1 Problem – 3 Solutions #1
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The biggest lesson I’ve learned as a founder? There’s no single “right” way to solve a problem. Success doesn’t come from having all the answers—it comes from thinking creatively and figuring out what works.
Each week, I break down a challenge and explore three different ways to tackle it. Pick what fits, test what doesn’t, and keep moving forward.
The Problem…
I Have No Clue What’s Actually Holding Me Back
You’re putting in the work. You’re showing up, doing the things you’re supposed to do. But it’s not working. No sales. No engagement. No growth. Just… silence.
And the most annoying part is that you’re willing to change, to adapt, but how do you even fix something when you don’t know what’s broken?
I hate that feeling, and even more, I hate working on things when I don’t know if they will bring any value. If my idea sucked, fine. If I priced something too high, okay. But when you’re stuck in limbo, it’s brutal.
I still end up there way too often. And whenever I do, I try to step back and figure out what’s actually happening. So, here are three ways I might go about it—depending on the situation. Actually, I have done all three.
Solution #1
The Obvious Move—Just Ask People
This should be the easiest solution. It never is.
If you’re trying to sell something and nobody’s buying, if you’re posting content and getting no engagement, if you’re applying for jobs and not getting interviews—just ask why.
I know. Groundbreaking.
But seriously, most of us don’t do this because (a) we don’t want to look desperate, or (b) we’re afraid of what they’ll say. But the fastest way to figure out what’s not working is to just… ask the people who ignored you.
- Didn’t land a job? Reply and ask: “Hey, totally understand! Just curious—was there anything specific that made me not the right fit?”
- No one clicking your offer? Send a quick survey: “What’s stopping you from trying this out?”
- Getting crickets on social? DM a few followers and ask: “What kind of stuff do you actually want to see?”
Some people won’t reply, but even a handful of honest answers can point you in the right direction.
Solution #2
The Riskier Move—Burn It Down & Start Fresh
Sometimes the problem isn’t just one thing—it’s everything. You know the saying: “You can’t polish a turd“. (I know it’s gross. But, it just hits harder than the alternatives like “gilding the lily“)
We all end up, at some point in time, trying to fix something that isn’t working by retooling it. We’re usually trying to preserve the effort we’ve put into it up to that point. But in reality, sometimes the whole thing just isn’t working.
If that’s you, stop tweaking. Burn it down and start over.
Not literally. But, well, kind-of.
Strip your idea down to the simplest, clearest version of itself or try making something completely different instead of endlessly tweaking the same stuff.
It’s terrifying to let go of something you’ve already invested time in. But sometimes, starting fresh is easier than endlessly fixing something that wasn’t working in the first place.
Solution #3
The Creative Hack—Run a Fake Test
Okay, this is the one I do constantly. If I have no idea what’s wrong, I don’t guess—I set up a test to figure it out.
Here’s an example: A while back, I wasn’t sure if my thumbnails were bad or if my titles were the problem. So instead of spending months testing one video at a time, I made a fake YouTube channel, created 20 versions of the same video, and ran rapid-fire tests on them. Two days later, I had clear data.
Or let’s say you run a website and have no idea what people are looking for. Instead of writing a bunch of content blindly, just create a homepage with a few buttons (e.g., “Are you looking for A, B, or C?”). Track what people click. Boom, now you know where to focus.
The key is to do as little work as possible to get real answers fast.
Some people might not love being part of an experiment, so expect a little pushback. But for me, it’s worth it—the alternative is wasting even more time on something that’s not working.
When you’re stuck, you don’t need more effort—you need better answers. So go get them.
Got a Problem?
What’s blocking your progress right now? Reply and let me know—I might break it down in a future newsletter or tackle it in a video on my YouTube Channel.
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