Folders on the shelves

So how about realizing after 13 years of being a consultant, that some of the amazing solutions developed within the projects were not what the client really needed? Maybe what he expected, even what he asked, but not what he needed.

I’ve been a consultant since 2003. More than 13 years sitting with people concerned with the performance of their business, overall or a particular process or department. Every time my goal has been to develop real solutions with real value. Every solution developed has been based on the understanding of the client, the client’s problem and the client’s client problems.

Extensive research and expertise has been applied to each one of the projects. The solutions has been flawless, both in the eyes of the team and the eyes of our clients. We both have been proud of the outcome of the consultancy process and yet, a few of those projects have become binders in the drawers, collecting dust, being forgotten.

Thinking back, some of the projects were developed using analogy reasoning. A huge trap, I’ve come to realize, that leaves everyone convinced that the solution is great, even those who devised it.

When you face a complex problem, always should apply first principle thinking. Even if after a few iterations you draw upon some analogies. It will result in a cleaner, stronger, more creative solution.