We all have problems in life. Things we can’t fix, people who don’t understand us, and situations that confound us. All we need is a solution. All we need is that golden key that unlocks the problem and provides the perfect answer.

Yet that key is often hard to find.

We can spend hours, days, and even years trying to solve a problem, when the answer is truly at our fingertips. Yet we don’t see it.

Sometimes the solution is as simple as a checkmark in a box, or a simple decision requiring just a yes or a no. But the problem persists because we fail to take action or make a decision.

While I certainly do not have a magic solution, I have found three things that help in many cases to find that elusive key.

1. Type the problem in the form of a question into Google or Ask.com
It is truly amazing the answers that come up. Ask.com is especially good with the question format. Google has a very helpful page on all the ways you can search on their site. One of their tips that comes back with interesting results is to use a fill in the blank question with an asterisk. Example: Isaac Newton discovered *
Give it a try. You may be surprised with the results.

2. Join a group on LinkedIn or other social media and post your question.
When you can align yourself with like minded people online, it is real easy to ask questions and get helpful responses. One of the best is LinkedIn. LinkedIn’s Groups Directory allows you to find communities of professionals who share a common experience, passion, interest, affiliation or goal. I have had great success asking questions in different groups and finding unique solutions.

3. Ask someone who has been there and done that.
Whether it be at work or online, find people who have experience in your field of endeavor, or experience solving a similar problem. Then ask them what they would do, or if they have had similar problems. The online world has really opened this up and a great place to find experts is Twitter. Twitter gives you a chance to ask short questions and get feedback immediately. A book like Twitter Tips, Tricks and Tweets can help you use this great resource.

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When you are facing a problem or situation that requires an answer, consider giving these ideas a try. You may be surprised to find that elusive key right at your fingertips!

In today’s troubled economy it is easy to get sidetracked on longer term goals. The financial and time commitments of worthy aspirations such as an advanced degree, new business, or job certification are often put by the wayside as reality creeps in.

I work in a K-12 educational environment in Southern California. The state budget crunch has made things difficult for many people in education. Programs are slashed and continuing education programs have mostly been eliminated. It’s easy to hunker down and put dreams and aspirations on hold.

Yet in reality, this may actually be the best time to improve your skills, revise your resume, and set a path to the future. After all, if your competition for that job promotion or business start is now in a holding pattern, it opens many doors of opportunity for those with a positive vision.

As an inspiration, I would like to tell you a story of two people who have made it through a track full of hurdles and finished strong. Their stories have helped me see that problems are just opportunities in disguise.

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The first person is my long time friend and mentor, Jeanne Nelson. Jeanne has worked as our library and media coordinator in our school district for many years. Providing text books to over 22,000 kids a year and opening and maintaining numerous school libraries, Jeanne always finds herself in a whirlwind of projects.

The letters and numbers on her computer keyboard are worn off from frequent use, and her constantly ringing phone are a reminder of her overwhelming workload. Yet over the last three years, Jeanne has done something incredible. She pursued her doctorate in education and through thick and thin made it through with a dissertation on the viability of technology in education.

This spring she made it successfully through the program, defended her dissertation, and received her diploma and is now known to us all as Doctor Nelson. In the last three years, Jeanne gave up many of her weekends and spent a lot of time and money on research and project materials.

Through it all, there was one thing that I noticed and many other people commented on. Through thick or thin, Jeanne was determined to complete the program. There was no doubt in any of our minds that she would do it.

It was this determination that saw her through. And it was her determination that makes her such a role model for others. Even in the midst of opening a new High School and Middle School, Jeanne never gave up!

Determination will see you through!

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My other role model for success is someone that I met a few years back through Toastmasters International. The gentleman’s name is Dilip Abayasekara, and his dream was to go the full distance in this incredible organization. Dilip is such an inspiration to many of us in Toastmasters. He completed the entire speaking and leadership program and went on to become the International President.

