We always hear everyone saying “solve the problem,” but we hardly hear anyone say, “create the problem.” That’s because, for most people, problems are seen as negative things, bad energy, and issues to be avoided. But what if creating your own problems could actually be the best way to learn, grow, and become better at anything, especially in the world of technology?
In this article, we’ll explore reasons creating your own problems is one of the best ways to learn, not just in tech but in life. Whether you’re a programmer, student, entrepreneur, or just someone trying to improve at something new, this simple truth can completely change how you learn, and how you approach problems.
What Does It Mean to “Create the Problem”?
When we say “create a problem,” we don’t mean causing trouble or making life harder for no reason. Instead, we’re talking about intentionally setting up challenges for yourself that force you to think, solve, and grow.
Here’s what that can look like:
- A programmer writes a small app, then removes a helpful tool to see if they can solve the problem manually.
- A designer creates a layout with strict rules, like using only black and white.
- A student writes their own test based on what they studied, just to see what they really know.
Creating a problem is like setting up a personal test or challenge before the real one comes. It’s a smart way to prepare and improve.
Why Creating Your Own Problems Works So Well
Active Learning Beats Passive Learning: Watching tutorials and reading articles are helpful, but they are forms of passive learning. You’re taking in information, but not necessarily applying it. When you create a problem and try to solve it, you move into active learning. Your brain gets involved, you make decisions, and you learn through experience.
You don’t truly know how much you understand something until you try using it. Creating a problem helps you do just that.
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You Control the Difficulty: When you create your own problem, you can set the level of challenge. This is powerful. If you’re a beginner, you can create simple problems. As you grow, you can make the problems harder. It’s like a video game. You get to choose the level that helps you improve without being overwhelmed.
It Builds Confidence: Solving your own made-up challenges gives you small wins. And small wins build confidence. Over time, this confidence turns into a belief that you can handle bigger challenges in real life.
This mindset is especially valuable in tech, where problems come in all shapes and sizes. If you’ve already practiced solving your own problems, you’ll be more prepared when unexpected issues show up.
You Think Like a Creator, Not Just a Consumer: Instead of only using tools or following steps, you begin to think creatively. You ask questions like:
- What happens if I remove this?
- What if I try it a different way?
- Can I break this and rebuild it better?
That’s how developers, engineers, and creators think. Creating problems trains your brain to be more inventive and curious.
Real Examples of Creating Problems to Learn Faster
In Tech
Programmers: A beginner web developer might build a simple to-do list app. Once done, they might remove access to libraries like Bootstrap and try to style it using pure CSS. This challenge helps them understand layout systems better.
When I was still a student between 2021 and 2023, I naturally loved creating things with whatever technology I was learning. But the real journey of creating my own problems began when I shifted into web development in 2023. Before that, I was more focused on Java and didn’t pay much attention to frontend development.
As I started learning web development, I didn’t just follow tutorials blindly. I challenged myself by building ideas from scratch that simulated real-world problems. Each time, I would try to find a solution on my own. I remember the first time I tried connecting a backend server to a frontend app — it was overwhelming. I had no mentor or guide, and everything I learned came from trial, error, and a lot of searching online.
It was hard. Really hard. But the mindset I built during that period became a solid foundation for how I handle technology today. Even with just a few years of experience working in a company, I’ve developed the habit of never running away from tech-related problems. I don’t get scared when I’m stuck. I face it head-on and figure things out, no matter how tough it gets.
Looking back, I can confidently say that creating those problems for myself and forcing myself to solve them is what made me grow. It equipped me in ways no classroom or tutorial ever could.
If you’d like to see some of the projects I’ve worked on or are interested in hiring me for a tech-related project, feel free to visit my portfolio:
👉 View My Work Here
Cybersecurity Experts: Ethical hackers often simulate fake attacks to test their defenses. By creating a cyber threat, they learn how to respond faster and smarter.
AI Engineers: When building machine learning models, developers create fake data problems just to test how the model behaves. This helps them prepare for real-world data errors.
In Real Life
Students: Instead of just reading, students can make up their own exam questions and try to answer them. This tests real understanding. It is one of the method that helps me throughout my stay in college
Fitness Goals: A person training for a marathon might create problems like running in bad weather or with limited time. This helps them adapt better during the actual race.
Business Owners: Entrepreneurs often create “what if” problems to prepare for business risks. What if the supplier fails? What if there’s a sudden drop in sales? By facing the problem mentally first, they make smarter decisions.
How to Start Creating Your Own Problems
You don’t need to be an expert to create problems for yourself. Anyone can start. Here’s a simple way to do it.
- Pick an Area You Want to Improve In. Maybe you want to become a better coder, designer, writer, trader, or communicator. Start there.
- Find a Simple Goal or Task. Let’s say you want to learn how to design a landing page. Instead of just copying a tutorial, challenge yourself to build one for a fake company using only a limited color palette or no images.
- Add a Limitation or Twist. Limit yourself to using one tool. Or give yourself only 30 minutes. Or pretend your client has a special request that breaks the normal flow.
- Try to Solve It. Work through the challenge as if it were real. You might fail or struggle, but that’s where the learning happens.
- Reflect and Try Again. Once done, look back at what worked and what didn’t. Then try again with a different problem.
Mistakes to Avoid When Creating Your Own Problems
Even though this method is powerful, there are a few things to avoid.
- Making It Too Easy. If the problem is too simple, you won’t learn much. Try to stretch your skills, even just a little.
- Making It Too Hard. If the challenge is too far beyond your level, you might feel stuck or discouraged. Balance is key.
- Not Learning from the Process. Sometimes we just complete the task without reflecting on what we learned. Always pause to think about what worked and what didn’t.
- Giving Up Too Quickly. The point of creating a problem is not to quit when it’s hard. The struggle is the lesson. Most people do give up on their own problem, not because it is too difficult, but from real world factors like; Lack of money, lack of resources, lack of food, and a lot more. But the real problem will always be solved when you ae hungry and foolish.
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Why This Mindset Matters in Today’s World
In today’s fast-changing world, especially in tech, learning how to learn is more valuable than any single skill. And one of the fastest ways to learn is to push yourself with creative challenges.
By creating your own problems, you’re building a habit of:
- Thinking ahead
- Solving things on your own
- Building self-confidence
- Being more creative
- Staying curious
These are all qualities that help you stand out, whether you’re applying for a job, launching a business, or just trying to get better at your craft.
Your Next Problem Is Your Next Teacher
Don’t wait for life to throw problems at you. Don’t wait until your boss gives you a difficult task or until something breaks. Start now. Create your own challenges and work through them. It may not be easy, but it will make you better.
This is the hidden trick to learning anything faster and deeper, and it works in tech, school, business, or any part of life. So go ahead. Create the problem. Then become the solution.
If this article helped shift your mindset, share it with someone who’s trying to grow. And if you’ve ever created a problem to help yourself learn, tell your story in the comments. Let’s learn from each other.