Some problems can be easily avoided if we observe certain people, events and situations carefully. You just have to realize that troubles rarely occur by themselves. Usually there are some warning signs of a potential misfortune.

1. Troubled and reckless people

Just being around people that are troubled in some way can cause all kinds of problems for you: legal, financial, health, personal and emotional.

Would you like to go to a bar with someone who likes to pick fights? Do you want to drive with a reckless driver behind a wheel? Does it make a sense to start business with dishonest person? Are you willing to trust someone known for irrational behavior?

You probably answered “No” to above questions. At least I hope so. Unfortunately many nice and decent people failed to realize consequences of dealing or associating with troubled individuals until it was too late.

2. Know what you get yourself into

From time to time we hear horror stories about those who made important commitments without thinking them through.

There are people who lose huge amounts of money in investments they don’t really understand. Some individuals sign contracts and obligations that they regret later. Thousands of consumers make expensive purchases without giving it much thought only to find out that they can’t afford those things.

My advice is very simple. You must have a very good understanding of issues involved before making an important decision.

3. Think a step or two ahead

Thinking a step or two ahead definitely helps you to avoid problems. You don't have to be a genius to do it. All you need is logic. Let’s look at the following examples to illustrate my point.

Suppose winter is about to start and you live in the area where snow storms occur occasionally. Do you buy your winter supplies such as a shovel, melting salt and snow brush ahead of time or do you have to drive to the store through snow and ice risking your life at the last moment? Sadly many people fall into the latter category.

Your coworkers seem to be concerned about something. It’s time to ask questions. Some important changes such as new ownership, management or layoffs may be on the way. You don’t want to be the last to find out.

4. Do nothing

We are proactive society, but sometimes it makes a sense to do nothing to steer clear of problems. Suppose your neighbors are friendly people who happen to throw a loud party once in a long while. If you complain or call police, it might cause a friction in your relations. Is it worth it?

Let’s say you have a friend who feels strongly about certain issues. He becomes very emotional and even quarrelsome when you disagree with him about his beliefs. Do you want to bring the issue into conversation? I am not so sure.

Predicting some problems is not as hard as you can see. There are no magic or sophisticated formulas involved. It takes a simple cause and effect thinking and a little curiosity to foresee and avoid potential troubles.