Along the way Dilip helped many people, including myself, to see that big dreams can come true. Like Jeanne above, Dilip pursued his education and received his doctorate. He is also the author of a popular book, entitled The Path of the Genie.

Dr. Dilip showed me that setting goals, working hard, and having an undying determination to see a project through can take you to places that you never imagined.

He showed me how to finish strong!

With the inspiration and guidance of Dr. Dilip and many people in my local Toastmasters club, I was able to make it through the complete Toastmasters Leadership and Communication program back in 2005 and received the Distinguished Toastmasters designation. When I started in my local club in 1999, I would never have imagined that it would be possible.

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We all need role models and Dr. Jeanne and Dr. Dilip are two of the best. With determination, hard work, and a focused vision you can go incredible places. Just be sure to develop great mentors like Jeanne and Dilip!

Have you ever met someone who smiles and instantly makes you feel welcome? Does this same person introduce you to their friends and make you part of their lives? Does their network, become your network? If so, you have met a “Human Spark Plug.”

Human spark plugs are wonderful people. They provide “Ignition” at the dullest of parties and can make a boring meeting into a lively and exciting event. You don’t forget a spark plug when you meet them, and the good ones won’t forget you.

They will take your business card or write your name on the back of a napkin, and for sure they will get back in touch with you. They always have friends you should meet, and the usual outcome of meeting them is at least one new contact or business acquaintance.

There are also people that are “Technology Spark Plugs.” They always know the latest gadgets, the coolest software and the most interesting web sites. If you hang around them for any length of time, you’ll end up with a new app on your cell phone, a new program in your computer, or a new shiny gadget in your hand.

I would like to share with you today, three “Human Spark plugs,” who have changed my life, introduced me to hundreds of their friends and made my life considerably more interesting.

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The first spark plug is my good friend Karen Robertson. I’ve known Karen for over 15 years and she always amazes me with her energy and willingness to take on the craziest goals. Over the years, Karen has become Ditzy the Clown, a public speaker, a personal coach, and just recently a stand up comedian.

In each step along the way, Karen has involved her friends and family and if you meet her she’ll drag you into what ever she is doing. If you want to get a project done, Karen is the one to talk to. She took on a building project at our church and tirelessly interfaced with city council members, building planners, and a maze of bureaucrats to get our church building built.

This year Karen decided she wanted to become a stand up comedian. While Karen is an outgoing person, a stand up comedian seemed like the last thing she would ever be. After all, she is a strong Christian, and I just couldn’t see her in a comedy club, in front of a bunch of rowdy people, telling jokes. But that is just what she did. She became a clean comedian in 2009 and even performed along with her friend Steve Matley, on a Sunday night at the Improv in Hollywood. Wow!

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The second spark plug, is my friend Phil Gerbyshak. Phil is know as the “Make it Great Guy, and he always brings a positive attitude and will introduce you to a cadre of successful and positive people.

Phil’s book, 10 Ways to Make it Great, is a fun and interesting read. It’s simple yet easily do-able positive philosophy on life is embraced by so many of his friends. But what makes Phil stand out from the crowds, is his tireless energy.

If you log into Phil’s web site, he always has something going on. Whether it be a contest or course or a new motivational video, Phil always has something to motivate you to improve your life and truly make your day great.

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The third spark plug on my list is my longtime blogging friend, Dwayne Melancon. Dwayne has written in his blog, Genuine Curiosity, for over four years. Dwayne is a Technology Spark Plug, and you’ll find reviews of the latest gadgets on his blog.

The thing I like about Dwayne, is his in depth personal analysis of products, software, and places. Dwayne travels intensively on his job, and his insights on carrying different gadgets, computers and a wide variety of wireless phones on airplanes has been invaluable.

He’ll give you a true reading of battery life, portability, and ease of use. His latest reviews on the popular iPhone have been very insightful. I’ve wanted one since they first came out, but his latest reviews reveal that now may be the best time to buy one. Apple has finally fixed his pet peeves and made a truly remarkable product. My iPod Touch is certainly better after Dwayne’s recommended 3.0 Apple software update.

