Most of the time when I’m consulting, the problem that my clients think they have is not the real problem. That makes sense, because if people understood their real problem, they would just fix it. The fact that the problem still exists is a likely indicator that the real issue hasn’t been addressed.

We know from the Theory of Constraints that most people work on the symptoms of their real problem, and while we understand this intellectually, that doesn’t mean we’re immune to this misplaced effort.

I’ve given more than 100 Vistage speeches, and I’ve spoken to some groups more than once. Have you noticed that some people report the same problems over and over again, and that, a year later, they’re often still dealing with the same issues?

Is it possible that you are working on your symptoms and are unaware of the real issue?

Let’s check.

What do you really want? What are your goals? (Write them down.) Are these things that have been on your list for a while? Have you made some progress toward some of them but haven’t yet truly achieved the results you’ve sought? (Mark the ones that have appeared before.)

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