The other day I watched a video that made me laugh far more than it probably should have.

A person dressed in a large bear costume was sitting quietly in a department store. Completely still. Almost invisible.

As shoppers walked past, the bear would pick up a pillow and throw it at them from behind.

The shopper would stop and turn around.

They would look at the floor.

They would look at the shelves.

They would look at other people nearby.

What they didn’t do was look at the giant bear sitting only a few metres away.

The bear would freeze, pretending nothing had happened.

A few moments later, another pillow would fly.

The same thing happened again.

And again.

And again.

Everyone watching the video could see exactly what was going on.

The person getting hit had no idea.

It struck me that many business owners do exactly the same thing.

The Problem Isn’t Always the Problem

A business owner notices sales have dropped.

They look at advertising.

They look at the economy.

They look at competitors.

Meanwhile, the real problem may be that enquiries are not being followed up properly.

Another business owner struggles with cash flow.

They blame a quiet month.

They blame rising costs.

They blame customers for paying late.

Meanwhile, their pricing may not have changed in three years.

Someone else has constant staff issues.

Every few months, they recruit another employee.

Every few months, they have the same frustrations.

Meanwhile, nobody has addressed the systems, training, or expectations that are creating the problem.

The pillow keeps arriving.

The bear remains unnoticed.

Symptoms vs Causes

Most business owners are very good at reacting.

A customer complains.

A staff member resigns.

A supplier increases prices.

A project runs late.

These events demand attention, so naturally, we focus on them.

The challenge is that symptoms are often easier to see than causes.

If the same issue keeps returning, there is usually something deeper driving it.

A recurring problem is often a sign that a system needs attention.

Why Outside Perspectives Matter

One reason consultants, coaches, mentors and business advisers can add value is that they are not standing in the middle of the situation.

They can often see the bear.

What feels confusing and complex to the business owner can sometimes be surprisingly obvious to someone looking from the outside.

That doesn’t mean the solution is always simple.

It does mean that finding the real cause is usually a better use of time than continually reacting to the latest symptom.

A Question Worth Asking

The next time a problem appears in your business, ask yourself:

“Has this happened before?”

If the answer is yes, stop for a moment before jumping into action.

Instead of asking:

“How do I deal with this?”

Try asking:

“Why does this keep happening?”

The answer may reveal the bear that has been sitting quietly in the corner all along.

Final Thought

If the same problem keeps hitting your business, stop looking for who threw the pillow.

Start looking for the bear.