Many innovators begin with a solution in mind. Yet the ideas that create lasting impact often come from spending time with the problem first and understanding the system around it, not just the symptom in front of us.

Albert Einstein is often credited with saying that if he had an hour to solve a problem, he would spend fifty-five minutes thinking about the problem and five minutes thinking about solutions. Most of us do the opposite.

Entrepreneurs need to slow down long enough to really understand the problem they are working on, not just the solution they hope to build. That means pausing, asking better questions, immersing in communities, and learning to see both the big picture and the lived experience of the people affected.