A Design vs. a Solution

Your project might be a series of design deliverables. Points along the project timeline marked by requirements. You spend a fixed amount of time, and deliver a specific item, as requested.

Or, you can explore providing solutions. In this case, you are focused on the outcome. You can arrive at that outcome any way you please. Research? Interviews? Videos? Pasta art? If the work gets you to your goal, great. If the work gets you to your goal using less time and a unique approach, even better.

The difficult part is committing to delivering a solution. To saying "I will solve this problem," vs. "I will deliver this item." 

HT to Seth Godin. This entry is based on his recent blog post "Projects vs. Tasks".