If you use technology on your job and especially if you take your technology along on your travels, Dwayne’s site is one you should bookmark. A word of warning though, Dwayne’s reviews are so good, that you’ll find yourself spending considerable time reading through them. After a few minutes, your wallet make take a debit from the purchase of the latest recommended item on his list. Dwayne has certainly cost me a few dollars with his recommendations!

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Human Spark Plugs can ignite a fire, help you make your day better, and truly help you find that special gadget that will make your life better. Check out the web sites above, and as Phil says… Make Today Great!

There is a lot of talk today about the difference between Left Brained linear thinking and Right Brained creative thinking. I’ve just finished a great book on the subject, entitled A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink.

While the differences are great, on a practical side one of the main distinctions is that left brain thinkers are linear and sequential. They are great at making lists and getting things done.

Right brained, creative types are more big picture oriented and tend to be random and intuitive thinkers. While this trait is great for creativity, it can hamper step by step progress on a project or task.

As a certified right brainer, I have struggled with To-Do lists and get distracted easily on tedious tasks. I have worked through organizational programs such as GTD by David Allen and have found them useful, but sometimes frustrating. My right brain and outside influences keep distracting me.

Luckily I ran across a technique a few years ago that has worked wonders in my life. It is called The Power of 48 minutes and it’s simple premise is effective every time I try it.

Here’s how it works… Set a timer for 48 minutes. Close out all distractions and work continuously for 48 minutes on one project. When the timer goes off, get up and stretch, get coffee, use the restroom etc, in the following 12 minutes. Repeat as necessary.

At home, this means closing my web browser, turning off e-mail, and working on one project at a time. It means having a full cup of coffee and putting myself in a quiet and comfortable work environment.

At work, it means closing my office door, shutting off e-mail and the e-mail reminder in Outlook, closing my browser, and focusing on one task at a time. My paper based daily route sheet works wonders here.

In both cases I use a countdown timer on my iPod touch and work straight through for 48 minutes.

When the time is up I take a 12 minute break and either finish up what I’m doing or set myself up for another 48 minute session.

This technique works wonders for larger projects such as book writing, blog posting, and web design. If you have never tried this before, do a little preparation and give it a go. You’ll be amazed how useful it can be. A simple egg timer works wonders here.

It looks like my 48 minutes is about up… until next time… keep focused with the Power of 48 minutes.

I just finished up Daniel Coyle’s new book, The Talent Code. It is an insightful book in the study of how our brains work and why certain people are more talented than others. While the book goes deep into the latest science on brain function, the main takeaway is the three items that lead to amazingly talented individuals.

The three items are…

1. Deep Practice: This is the key ingredient. It’s the 10,000 hours of experience and the over and over daily practice routine that lead to greatness.

2. Ignition: This is the motivation to get started. The spark that ignites a person on to an uncommon life of talent and creativity.

3. Master Coaching: Disciplined and committed coaches provide help, feedback, and guidance to create a World class talent.

Combine deep practice with motivation along with a good coach and watch out. Talent can certainly be created with this powerful formula. Pick up the book and you’ll be amazed how powerful these principles really are.

I’ve been listening to the new book by Daniel Coyle, entitled The Talent Code and I ran across something truly eye opening. In fact it goes against conventional wisdom to such a degree that I didn’t believe it at first.

In a chapter on “Ignition,” about how to get talents started, Daniel goes into a study by Carol Dweck, a psychology professor at Stanford. Her premise is simple..

Children praised for their effort do much better than children praised for their intelligence or skill.

The reason, she explains, is that when you praise for skill, kids tend to react by protecting their status — they don’t want to take risks that might harm their standing.

Conversely, when you praise for effort, kids tend to react by taking on more engaging tasks, making mistakes and fixing them, and spending time in the sweet spot where skill is truly acquired.

This is such a powerful finding that it could have major consequences for parents and teachers. Can such a simple change have such a profound effect? Here is a great article on the subject by Po Bronson to spur your thinking…