Solving problems

Problem-solving. You have an obstacle blocking you from some objective.

The most important thing is a clear understanding of the problem you're trying to solve. What do you want, and why? (Lack of clarity on this can mislead you).

To solve a problem, you must refine your understanding of the problem. You need to narrow in on the root cause, the ultimate upstream block that must be corrected or cleared to resolve your issue.

To this end, it helps to be systematic about Troubleshooting and working through your problem. This does not have to be a cumbersome process, it just requires you to take a little while to turn the situation over in your mind. Work the problem

Problem-solving loop: clarify exactly what you think the problem is, find & apply relevant solution, and update your understanding based on the results (did it work?).

Also, RTFM