Inventors vs Problem Solvers

Through decades of work with small businesses I’ve noticed two distinct patterns with entrepreneurs that appear over and over. The first approach I see is founders who identify a problem then create a unique solution that serves a specific audience. The second approach I see is founders who create a novel solution then find the market that needs it. I define the first category as Problem Solvers and the second as Inventors.

I enjoy being an inventor. When I land on an amazing idea I do everything possible to make it come to life. Turning that idea into reality is a long and arduous process. The initial concept seems simple but once I begin the design process I learn how many decisions are required at each step. The entire process is supposed to look like a funnel or decision tree but in reality it’s more like a vortex. You get sucked into a process that you must give in to.

At the end of it all I have a final product. I am super proud to bring something to life that didn’t exist before. I can’t help but fall in love with it because I literally created it. Now I need to share it with the world and convince others why they should love it too.

But what happens if no one really cares? If I am making art then I can live with that outcome. The art is an expression of me so I can’t expect it to resonate with everyone. The indifference is tolerable.

If I am trying to run a business then it’s a big problem. The indifference becomes existential. A solution driven business that fails to sell their products will no longer have a business.

Being a founder is a deeply personal journey, it’s almost impossible to separate your identity from something you spend all your time building. It’s very natural to launch a company based on your life experience in a field you are passionate about. It requires belief and passion to keep doing it every day.

It also helps to have a passion for solving problems instead of focusing too narrowly on one solution. I’ve learned that long term success requires this mindset. Things constantly change. Customer preferences, cultural trends, and economic conditions are always evolving. If you tie yourself to a single product or idea you become vulnerable when things shift. Problem-solving founders keep searching for better solutions when things don’t work out.

I want to highlight a founder whose story illustrates this idea well.

Rashad Frazier launched Camp Yoshi in 2020 with a simple mission: help people spend more time outside with less to manage.

For many people, camping is appealing in theory but intimidating in practice. Planning routes, organizing gear, setting up camp, and preparing food can turn a relaxing trip into a logistical nightmare. Rashad’s idea was to remove that friction through thoughtful hospitality so guests could simply arrive and enjoy the experience.

The early concept focused on curated outdoor adventures designed to make camping more accessible to newcomers. When the pandemic hit, interest in outdoor experiences surged as people looked for ways to escape their homes and reconnect with nature. Camp Yoshi was well positioned for that moment and the business grew quickly.

But like many industries that expanded during that period, demand eventually normalized as the world returned to more traditional routines. The outdoor adventure market contracted and businesses had to adapt.

What’s notable about Rashad’s approach is that he didn’t anchor the company to a single format. Instead, he stayed true to the purpose behind it, creating new ways for people to experience the outdoors without the usual barriers.

Because that commitment stayed constant, the way Camp Yoshi delivered the experience could evolve. The trips themselves were not the entire business. The real business was making outdoor adventures feel easy, welcoming, and accessible.

As Creators, we naturally gravitate toward ideas. The thrill of inventing something new is part of the reason many of us start businesses in the first place, but the discipline of building a sustainable company requires a subtle shift in perspective.

Ideas are experiments and products are temporary vehicles, but the real work is understanding the problem deeply enough to keep searching for better solutions over time. When you stay anchored to the problem, the business can evolve without losing its purpose. The solutions you begin with are rarely the ones that endure, they are simply the first step in discovering better ways to serve the people you set out to help.

If you stay in love with solving the problem, the right solutions will continue to find you.