a tough conversation you’ve been avoiding, or even something small like a messy room that’s been driving you nuts. Whatever it is, just pick one thing. Sometimes fixing the small stuff can make a big difference in how you feel overall.
Once you’ve picked your problem, it’s time to change how you think about it. Here’s something I ask my clients all the time: What if the problem isn’t the real issue? What if it’s how you’re thinking about the problem that’s making it feel worse?
Our brains can sometimes make things seem bigger or scarier, especially when we’re stressed. Have you ever noticed how a situation feels worse just because of how you’re thinking about it? When you step back and look at your thoughts, you can start to see the problem for what it really is—not just how it feels in the moment.
So, ask yourself: How am I thinking about this problem? Are my thoughts making it harder to solve? Am I focused on finding a solution or just stuck in the “this is a huge mess” mindset?
Once you’re aware of how you’re thinking, you can challenge those thoughts and change them. Instead of focusing on what’s going wrong, think about what you can do to make things better. You’d be surprised how much that simple shift can lead to new ideas and solutions you hadn’t thought of before.
In the end, getting started with solving problems is all about taking the first step and being willing to see things differently. So, pick your problem and in a few minutes I’ll explain how to approach it in a way that feels more manageable.
The Brain’s Role in Problem-Solving
Now that you’ve picked a problem to focus on, let’s talk about what’s really happening in your brain when you’re dealing with a challenge. Have you ever wondered why your brain seems to go into overdrive when a problem comes up?
Here’s what’s going on—your brain is actually wired for survival, not for solving modern-day problems. Way back when, our ancestors had to deal with life-or-death situations, so their brains learned to react fast—basically, fight or run away. Even though we’re not running from wild animals anymore, our brains still react the same way when we’re faced with a problem.
So, when something goes wrong, your brain might go into panic mode. You might feel your heart race, your stomach tighten, or your palms get sweaty. That’s your brain thinking it’s in survival mode, which makes it hard to think clearly or figure out what to do next.
But here’s the good news—it doesn’t have to be this way. Once you understand how your brain works, you can train it to handle problems better and stay calm.
Think of your brain as having two parts: the “panic” brain and the “problem-solving” brain. The panic brain reacts fast, but it’s not so good at coming up with smart solutions. That’s where the problem-solving brain comes in. This part of your brain helps you think clearly, make plans, and deal with problems calmly and creatively.
You’ve probably noticed this before—when you step away from a stressful situation, take a deep breath, or even sleep on it, suddenly the problem doesn’t seem as bad. That’s because your problem-solving brain finally got a chance to take over.
The best part? You can train your brain to switch from panic to problem-solving more often. With practice, you can start rewiring your brain to react differently.
This is where tools like The Model really help. The Model shows you how your thoughts, feelings, actions, and results are connected, which helps you shift from feeling stressed to thinking strategically.
I’ll go over this more in a minute, but the next time you feel that panic setting in, remember—you have the power to switch gears. By taking a step back, calming down, and using tools like The Model, you can approach problems in a smarter, more creative way.
Just imagine how different things could be if you could regularly tap into that problem-solving part of your brain. It’s not about getting rid of problems; it’s about learning to handle them in a better way.
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Using The Formula To Rewire Your Brain for Better Problem-Solving
Here’s the exciting part—your brain can actually change! It has something called neuroplasticity, which means it can form new pathways and learn new ways of responding to problems. In other words, you can train your brain to handle problems better over time.
So, how do you start rewiring your brain for better problem-solving? It all begins with awareness. That’s where The Model comes in. By using The Model, you can understand why you’re thinking, feeling, and acting the way you are—and, more importantly, how to change it.
Now, let’s use The Model to tackle the problem you picked earlier.
Here’s how you can start:
Identify the Circumstances: Start by clearly figuring out the facts of the situation. What’s really happening with the problem you chose? Separate the facts from your opinions or feelings. When you focus on the neutral facts, it helps you see the problem for what it is—not as something your brain might be making bigger than it actually is.
Examine Your Thoughts: Once you know the facts, look at your thoughts about the problem. What are you telling yourself about it? Are these thoughts based on fear, negativity, or stress? By becoming aware of these thought patterns, you can start to question and change them.
