Think back: the last time you pitched an idea - internally or to a customer - did you start out by getting everyone to agree on the problem they were facing? If not, I'll bet you didn't land the deal.

When trying to solve a problem—small or large—many people may tend to rush to a solution in order to get a process in motion or to just get it off their plate so they can focus on other things.

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. When it comes to losing your keys, or your phone, or your favorite pen, it’s true that the one place you’ll never look is right under ...