The Curse of the Problem Solver: You Can't Solve It All Sometimes, you have to let some problems go unsolved.
By Jason Feifer
This is an episode of our podcast, Problem Solvers. Each week, an entrepreneur reveals how they overcame an unexpected problem in their business -- and were happier and more successful as a result. The show is hosted by Entrepreneur's editor in chief, Jason Feifer. Listen below, or subscribe on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Patrick Llewellyn discovered that his design company, 99designs, was only fulfilling some of his customers' needs. He wanted to fill more, so he created a spinoff brand called Swiftly. But in doing so, he created a major problem for himself: He was stretching his resources too thin, and confusing customers about which brand they should use. In the end, he discovered the Curse of the Problem Solvers: Sometimes, you have to let some problems go unsolved.
Related: How Do You Find Your First Customers?
Thanks to our sponsors:
Small business never stops moving, so Dell's US-based Small Business Advisors are trained to keep up. Just call 877-BUY-DELL to get connected. You'll get tailored solutions you can trust, from an advisor who knows your business -- like which Dell PCs with Intel® CoreTM processors are right for you. That way, you can focus on your business and leave the tech questions to Dell.
People hate calling companies and not getting an answer. Companies hate missing calls, and potential new customers. And yet, it happens every day. That's what Ruby Receptionists is designed to solve—all your calls are answered live by a team of friendly, professional remote receptionists, helping you secure customers and build a thriving company. From their offices in Portland, Oregon, Ruby deliver exceptional experiences to your callers by answering calls live in English or Spanish, transferring calls, taking messages, addressing common questions, and making follow-up calls, and more. To learn more or get started, visit Ruby online.