I’ve been giving a lot of thought to all the negativity that all of us are experiencing in one form or another. I believe negativity has its place and it is certainly a reality that we cannot avoid. Unfortunately many people today have gotten into the habit of finger-pointing, negativity, and dissension and the ability to find solutions that are equitable to all is no longer a clear desire or practice.

When I was a Senior Business Manager at Microsoft I had numerous people throughout the day come into my office with a variety of business problems, challenges and complaints. It was my job to listen to all of these fairly and calmly while sifting through them and determining which of those should be elevated to an executive level, which I could solve, and which were simply things that I need to suffer through. (?) In essence, I was Switzerland. No offense to my Swiss friends.

The one thing I always asked people as they came to me in that capacity was – please come to my office prepared to articulate what the businesses problem was they were trying solve. Additionally I asked that they also be prepared to present 2-3 solutions that they thought through specific to the issue.

I think today far too many of us are complacent and simply want to complain about things without first, being able to define what the problem is and secondly, taking ownership and accountability for what we envision to be a viable solution. The time spent determining a problem should be equal to or less than the time we spend determining a solution.

Now I know some people will say that it’s outside of the realm of their remit or ability to provide a solution. I would disagree. I believe that every issue that we confront, on whatever level it exists, has an opportunity for us to enable a solution. While certainly we may not be able to solve world peace etc. on our own, we can act at a local or individual level to support solutions that rise beyond those levels.

I would challenge each of you to begin to think about solutions to the problems that you are finding in your daily environment. Further I would challenge you to keep your discussions to yourself if you are unable to come up with 2-3 solutions for the problems that you are speaking to others about. If you cannot find 2-3 solutions to your problem you have not spent an adequate time doing so. Your investment in the solution is equally worthy to the time you spend defining and/or discussing a problem.

As you formulate your solutions share them with others in your community. Be generative as you gather input and be receptive to others opinions and validations or negations of your ideas. Be prepared to revise your solutions as you gather additional feedback.

As we begin to do this as both individuals and a community, we will build bridges instead of burning them and we will find more peaceful, holistic ways to live together as one community.

These are my own personal beliefs and ramblings. ? Please feel free to provide your input and your thoughts. I welcome them should you agree or disagree with me. I always I have an opportunity to learn from opposition and differences.