# Define the problem

By [Mickey Mellen](https://paragraph.com/@mickey-mellen) · 2024-07-16

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[**Define the problem**](https://www.mickmel.com/define-the-problem/)

It’s always good to be able to solve a problem, but it’s often far better to help make the problem crystal clear before you try to solve it.

I was recently watching the excellent movie “Moneyball”, and this scene shows exactly what I’m talking about:

[![]({{DOMAIN}}/editor/youtube/play.png)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJthe3elS7c)

The scouts are all trying to solve the problem and “we all understand what the problem is”, but they’re all on very different pages. As Dan Roam said (via “[The Personal MBA](https://www.amazon.com/Personal-MBA-Master-Art-Business-ebook/dp/B0046ECJ8M?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mickmel07-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=262974f5af2cf7f68d335645d83d82d0&camp=1789&creative=9325)“):

> _“Whoever best describes the problem is the one most likely to solve it.”_

Albert Einstein said it like this (via “[Inspired Every Day](https://www.amazon.com/Inspired-Every-Day-Indispensable-Ingredients-ebook/dp/B0BSXRRGD9/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mickmel07-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=6d68153060391dcf6c3d5e037fbdd16e&camp=1789&creative=9325)“):

> _“If I were given one hour to save the planet, I would spend fifty-nine minutes defining the problem and one minute resolving it.”_

Problem solving is a fantastic skill, but it only works if you have a clearly-defined problem to start from.

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*Originally published on [Mickey Mellen](https://paragraph.com/@mickey-mellen/define-the-problem)*