Summer time

Every summer business seems to slow down.  People take vacations and / or spend more time than usual looking at the sky.  If you have a little spare time, try something different.  Pick a problem that bugs you and investigate.  Don't set out to determine Root Cause.  First figure out what the problem ACTUALLY is. 

As smart people, we think we completely understand the problem........however, in my experience, even the biggest smarty pants-types will see the problem as a cartoon (in 2 dimensions), make a ton of generalizations and then guess what the root cause is based on these generalization.  Excellent and quick, if you are right.  Expensive and a giant waste of time, if you are not.

So, just for today, assume you know nothing.  Then start asking questions.  What is actually happening versus what should be happening, is a very good place to start.   Then GO and SEE the problem first hand, if possible. 

Check out PHRED Step D2 for more universal questions.