Is your need for a product solution really a need for a business solution in disguise?

Sometimes I need to pull my head out of the weeds to broaden my perspective. Many times, when I've been able to do that, I've realized the solution to the problem I'm trying to solve is not a product. The product, with its new features or lower price, becomes secondary to the real solution to the problem. And that's a good thing, because from what I've found, a process solution is usually far more impactful than any given product solution. I urge you to think about that when you engage in your next vendor-purchasing negotiation.