Are You Solving the Wrong Problem?

Are you solving the wrong problem?In this episode of Tales of Abundance, Randy Lorensen, Dr. John Oberg, and Anthony Marino break down one of the most expensive mistakes in business and life: fixing symptoms instead of solving the real problem.The conversation starts with John’s frustrating HVAC experience, where a technician tried to turn a $50 switch into a brand-new air handler. From there, the guys dig into why smart people and companies so often chase the wrong solution—whether it is bad incentives, poor diagnosis, ego, weak listening, or simply failing to ask better questions.They explore real-world examples from Sears, Toyota, Intuit, CollegeClub.com, sales teams, medical diagnosis, customer experience, AI regulation, and startup pivots. The core lesson: problem solving is a skill, and the first step is not rushing to a solution. It is making sure you are solving the right problem in the first place.In the Abundance Briefing, the conversation shifts to a 12-year-old entrepreneur building a high-margin 3D printing business, the promises and risks of GLP-1 drugs, AI moving from answering questions to doing real work, and what young people should do in a tougher job market.If you run a business, lead people, sell anything, build systems, or just want to make better decisions, this episode will help you slow down, ask better questions, and stop wasting time fixing the wrong thing.Show Notes00:00 – John’s HVAC story: turning a $50 switch into a fake replacement problem01:11 – Incentives, incompetence, and why companies misdiagnose customers01:30 – Sears, Walmart, and solving the wrong retail problem03:14 – Why customer experience was the real issue03:41 – Symptoms vs root cause04:40 – A medical example: same symptoms, different diagnosis05:26 – The hero syndrome and rushing to solve too fast06:48 – The window business: price, value, and knowing who you are08:15 – How honesty builds trust with customers09:36 – Repeat business, pricing mistakes, and long-term consequences10:50 – Why talking to the customer reveals the real issue11:31 – Listening, empathy, and asking better questions12:25 – Anthony’s Sears story: “Does Kohl’s have different weather?”13:52 – Why shame and embarrassment make problem solving harder14:23 – Intuit, remote deposit, and solving a problem technology erased16:16 – CollegeClub.com and the cost of optimizing for the wrong metric19:45 – Being good at solving problems vs choosing the right problem21:17 – Why investors like founders who can pivot22:00 – Toyota’s Plan, Do, Check, Act framework25:19 – Creating a culture where mistakes can be discussed26:23 – Errors of omission vs errors of commission28:12 – AI regulation and the risk of solving the wrong problem31:12 – AI safety, government regulation, and unintended consequences34:08 – Bad actors vs bad tools36:28 – What to do first when you see a problem38:38 – Gemba: get out of the chair and observe the real work39:44 – Intuit’s “follow me home” customer research41:55 – Four Seasons and empowering employees to solve guest problems42:13 – Problem solving as a skill everyone needs to build43:34 – Anthony’s final warning: make sure the problem is worth solvingAbundance Briefing46:07 – A 12-year-old entrepreneur builds a 3D printing business48:31 – GLP-1 drugs, weight loss, muscle loss, and longevity49:13 – Why resistance training matters with GLP-1s52:03 – Recreational GLP-1 use and medical oversight55:40 – AI moving from answering questions to doing actual work56:30 – How John is using AI inside his organization57:38 – How Anthony uses AI for sharper decision making58:45 – Randy on using AI agents, Claude Code, spreadsheets, and strategy1:00:55 – The job market is tougher for new graduates1:02:22 – Are there jobs available, or just not the jobs people expected?1:05:00 – Trades, electricians, AI skills, and future-proofing your careerLinks MentionedAG1https://shop.drinkag1.com/tales