"Never bring the problem solving stage into the decision making stage. Otherwise, you surrender yourself to the problem rather than the solution"
About this Quote
The subtext is theological as much as managerial. Schuller’s broader message (the upbeat, possibility-oriented strain of American Protestantism he popularized) treats despair as a kind of spiritual misalignment. “Surrender yourself” borrows the language of devotion and flips it: you can surrender to fear just as easily as you can surrender to faith. In that framing, the “problem” isn’t only an obstacle; it’s a temptress, demanding your attention, shrinking your imagination to the size of the threat.
The quote works because it gives people permission to choose direction before certainty. It advocates a posture: decide on the solution you’re moving toward, then solve problems in service of that commitment. In an era addicted to “due diligence,” it’s a reminder that decision-making is often identity-making. The real risk isn’t a wrong answer; it’s letting the question own you.
Quote Details
| Topic | Decision-Making |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Schuller, Robert H. (2026, January 15). Never bring the problem solving stage into the decision making stage. Otherwise, you surrender yourself to the problem rather than the solution. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/never-bring-the-problem-solving-stage-into-the-16404/
Chicago Style
Schuller, Robert H. "Never bring the problem solving stage into the decision making stage. Otherwise, you surrender yourself to the problem rather than the solution." FixQuotes. January 15, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/never-bring-the-problem-solving-stage-into-the-16404/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"Never bring the problem solving stage into the decision making stage. Otherwise, you surrender yourself to the problem rather than the solution." FixQuotes, 15 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/never-bring-the-problem-solving-stage-into-the-16404/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.








