> [!tldr] Rather than minimizing what's stuck, maximize what's working [[We are predispositioned to focus on problems]] rather than what's actually good. Humans think "ah there's a problem! I need to work on that until it's gone!" **You would likely solve more problems by focusing on maximizing what's working rather than minimizing what's stuck**. Focusing on what's working may illuminate the causes you *thought* were leading to the problems you have are more akin to [[The XY Problem]]. > [!example] > - A company policy isn't being followed by 30% of the workforce. > - Don't focus on the 30% who aren't following the policy > - Find those who abide by or even like the policy and see *how it works for them*. > - The revelations from what's working likely out way the revelations from what's not I suspect this is due to a the [[lots of ways to go wrong and one way to go right]] phenomenon. You have a [[Long tail]] of problems to find bespoke solutions to. Solving each one gets you very little back. But focusing on making what works easier will naturally tend to help those [[Toyota's 14 Principles#Develop Your People & Partners|those close to the problems]] solve it themselves. ## Related I recall Tim Ferriss described doing this with his supplements business. Rather than addressing the customers that were ordering a little and creating lots of administrative work, he focused on the *easy* customers to figure out how he could better suit their needs and get more easy customers. This lead to less work for more returns on investment over all. This also reminds me about a note I'm not currently finding about *focusing on improving your strengths* rather than improving on your weaknesses. A person who learns to serve a tennis ball roughly equally well with both hands will achieve much worse outcomes in the game of tennis than the person who practices serving only with their strong hand. **** # More ## Source - [[Switch (book)]]