Problems Are the Job
No one would need you if there weren’t problems demanding your attention.
Problem solving is the gig—whether you're writing code, building teams, or architecting the future. So stop playing blinders while the real work passes you by:
Are you so hyper‑focused you’re missing the forest for the trees?
Are you rejecting ideas before they even land?
Have you decided nobody else could possibly be right?
Pause. Then Pivot.
When you’re stuck, staring harder isn’t the answer. Pull back. See the full field.
Problems aren’t interruptions—they are the work. Every solved issue is a win and a chance to sharpen your craft. And if you don’t reflect on past fixes, you're doomed to repeat them.
Been There, Undone That
I once supported a team trapped in a grind of “do and undo.” They were ready to quit. My advice: “We’ve been here before. We know what to do.”
Look, solving the same problem gets old. That’s your cue to level up. But leveling up doesn’t mean escaping problems—they just get harder. Your job becomes guiding others, thinking strategically, and setting direction—not executing it all yourself.
Pressure & Perspective
Life is just problem after problem. There’s no rest—and that’s fine. The win is being ready when the next one hits.
Experience changes how you respond. You stop reacting, start pacing, manage disruption. That calm under fire? Most people don’t even know what they’re missing—until they see it in others. As Jocko Willink puts it:
“With each of those problems, I am the solution. With each problem I solve, the level of trust the boss has in me goes up.” themindcollection.comgoodreads.comtime.com+5bookroo.com+5yesware.com+5
Every problem you solve makes you the person they trust next time.
Problems aren’t interruptions—they are the path. Your value isn’t avoiding them—it’s how you navigate them—with perspective, patience, and purpose.