Digging out of a snowstorm gives you time to think.

It can feel overwhelming when you have a large task in front of you...or are in a place where you have been plowed in. Substitute here a large business decision, trying to launch a project, or a broken supply chain.

Here are the 5 questions I ask when I find myself stuck:

Where Are You Going:

What am I working towards?

What is True North in this situation? What are the outcomes for which I striving?

What's The Current Situation?: 

Take a good look!

What is the situation in which I find myself? Not speculation. Not hysteria. Honestly, what are the circumstances and how does it impact my desire to get to where I want to go? What are the obstacles in front of me? Name them.

What Can I Do To Breakthrough or Go Around? 

Time to brainstorm possible solutions.

What would it take to push this obstacle (snowdrift?) out of the way? Any chance to go around it. Remember, sometimes detours can be our friends.

What Do I Need/What Do I Have? 

What will it take to implement the solutions?

Identify what you need...and also take stock of what you have? You may have what you need but the situation has caused you to miss it. If you don't have it, where can I get it?

What's My Next Step?

Now Act!

What's your next step? Take it. And keep asking and stepping.

A simple framework to move forward.