Problems will always be synonymous with life while living.

Every single person has problems — including family problems — that are akin to corporate business. While the expressions of problems are as variable as the number of people and things on earth, there are base patterns that align with certain common themes that can be translated from personal to business and back again.

Those who rise and deserve the most acknowledgment in all areas of life are the ones who have the rare skill of being able to identify the core problems, not solve them. Every individual has the vast creative capacity to solve problems, but not everyone can find the problems — much less the problems which matter most. The ability to identify problems in a calm, clear-headed manner is a differentiating asset. The performance of calm externally does not matter. It’s the internal calm that makes the difference. Taking that a step further, those capable of not only accurately identifying problems but predicting them in advance clearly and with precision and accuracy is what separates top performers from elite performers. I refer to this process as sheet metal flashing.

Sheet metal flashings are a construction material used to waterproof buildings. It’s an unseen, largely unknown process/product that prevents unrecoverable danger and damage from the structures we live, work, shop, and recreate within. In my unique view in both perspective and analogy, it perfectly represents the invaluable ability to identify and prevent the leak of unwanted outcomes before they occur. The top earners/most senior executives know how to conduct sheet metal flashings in a corporate structure.