Assess Your Feelings: Pay attention to how your thoughts about this problem are making you feel. Are you anxious, frustrated, or overwhelmed? It’s important to realize that your feelings come from your thoughts. This matters because those feelings will influence what you do next.
Analyze Your Actions: Your feelings drive your actions—or sometimes, keep you from taking any action at all. What are you doing (or not doing) because of how you’re feeling? When you understand this, you can see how your thoughts and feelings are influencing your behavior, and where you can make changes.
Evaluate Your Results: Finally, look at the results you’re getting with this problem. Are they what you want? If not, go back and look at your thoughts and feelings. When you change your thoughts, you’ll change how you feel and what you do—and that’s how you get different results.
By practicing this process with the problem you chose, you’ll start to rewire your brain to approach challenges in a new way. Instead of getting stuck in stress or negative thinking, you’ll develop a more solution-focused mindset.
Let’s take an example accountants can relate to:
Imagine the problem you picked is a tight deadline for a project. The fact is, the deadline is in two days. But your initial thought might be, “There’s no way I can finish this!” That thought makes you feel anxious and stressed.
Because of those feelings, you may start procrastinating or distracting yourself, which makes the situation worse. The result? You’re scrambling at the last minute and might even miss the deadline.
But if you use The Model, you can shift your thinking. Instead of focusing on “I can’t do this,” you could think, “I’ll break this project into smaller steps and work through them one at a time.”
That new thought can make you feel more confident and focused, which will lead you to take action, stick to your plan, and finish the project on time. The result? You meet the deadline without all the extra stress.
The bottom line is that the more you practice The Model with real problems like this, the better your brain gets at staying calm and finding solutions.
Gaining Control Over Problems
Let’s talk about some ways to get control over problems. When you’re dealing with challenges, it’s easy to get stuck in stress and negativity. But what if the real issue is the way you’re thinking about the problem?
One way to change how you see problems is to think about “rich people problems.” Imagine the kinds of problems wealthy people might have—like missing a nail appointment or getting a rip in their hot tub cover. These problems seem small, right? So why do we let small issues in our own lives feel so overwhelming?
The point of thinking about “rich people problems” isn’t to make fun of anyone’s struggles, but to help you put things into perspective. When you look at your own problems through this lens, you might realize that what you’re dealing with isn’t as big as it seems.
For example, my husband and I were watching the Olympics, and there was a commercial about a Paralympic athlete with no legs playing basketball. My husband turned to me and said, “That pain in my shoulder feels like a small problem right now. Look at what he deals with every day.”
By realizing that some of our problems are smaller than we think, you can start to focus on finding solutions instead of getting stuck in the problem.
Another way to get control over a problem is to ask yourself, “What would I suggest if someone else had this problem?” When we’re stuck in our own issues, our emotions can make it hard to think clearly. But when you imagine someone else in your situation, it’s easier to think more logically and come up with helpful solutions.
For example, let’s say you’re feeling stressed about having too much work. Now, imagine a friend comes to you with the same issue. You might suggest they break the work into smaller tasks, figure out what’s most important, or ask for help. By giving advice to someone else, you might find the same solution that works for you.
This technique works because it helps you step out of your emotions and think more clearly about how to solve the problem.
Another important tool is to pay attention to the questions you ask yourself. The questions you focus on shape how you see and deal with problems. If you’re asking yourself, “Why me?” or “Why is this happening?” you’ll probably feel stuck and helpless.
But if you ask yourself, “How can I make this easier?” or “What can I do to fix this?” you start focusing on solutions.
For example, if you’re swamped with deadlines and thinking, “Why does this always happen to me?” you’ll feel overwhelmed and stuck. But if you switch to asking, “How can I make this easier?” or “What steps can I take to get back on track?” you’ll start thinking about things like organizing your tasks or asking for help. This simple shift in questions helps you go from feeling helpless to taking action.
Another powerful technique is the “So What?” approach. This means asking yourself, “So what?” when something goes wrong to help you get perspective. It helps you decide if the problem is really worth all your energy. Often, you’ll realize the problem isn’t as big as you thought.
For example, let’s say you sent an email with a typo to a client. At first, you might feel embarrassed and think, “I messed up, this looks so bad!” But if you ask yourself, “So what? Is this really a big deal?” you might realize the typo doesn’t affect the main message, and it can be easily fixed with a follow-up email. The problem suddenly feels less important, and you save yourself from unnecessary stress.
