TY - JOUR T1 - The generalist solutionist JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - 546 LP - 547 DO - 10.3399/bjgp10X514981 VL - 60 IS - 576 AU - Adrian Lamb Y1 - 2010/07/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/60/576/546.abstract N2 - There are many problems people bring through my door. Some are straightforward — like a vessel discovered that cannot be unlocked. However, apparently simple requests can in fact, turn out to be more complicated. People may have tried them first with friends and family. Some like the idea of a challenge, and the activity it brings. I work on a few principles: be wary of assumptions;trust your instincts; andlearn from experience and past mistakes.It is hard to summarise the work of a ‘general solutionist’, but I will endeavour to explain a few of my skills.Locksmith skills one could argue are the foundation of our professional services. I have a range of keys for the purpose of opening locked vessels. For the most part, my keys serve me well, and over the years have become a faithful friend. Those used most have become sturdier with time, while others have long since turned to dust. Fortunately, although I do not possess every key, I still remember a good number of the locks and can refer to the Specialist Locksmith College where a full collection is stored and maintained. There is tension between the Specialist College and Members of the General Solutionist Association. We pass through their esteemed institution, collecting keys and knowledge, but we are not one of them. We view locksmith specialists as technicians of excellence, but not so skilled in life outside their institution walls. A famous general solutionist … ER -