Problem-solving Expert Gifts

This stuff fixes things at home, why not here?

The Businessmen Have to Make Decisions from Many Options

boy plugging leak in a barrel with his finger

"Good" "Bad" "Work on it" "Keep working - maybe it's not as bad as you think it is" "Put it to a committee" "Give up" "Make it worse" "Make it better" "Still a bad idea" "Overthink it" "Throw yourself into a pit of wild badgers" "Throw it away" "Call it done" "Sigh."

'The plumber said he can't come right now, but promised to put us on his 'wading list'. Cute, huh?'

"We can waste time and look for a solution or...just find a scapegoat?"

"Someday she'll solve the world's problems."

'I solved the problem of dead zones on my cell phone with a personal satellite,'

When Engineers Crack.

'Due to cutbacks, he lost his company vehicle, so he has to improvise.'

"Is this a 'GOTCHA' question?"

"You're good at asking all the right questions. Now let's hear some right answers."

'I solve so many work problems at home.'

"Looks like our days at the think tank are numbered."

'I'm still not sure HOW it happened. One minute, we were bouncing ideas off each other, and the next thing I knew, we were using furniture instead!'

"We only got up to three 'whys' and a 'what the hell'."

Brainstorm in progress.

"Managing a major project in these challenging times requires IMAGINATION, the FIRST thing I'd like you to imagine is that you have a team to help you."

Supply Chain

'This is Martins, the office I was telling you about. She's got a real knack for texting people down from window ledges!'

"Try unplugging it and throwing it out the window."

"Yes, I'm sure of my 3 wishes - I wish I had a pen, I wish I had paper to write a 'rescue me' note, and I wish I had a bottle to send it in"

'So far, sir, we've rejected plans A,B, C, D, E, F, and right now we're evaluating'G'.'

Kiwi Ingenuity

Early Tech Support

"You bring up an important concern, but I'm looking for a problem that better fits my preconceived solution."

"I can't solve for X. I have a fear of the unknown!"

"We're all well aware of the madness, Phipps...where's the method?"

"How on earth do you get this blasted box to open...?"

"Every single day, guys ask you for advice about women, work, sports... Haven't you ever even heard of the law of supply and demand?. . .I'd be glad to steer the downtrodden and the forlorn your way for a mere 82% of the man-to-man-talk fee."

"Never marry an engineer."

'I was working on developing anti-matter under laboratory conditions, but I couldn't find anything to keep it in.'

= too complex