Problem Solving

PROBLEM SOLVING

I like to say, "Life without problems is just like sailing without wind". Imagine you are sitting on the deck of a sailing boat with no wind. Or you are having a life with no problem. Would not it be dull and tasteless? Breezes are quite pleasant actually just like some minor problems we go through in life. They are salt to the steak and butter to our bread. We even enjoy it. But storm and hurricane would be hard to bear just the same as some difficulties we face in life.

When problems do come, how do we handle them? We might take it easy just like a slight wind has blown by. Or we may take cautions when the wind gets rough. Many times we just have to park our boat and run for a shelter until all are calm. What did I do when I had my bad days? I remember one problem when I was caught in a serious church conflict[1]. It took me some few years before the whole crisis was resolved. The longest problem I have ever solved is my problem[2] of infertility which took me almost 20 years before my wife gave birth to our twin.

Problems may be different, but my principle in solving them is always the same. I call it SRAC. SRAC (Stillness, Retreat, Advance and Charge) is generally my 4 steps in coping with problems of all levels.

When problem attacks, my first reaction to it is staying still. I normally try to be quiet; stays put and keep a low profile. The reason is I do not know exactly what the problem is. The best way out at this particular moment is to wait and see. It may be a short while, one hour or a week. But I would not do anything to the problem at this time. I remember 10 years ago one morning, a full truck load of police men came into our factory which was under my management. They came with a search warrant for an indictment of murdering the then Bangkok vice Governor.