Solving the Right Problem: A Lesson from My Koi Pond

The covid project I chose to keep my mind occupied and from completely losing it was to bring my backyard to life by building a koi pond. It was challenging, took tons of time and learning, a great workout with all of the digging and I've made some lifelong friends along the way.

In the tranquil world of koi ponds, where beautiful fish (and some ugly carp which snuck in) glide through the water, creating a peaceful and serene environment, I found myself entwined in a problem that seemed straightforward but proved to be deceptively complex. About 2 months ago, I accidentally cut through a pipe in my koi pond system when I working on adding a new pump for a wetland bog filter. The immediate consequence was a loss of pressure throughout the entire system when I would turn everything on, making it impossible to maintain the necessary water flow and filtration to sustain the pond’s ecosystem.

I embarked on a journey to resolve this issue as algae and harmful chemicals grew increasingly faster the longer the system was down, which involved replacing an entire multiport valve, a task that required ordering a new part from Sacramento Koi, and subsequently cutting and replacing numerous pipes and installing new unions. After all the laborious work and anticipation, I was met with continuous rounds of disappointment. Every time I fired up system the optimism in me was ever overwhelmed with sadness. Why in the world was this f@*#ing thing not working!!!! I filled up my Zakki Sieve 15 times, only to watch the water rush out each time. The problem, as it turned out, was not with the pump, the filtration system, or the new multiport valve. It was the (buried) pipe I had cut through that was the root of the issue.

This seemingly mundane incident with my koi pond provided a profound insight into problem-solving, especially in the context of business and, more specifically, what I do on a daily basis with helping brands on Amazon. The primary takeaway I gained is the paramount importance of ensuring that the problem you are trying to solve is, indeed, the real problem.

In the buzzing marketplace of Amazon, sellers and brands are often confronted with various challenges that range from inventory management, pricing strategies, customer service, to dealing with competition and maintaining a healthy seller rating (and many more). When sales are dwindling or when a product isn’t performing as expected, the sometimes overly emotional reaction might be to alter your marketing strategy, instantly adjust pricing, or revamp your product listing. However, much like my experience with the koi pond, the apparent issue and rate that you are feeling might not always be connected to the root cause of the problem.

Furthermore the complexities involved with running a successful brand on Amazon relative to a healthy koi pond means that oftentimes there are multiple issues (oftentimes related to each other) which need to be understood first, unlike my single and glaring oversight of haphazardly cutting through a supply pipe.

Talking with sellers and brands on Amazon daily, I've noticed a pattern where the focus sometimes shifts towards treating the symptoms of a problem rather than identifying and addressing the underlying cause. For instance, a seller might try to boost sales by increasing advertising spend. This will certainly work today, but at what end? The underlying issue might just be poor customer reviews or an unoptimized product listing, and if so how would address these issues?

Connecting this to the broader perspective of problem-solving in any domain, it’s crucial to adopt a systematic approach:

1. Identify the Problem: Clearly define what the problem is.
2. Analyze: Investigate and understand the problem thoroughly, ensuring that you are not misled by superficial issues.
3. Root Cause Analysis: Utilize tools and methodologies like the "5 Whys" or Fishbone Diagram to drill down to the actual root cause of the problem.
4. Develop a Strategy: Formulate a plan that addresses the root cause, not just the symptoms.
5. Implement Solutions: Execute the plan, ensuring that the solutions are aimed at the identified root cause.
6. Evaluate: Assess the effectiveness of the solution and make necessary adjustments.
7. Continuous Improvement: Always be on the lookout for ways to optimize and prevent future issues.

In the realm of Amazon selling, this might mean diving deeper into customer feedback, analyzing data, understanding market trends, and perhaps, reevaluating the product offering before deciding on the course of action. Amazon won't solve your problems, it will certainly highlight them.

It’s about taking a step back, resisting the urge to apply quick fixes, and ensuring that the energy and resources are being directed towards solving the actual problem.

My ordeal with the koi pond was a stark reminder that problems, whether in our personal lives or business endeavors, demand a thorough and honest examination (and oftentimes tons of just time and hard work). It’s a call to embrace a mindset that prioritizes understanding and addressing the root cause of issues to forge sustainable solutions. This principle, while simple, is foundational to achieving meaningful change and success in any sphere of life and business.