Highlighter caps and changing perspective

Earlier today I was highlighting some lines in a printed report I have to hand out in a meeting. I was merrily highlighting when I noticed the cap of my highlighter was missing, I had stuck it onto the back side of the marker. But, now it was gone.

Since I am easily distracted, I HAD to find that cap. I searched all around my desk, on the floor, in my desk drawers, everywhere! Finally, I walked to the other side of my desk, looked back where I had been sitting, and there, under my chair, was the evasive cap. I just had to look from a different point of view.

Isn't problem-solving often like my episode with the highlighter cap? We search for a solution for far too long. We think we are looking everywhere for the answer. However, many times we limit our search to our current perspective, and to within our comfort zone.

Next time you are faced with a problem, or a decision, step back; look from a different angle. Imagine you are a different person; perhaps a person from a different era. How would that person approach the issue? What if you change the nature of the problem? If we can learn to change our perspective, many times we will find the answer is quite obvious.