When I first started ASC Consultants, I thought I had a pretty clear path forward. My goal was to help business owners with marketing strategies that would elevate their brands. But it turns out, having great solutions isn’t the same as getting people to implement them effectively.
I’ll never forget those early days of frustration. I would create comprehensive plans for my clients, full of actionable steps and exciting ideas, and yet… the results weren’t showing. Why? Because no one was implementing those plans. I realized that I wasn’t just dealing with a single issue (marketing); I was tackling a bigger challenge—time, interest, and understanding were all roadblocks.
It was through this experience that I discovered the methodical process that has become my go-to framework for problem-solving. It’s also the process I teach to every entrepreneur and business owner I work with. If you feel like you’re drowning in unsolved issues, it’s time to take a step back and apply these seven steps to problem solving every business owner should know.
Step 1 - Define the Problem
You can’t solve a problem if you don’t fully understand what it is. Too often, we get caught up addressing symptoms instead of the root cause. Think of it this way—you wouldn’t treat a headache caused by dehydration without addressing the dehydration itself.
When my clients struggled to implement plans, I could’ve just assumed they weren’t motivated. But digging deeper, I uncovered the real issue—a lack of time, interest, or understanding. Once I pinpointed this, I could start tackling the true problem.
Ask yourself:
What is really happening here?
Are there underlying causes beneath the surface?
How is this problem impacting my business, team, or customers?
Step 2 - Analyze the Problem
Now that you know what the problem is, take time to analyze it. This involves gathering facts, asking more questions, and breaking the problem into smaller parts so nothing gets overlooked.
This step requires clarity and honesty. For example, I had to look at my business and ask, “Am I addressing my clients’ challenges in a way that fits their lives?” Their issue wasn’t with marketing concepts—it was the way the solutions blended (or rather, clashed) with their already hectic schedules.
Key tools to use in this step include graphs, root cause analyses, or input/output models. The better you understand the problem, the better you’ll be at solving it.
Step 3 - Develop Potential Solutions
Here’s where it gets exciting. Brainstorm a variety of possible solutions to your problem. The keyword here is “variety.” Don’t limit yourself to a single idea—casting a wider net will give you options to explore and test.
When I realized that my clients struggled with implementing marketing plans due to time, I considered several solutions:
Could I develop a time management course to help them?
Should I modify my consulting approach to address both marketing and time management hand-in-hand?
Are the projects that I am working on, like my book on Work-Life Harmony separate issues or could they be combined?
Your solutions don’t have to be perfect yet. Aim for quantity over quality at this phase—refinement comes later.
Step 4 - Evaluate the Options
Not every idea you come up with will be worth pursuing, so now it’s time to get critical. Take a deep look at each option and consider its pros, cons, and potential outcomes.
When I was evaluating how to support my clients, I had to ask:
Could they actually benefit from an online course?
Would my book have the same hands-on impact as personal consultations?
How could I blend marketing principles with balancing their schedules effectively?
Think about feasibility, cost, potential impact, and alignment with your business goals. Remember, the “best” solution isn’t always the one that’s easiest to implement—it’s the one that best solves the issue.
Step 5 - Select the Best Option
By this stage, you should have a clear winner (or winners). Choose the solution that aligns most closely with your goals and has the greatest likelihood of success.
For me, the realization came during this step that great marketing is actually built on great balance. It wasn’t just about crafting the perfect strategy—it was about supporting my clients in reclaiming their time. That’s how I combined two services into what I now call Efficiency Consultations, focusing on both effective marketing and work-life harmony.
This doesn’t mean you’ll always nail the perfect solution on your first try—it just means you’ve taken a decisive step forward.
Step 6 - Implement the Solution
A plan is nothing without action. Here’s where the rubber meets the road—you put your chosen solution into action. Implementation can sometimes reveal unforeseen bumps in the road, so stay flexible as you go.
For my business, this meant overhauling how I positioned myself as a consultant. I had to craft a new narrative, refine my approach, and introduce services that merged marketing with personal time management.
To make implementation as smooth as possible:
Create a clear action plan
Set timelines and milestones
Assign resources or roles to carry out the work
Step 7 - Measure the Results
If you don’t measure the impact of your solution, how will you know if it worked? Tracking success metrics helps to refine what you’ve done, ensure it’s sustainable, and identify areas for ongoing improvement.
For my Efficiency Consultations, I looked at multiple layers of impact:
Were clients able to implement and sustain the marketing plans?
Did they report improvements in work-life balance?
Were their businesses seeing measurable growth as a result?
Set clear metrics, review progress regularly, and get feedback from key stakeholders (whether your customers or your team). If the results aren’t what you hoped, don’t sweat it—iterate and adjust where necessary.
Final Words of Encouragement
Problem-solving isn’t something you’re born with; it’s a skill you build. Whether you’re dealing with a small issue or a massive challenge, having a framework like this in place can make all the difference. I can’t tell you how much clarity and confidence this process has added to my decision-making as an entrepreneur.
Challenges are inevitable, but as long as you work through them methodically—and stay open to adapting along the way—you can transform even the toughest roadblock into a steppingstone for growth.
And if you’re still feeling stuck? Reach out—I’d love to collaborate and help you solve the unique challenges keeping your business from thriving.
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