When you can’t solve a seemingly impossible problem, do you just throw your hands high in frustration and walk away? Most of the time that’s not an option. Try reframing the problem with these suggestions from Tina Seeling, author of Inside Out: Get Ideas Out of Your Head and Into the World (HarperOne):

• Revise your question. Turn the problem around by re-examining your real goal. Instead of “What new product will make lots of money?” ask, “What do our customers buy, and what do they avoid?” or “How can we offer more of what already works?”
• Look for bad ideas. You can unleash your creativity by flipping the process. Try to identify what doesn’t work, what’s failed in the past, or what would completely capsize any solution. You may be able to adapt a seemingly impractical solution, or eliminate a factor that’s holding you back.
• Question your assumptions. Many of us fall into the trap of assuming that the answer we’re seeking will look like solutions that have always worked. Take a close look at the problem, your organization, or your industry and identify practices that have never been questioned. Ask, “Why are we doing it this way?” You’ll often find a new approach by going against the conventional wisdom.