Besides death and taxes, you can be assured you'll always have some problems to deal with. It's a fact of life. It's not the problems that differentiate us, it's how we handle those problems. To get ahead in life, you need to be a problem solver. If you can help others solve problems, you not only have a gift, but a marketable skill.

One device I use to solve problems is to physically write out the problem and attempt to write out as many potential solutions as possible. Somehow the act of physically writing the problem and the solutions allows me to reach a logical conclusion. I must point out, I write out as many potential solutions as I can think of, even the most ridiculous. Sometimes, they work.

Dale (Andy) Sheets is the President of Lyman & Sheets Insurance Agency. He has more than 30 years of experience in structuring risk-management insurance programs for businesses worldwide. Connect with Andy on LinkedIn.