What is the problem?

What's wrong?

What changes do you want to see?

1.  List your most promising options.

Get options from the Idea Clipit or the Troubleshoot Clipit.

List the options in the order that you think of them. 

Circle the three or four that you want to consider first.

Warm up

Strengths to check
Ambiguity, Can Tolerate
Goal Setter, Good
Logical

2.  What are the pros and cons of the best options?

Play fair with yourself.  Any option has advantages and disadvantages.

How do your personal skills and preferences match the pros and cons?

Where is the kryptonite in this mix?

Which option gives the best odds of success?

3.  Which option is best?

For close options, take a break.  Then review what you wrote in the box above.

If you can't decide, flip a coin and go to planning.

Cuepons

Thinkerer's Tools, Layout

Help from your head
Vulcan
Un
Explorer
Empath
Engineer
Head Team
 

You deserve a break right now.  Save this box till later.

4.  Goal:  Make a choice that is worth some planning effort.

You are choosing to plan. 

While you are planning, you can still change your mind.

I have a choice that I believe is worth

some planning effort.  Plan Clipit

I need more ideas.  Idea Clipit

I am troubleshooting. I have chosen the

most urgent problem.

Troubleshoot Clipit

Or use this design with
Semi-Structured Brainstorming

Problemater's Kit (.pdf)
Tools for brains that feed on problems