The Candle Problem and how it affects you

Chronicles of an Afropreneur

Dear  ,

Happy new year! I'm sure you have hit the ground running and have begun the journey to achieve your 2021 goal.

Have you ever tried to solve the Candle Problem? This problem/concept is very relevant to how you will achieve your goals this year.

I'm sure your wondering, what exactly is this Candle Problem?

Since we are not doing this exercise physically, I'll like you to use your imagination.

Imagine you’re given a box of thumbtacks, matches, and a candle. And your goal is to attach a burning candle to a wooden wall in a way that the candle wax won't drip onto the table below 

How would you do it? How would you achieve this goal? Quickly, use your imagination to solve this problem :)

Guess what, I'm sure a lot of you struggled with this exercise and probably failed it. Don't worry, a lot of people fail on the first try.

Ok how about I modify the problem and place the objects differently by removing the thumb tacks from the box? (see image below)



Can you now solve the problem of attaching a burning candle to a wooden wall? 

Most of you have now easily solved the problem. And for those who still couldn't figure it out, here's the solution below



Why is this exercise so important?

It shows the dangers of "Functional fixedness" - the cognitive bias that involves a tendency to see objects as only working in a particular way.

Most people failed the problem because we all habitually overlook creative, alternative uses of the items.

Every facet of career and business is essentially a candle problem.  And the answers are never obvious.
 

How can we solve our candle problems?

Can you slow down, step back, put the phone down, and just look at what’s in front of you for a little while?

Can you be brave enough to say to your client “Well, this might not work, but why don’t we try…..”?  

Can you take inventory of every single asset we have (just as the candle problem requires us to see not just the tacks, but the tacks and the box as separate valuable entities) and look inward for solutions?  

The fastest and most affordable way to get more out of life is to see new uses for the stuff you already have.

Quick exercise: reply to this email with various ways you think people can solve the candle problem in their lives and I will feature some of the responses in my next Instagram post.

And lastly, screenshot/share on social media if today's mail was relevant to you.

Keep grinding,
​Uwem