Why Can't You Fix It Before You Understand It?
Do I understand all the factors at play here? Or am I just addressing a symptom instead of the root cause?
We live in a world that celebrates quick fixes and immediate solutions. Got a leak in your bathroom? YouTube has a thousand videos promising to show you how to fix it in five minutes. Struggling with procrastination and a lack of motivation? There's a podcast for that, which promises foolproof tips to boost your productivity starting today.
But here's the hard truth: You can't fix a problem until you truly understand it. Rushing into solutions without taking the time for deeper analysis is like putting a band-aid on a gunshot wound. It might make you feel better in the moment, but it doesn't solve the underlying issue.
I could give you many examples, but if you pause for 3 minutes, you can think of some quick fixes in your life.
As Tom Bateman puts it: "There is no decision that we can make that doesn't have an upside and a downside. There are only bad decisions and decisions that were at least thought through."
We all have a humbling lesson in asking "Why?" before acting. My failures have taught me the patience to investigate, research, and analyse before rushing into half-baked solutions.
Every problem we encounter—whether at work, at home, or in our personal lives—is like an iceberg. The part you can see above the surface barely scratches the complexity below. To find a true and lasting fix, you must understand all the interconnected factors.
For example:
If you're struggling with procrastination, simply downloading an app to block distracting websites won't help. You need to look at why you procrastinate in the first place—is it fear? Lack of interest? Poor time management? Only by digging into the root causes can you hope to address them productively.
If your kid keeps getting in trouble at school for disrupting class, putting them in detention won't solve anything. You need to understand what's driving that bad behaviour—are they being bullied? Struggling with an undiagnosed learning disability? Acting out for attention? Once you grasp those underlying issues, you can start crafting an effective solution.
Or let's look at it another way:
When a computer keeps freezing or crashing, a good IT technician doesn't just reinstall the operating system and cross their fingers. They run diagnostic tests, check error logs, and examine all the different factors that could be causing the issue. Only by understanding the many potential causes can they properly isolate and fix the problem.
Albert Einstein wisely quipped, "If I had an hour to solve a problem, I'd spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and 5 minutes thinking about solutions."
Of course, developing this level of understanding takes effort. It means conducting research, analysing data, and examining things from multiple perspectives.
It requires killing our inner urge for instant gratification and embracing patience, curiosity, and humility in the face of complexity.
But trust me, it's worth it. Once you grasp the deeper roots of an issue, addressing it becomes far more straightforward. The solution naturally reveals itself when you peel away the layers of "Why?"
This mindset of seeking understanding over chasing solutions has brought more focus, clarity, and effectiveness into every area of my life.
From improving my health and productivity habits to navigating complex challenges at work, I've learned repeatedly that you can't fix something until you understand why it's happening.
"What appears to be the problem is rarely the real problem. If someone's caught speeding every day on the way to work, the real problem isn't speeding – it's not allowing enough time to get to work." - Shane Parrish.
So the next time you hit a roadblock or encounter an issue, pause before you reach for the first "quick fix" in sight. Ask yourself, "Do I understand all the factors at play here? Or am I just addressing a symptom instead of the root cause?"
In most cases, the hardest part isn't the solution—it's taking the time and effort to understand the problem thoroughly in the first place.