Lastly, one of the best ways to gain control over problems is to separate facts from thoughts. Facts are objective and can be proven, while thoughts are your personal interpretation.
For example, if you think, “My boss is unfair,” that’s not a fact—it’s your opinion. A fact would be, “My boss gave me extra work this week.”
When you can separate facts from thoughts, you avoid extra stress and focus on what you can control. Once you realize your thoughts are shaping how you see the problem, you can start to change them. This allows you to approach the problem more logically.
The bottom line is, you have more control over your problems than you might think. By changing your thoughts, you change what the problem means to you.
If you see a problem as impossible, it’s going to feel that way. But if you see it as a chance to grow and learn, you’ll be more motivated to find solutions and work through it.
By shifting your focus from problems to solutions, changing your perspective, and questioning how important the issue is, you can change the way you handle challenges.
So, imagine this: What would it be like to face your problems with confidence and creativity, knowing you have the tools to solve them? The good news is, the power to change how you experience and deal with problems is already within you—it all starts with your mindset.
Becoming a Smarter Accountant: Learning To Solve Any Problem
I want to share how one of my clients learned how to solve any problem. Like many of you, this client often felt overwhelmed by the pressures of her job. She had a lot of client accounts to manage, and the financial issues she was dealing with seemed to pile up faster than she could handle them.
Whenever a problem came up, her first reaction was stress and frustration. She kept thinking things like, “Why does this always happen to me?” and “I’ll never get through this.” Focusing on the problems made her feel stuck in a cycle of anxiety, which hurt her ability to get her work done.
After we worked together in The Smarter Accountant Program, she started to see that solving problems could be much easier. By using The Model and shifting her mindset from focusing on problems to finding solutions, she started to see challenges as opportunities.
Instead of asking, “Why is everything going wrong?” she began asking herself, “What can I do to fix this?” or “How can I see this differently?” This simple change helped her go from feeling stressed and frustrated to feeling curious and open to new ideas.
For example, one time she found a mistake in a client’s report. Instead of panicking, she practiced separating the facts from her thoughts about the situation. This helped her calmly figure out the actual issue and create a plan to fix it, without letting her negative thoughts get in the way.
She also learned to ask, “So what?” to put things in perspective. This helped her realize that not every problem was a big deal, and she didn’t need to stress over every little thing.
The best part? She became more proactive and focused on solutions. This change didn’t just make her work life better—it also reduced her stress, which allowed her to enjoy her personal time more.
What she didn’t realize was how much her stress was affecting her at home, and how it was impacting her family. She even told me that her husband wanted to thank me for the program because he felt like he finally got his wife back.
So, as you can see, even though we all have to deal with problems, solving them can be easier than you think when you learn how to manage your brain along the way.
Key Takeaway and Action Item
The key takeaway from this episode is that solving problems isn’t just about using a specific technique—it’s about changing the way you think. By using tools like The Model and having a structured approach, you can shift from feeling stressed and anxious to finding creative solutions and growing from challenges.
Understanding how your brain works and practicing new ways of thinking helps you deal with problems more clearly and confidently. As an accountant, this skill is super important because it lets you handle both work and personal challenges with more strength and focus.
Remember, the power to change how you deal with problems is in your thoughts and mindset.
For this week, ask yourself: “What’s one specific problem I’d like to work on, and how can I use the techniques from this episode to come up with a plan to solve it?”
That’s all I have for you today, but before you go, I want you to think about one specific problem you’re dealing with right now—whether it’s at work or in your personal life. What would change if you could approach that problem with calm, confidence, and a clear plan?
Imagine how much easier things could be if you knew exactly how to solve it, step by step.
You’ve worked hard to become an accountant; now it’s time to make being one easier.
If you’re struggling with any aspect of your career, why not take the first step toward a smarter approach? Head over to www.thesmarteraccountant.com/calendar and book a free session with me. Let’s tackle those challenges together.
And don’t forget to check back each week as we move you from feeling stressed and overwhelmed to becoming a Smarter Accountant.
In the meantime, go to www.thesmarteraccountant.com and take The Smarter Accountant Quiz. You’ll discover whether you’ve been underutilizing your accountant brain and get a clear starting point for your transformation.
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