Troubleshooting

Last update: Oct 2023

Women holding umbrella on grass field above herself and a child. Dark clouds above them.

The page offers tips on how to seek help and troubleshoot problems. It suggests using keywords to identify related issues, FAQs, and online forums. The importance of being clear and friendly when asking questions is emphasized. Do-it-yourself approaches versus seeking assistance are discussed with their pros and cons.

Table of contents

  1. Troubleshooting
    1. Where, when, and how to ask for help?
    2. Discussion
    3. Resources
    4. Image Credits

Where, when, and how to ask for help?

The same sequence can be used in-person, in an email, or via an online forum or group:

  1. What are the keywords you need to describe your problem?
  2. Try your best with the information provided in the help files/FAQ to solve your problem.
  3. Use the keywords in relevant forums/groups to see whether anyone has had the same or similar problems earlier.
  4. Ask a question (be concise and friendly):
    1. State the problem.
    2. State what you have done (e.g., searched the forum but didn’t find anything helpful).

Discussion

  • DIY vs asking for help (perhaps paying someone for help)
  • Long-term vs short-term benefits

Resources

  • Shivers (2019) How to ask your mentors for help. Available at https://sive.rs.
  • Dopamine Detox (2020) How I Tricked My Brain To Like Doing Hard Things. Available at Medium.
  • Birt, Jamie (2023) How To Ask for Help in an Email (With Examples). Available at indeed.com.
  • Welsh, Justin (2023) How elite performers attract world-class mentors. Available at twitter.com.

Image Credits

Photo by J W on Unsplash.