It's hard to say exactly without more context. 'A Problem' might center around a personal struggle, a social issue, or even a mystery that unfolds.
I'm not sure specifically which 'Man with a Problem' short story you're referring to. There could be many short stories with such a title or a similar concept. It might be about a man facing a difficult situation like a moral dilemma, a financial crisis, or a relationship issue.
The short story might revolve around a group of chess enthusiasts who are challenged with a seemingly unsolvable chess problem. They each bring their own unique approach and knowledge to the table, leading to a series of interesting discussions and attempts at solving it, which in turn reveals a lot about their characters and relationships.
One could be about a person struggling to find a job in a tough economy. They face rejections and self-doubt but eventually overcome it through perseverance and new skills.
One problem with short stories could be their limited space for character development. In a short story, there's not much room to fully explore a character's background, motives, and growth. For example, in a novel, a character might have an entire chapter dedicated to their childhood, which can greatly influence their actions in the present. But in a short story, this has to be condensed or even omitted, making the character seem less complex and perhaps less relatable.
Finding a unique idea can be a problem when writing a short story. With so many stories already out there, it's hard to come up with something that hasn't been done before. You might start with a concept, only to realize it's too similar to an existing story.
Perhaps the man has a relationship problem. Like, he's in love with someone who doesn't feel the same way or is having trouble communicating with his partner.
It could be like a quick rundown of a story where a character faces a tough issue and tries to solve it.
The cat was hungry. Solution? I gave it some cat food and it was happy.
The problem was I lost my key. Solution? I retraced my steps and found it under the doormat. Lucky me!
The 'Man with a Problem' short story might revolve around a man facing a particular difficulty. It could be a personal issue like a relationship problem, or perhaps a more external one such as financial trouble or a conflict at work. Without reading the actual story, it's hard to be more specific, but these are common themes in such stories.