Anchor Point #10: Innovation — What Is the Solution When There Is No Solution?

Innovation occurs when there are no known solutions and a relentless desire to create one. By definition, to innovate means to make changes in something established—especially by introducing new methods, ideas, or products. We often hit roadblocks in our personal and professional lives that seem to have no solution, yet we keep trying the same things that have never worked.

Stagnation happens when you focus on what you don’t have and what you can’t do. Innovation happens when you focus on what you do have and what you can change. Let me explain.

In business, people often get frustrated when they face challenges with no immediate solutions. They stare at what they lack. For example, if a business is struggling with turnover and finding quality employees, leadership might focus on their location and assume they simply can’t attract strong applicants. They get stuck looking at what can’t be changed. But if they consider using remote employees wherever possible, their applicant pool expands dramatically. Simple and vague example, I know—but it illustrates the concept.

Real Example: One way I was able to be more innovative as an administrator on a high school campus was by offering the resources we did have. The most common complaints in education are compensation and lack of time. I can’t change compensation—but I can work on the master schedule and offer subs to cover classes. So we shaved off a minute here and there and created an advisory period that gave students and teachers time for tutorials, clubs, and support. We pulled subs to give teachers dedicated time when they needed it. There were many more examples like this, but in short: know what you have, know what you can change, and assume there is a solution—you may just have to create it.

In our personal lives, we find ourselves in ruts, routines, and resentment about the situations we’re in. We hit limits on what we think we can do. If you are in a tough financial situation but don’t change your income, spending, or habits, you will remain in that situation forever. Innovation in this area might mean finding a unique side hustle or stretching meals farther than you ever have.

Real Example: One year for Christmas, we wanted to buy gifts for family but didn’t have the money to buy anything quality. So we called it “Crafty Christmas.” We grabbed wooden pallets, opened Pinterest, and got to work. I built wine racks, bottle openers, trendy signs, and—with a small investment in four construction-grade 2x12x8s—built my parents a farmhouse table they still use today. Honestly, it was probably our best Christmas as far as gifts go, and it cost the least and meant the most. We’ve had many other moments like this where innovation and creativity were necessary, but again, the key is focusing on what you have and what you can control. If you have a phone, internet access, and AI at your fingertips, you have endless information available to you.

The biggest takeaway is that innovation is both a mindset and a skill. Believing that problems can be solved with the resources you have—or the ones you are capable of obtaining—is the first step. After the mindset comes action.

Clearly define the problem. You can’t solve what you can’t articulate. Saying “It’s hard to find good workers these days” is useless. Saying “Employees ages 18–25 have high turnover and low motivation” gives you a direction. The same applies personally: “I don’t have time to work out” leads nowhere. “My current schedule doesn’t allow a two-hour gym commute and workout every day” gives you space to innovate.

Research and understand the problem. Learn about the issue. Ask others who have faced similar challenges. Listen to books, podcasts, and videos on the subject. If turnover is your issue, study companies with low turnover, conduct exit surveys, and ask current employees what they value. If fitness is your goal, research efficient routines, home workouts, and equipment that matches your budget and schedule. Sometimes the solution is as simple as finding a workout that hits the same goals with minimal equipment.

Use other perspectives. Think outside the box. This is where unique ideas can happen. Simon Sinek talks about gathering a team and forcing them to hit a ridiculous quota of ideas. The point is quantity first—quality comes later. Sometimes the best solutions come from unlikely people. Most problems and solutions are transferable across departments, industries, and generations.

Trial and error. Try something new. Reflect. Adjust. Start again. It might not work. But each attempt gets you one step closer to a solution that will work.

I know my examples are specific, but the idea is simple. With an optimistic mindset, a clear understanding of the problem, genuine research, fresh perspectives, and perseverance through trial and error, I believe almost anything can be solved or at least improved.

I’ll close with this. One of the most innovative things I’ve seen lately involved hospitals in Rwanda that needed a way to transport blood quickly and safely to remote regions. There were no roads, no infrastructure, and no traditional solution. Their answer? Drones. They created a solution where none existed—and saved countless lives because of it.

https://www.wired.com/story/drones-have-transformed-blood-delivery-in-rwanda/