It is two elements that will always, separate the successful entrepreneurs from those who struggle. Successful entrepreneurs know the difference between features and solutions. The second is that they features and take action only on solutions.
So what is the difference between features and solutions? A feature is an important part or characteristic of something. A solution is simply an answer to a problem. In most cases it will be a prominent part or characteristic of something that can solve the problem. Put simply, it is a feature that will provide a solution.
When a person makes a purchase or takes an action based on a feature that doesn't solve a pre-existing problem for them, they are wasting resources because they are solving problems that do not exist. The most important aspect of a feature providing a solution is that the solution must be to an existing problem.
I have OCD. I am the most organized person I know. When I was an entrepreneur just starting out, I was the most organized business owner I knew. There were two main reasons for this. The first was that I spent all of my time organizing everything. The second was that because I spent all of my time organizing, and no time gathering clients, I never actually did any real work that would mess up my perfectly organized system. My problem was not disorganization. My problem was a lack of clients. Being organized was a feature and a waste of my effort at that point. I should have put my energy into solving the problem of not having any clients. After that, once I was generating an income, I could solve the problem of disorganization if and when it came up.
Successful entrepreneurs have a specific goal and solve problems on their way toward completing that goal. Anything that doesn't move them toward their specific goal is a waste of time and money.
Most people suffer from consumerism. The "new features" seemed very appealing on TV so now they feel compelled to spend money. They are spending money to solve problems that they do not have. Money is a limited resource and the more they spend solving problems they don't have, the less they have to spend on solving problems they do have.
Some of us suffer from analysis paralysis. This is the difference between overloading yourself with information and actually getting to action. One of the greatest tools for research and the greatest cause of never actually starting projects in our time is the internet. You can find information quickly and easily. The problem is that there is so much information that some people never take action as they think they need to read and digest everything. Successful entrepreneurs read just enough to start taking action and then solve problems as they occur. They know that a person can only win the game by actually playing the game (taking action). They know that the game is not won by knowing every feature but by knowing how to find any solution.
Managers know that employees are suckers for features. An employee will inquire about getting a raise (a solution for not having enough money) and what will the manger do? The manager will give them a new title. The employee will walk into the office a "supervisor" and walk out a "regional supervisor" with the same pay, a slightly increased workload, and a promise that his next "promotion" will include a pay raise. The employee just got screwed. And what happens if the employee figures the title game out? Then he gets a parking space with his name on it. It's just another feature for the employee that doesn't solve his problem of needing more money. How much did this parking space cost the company? Zero. For the company it's a solution because it solves the company's problem of quieting the employee without any cost.
Have you ever seen an advertisement from Ferrari talking about more miles per gallon? Nope, and you never will see one. The entrepreneurs who buy Lamborghinis have money by the truckloads and don't have a problem paying for gas no matter what the cost. Fuel efficiency for the rich is a feature as it solves no problem that they have. Successful entrepreneurs tend to ignore features.
Now if you visit the office of a successful entrepreneur who actually owns a street legal space ship, you will find that all of their decisions are solution based. If you are attempting to sell something to the owner of that company, sell solutions, not features. Proposition to solve an existing problem for the company at a fair price and you will have a sale. Present him with the idea of a hot tub to be installed in the lunch room because "it would be so awesome" and expect the idea to be rejected.
This game is all about ignoring some of the comforts (features) and using your resources to solve problems that keep you from your goals. This game is about living a few years of your life like most people won't, so that you can spend the rest of your life like most people can't. And exactly how is that done? I am glad you asked. Click on the below web-link to download my free eBook and start learning now.
About the Author
Drawk Kwast is a life coach. His methods are unconventional, and he makes no apologies as he tells you how to dominate the competition at work.
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