THE EFFECTIVE PROBLEMSOLVER #097
For years, I held onto a big dream: I wanted Minnesota to have the lowest unemployment rate in the country.
I wrestled with that goal in policy debates, tracked the metrics, lobbied for funding, and designed programs to move the needle.
I still think it matters.
And we’ve done well—Minnesota’s currently tied for 8th place.
But I see it differently now.
I don’t daydream about “solving” unemployment anymore.
I think about how we might develop better processes to deal with it—whether the rate rises or falls.
How to make incremental gains by studying the problem more deeply, discovering where we can improve, and building buy-in for those changes.
It’s less about chasing a milestone. And more about committing to steady progress, month by month, year by year.
That shift—from fixating on a final solution to showing up for ongoing resolution—has changed how I approach all kinds of complex problems.
Because here’s the truth most of us learn the hard way:
You don’t “win” at systems change.
But you can stay focused on what effectiveness looks like.
And that’s worth a lot.
In this week’s newsletter, I want to unpack why chasing final solutions so often leads us astray—and give you three practical shifts to help you level up your long-term impact.
The Vision Trap
Let’s be honest: most of us didn’t get into this work just to tweak things at the edges.
We wanted to fix something.
Big. Bold. Transformative.
Whether it was “ending homelessness,” “reforming education,” or “dismantling poverty,” we were aiming at capital-V Vision.
And hey—ambition isn’t the problem.
But chasing a once-and-for-all “solution” can be.
I’ve seen veteran leaders spend ten years trying to realize a visionary goal… only to watch the problem persist.
I’ve also seen total newcomers—people with zero credentials—make real, lasting change.
Not by solving the whole thing.
But by getting a little better at helping every week.
That’s the shift.
From seeking a final solution…to choosing resolution.
To showing up.
To doing the work, with care, again tomorrow.
And over time? That adds up to a lot more impact than waiting around for perfection.
Why the “Puzzle” Mentality Fails
We treat complex problems like jigsaw puzzles.
We act like there’s a picture on the box—just follow the plan, scale the model, and voila!
Poverty, homelessness, inequality: solved.
But if that were true, we’d be done by now.
Plans to end homelessness have existed for decades. Spending is at an all-time high. Strategies are more sophisticated than ever.
And yet… across the country, homelessness is growing.
So much for a final solution.
Why?
Because problems like these don’t sit still.
They move. They evolve. They push back.
Homelessness is shaped by flows—people entering and exiting the system every day. It’s tied to wages, rents, mental health, criminal justice, addiction, zoning, and more.
You don’t “solve” that with a single policy or program.
You manage it. You adapt. You stay with it.
And then you do it again tomorrow.
This Isn’t Hopeless—It’s Honest
Accepting that some problems can’t be permanently solved isn’t giving up.
It’s being strategic.
Because once we stop fantasizing about silver bullets, we can finally focus on what actually works:
- Ongoing improvement
- Cumulative gains
- Adaptive strategies
- Practical influence
We stop trying to be heroes riding in to save the day.
And we become something far more powerful:
Caretakers. Gardeners. Engineers.
People who work with reality, not against it.
So What Do We Do Instead?
Here are three shifts that can level up your long-term impact:
1. Stop hunting for the magic fix.
Forget the hype. Study the structure of the problem. Look for leverage points. What moves the needle—even a little? That’s where to start.
2. Build processes, not one-offs.
Systems problems need systems attention. Put feedback loops in place. Adapt. Track. Improve. Smart iteration beats flashy plans every time.
3. