At first I thought: It's about solving the problem.
After a while I thought: No, I need to know what we're trying to accomplish.
Finally I thought: No, I need to know what our goals are.
Of course, it's all of these. If we define goals, this lets us get a handle on requirements and that lets us figure out what problems we need to solve.
... and, let's not forget, we need to shoehorn all this into a budget and a schedule.
I love working with folks from warm spots like southern California, especially in winter!
My secret weapon is my dog. She keeps things in perspective: Belly Rubs!!!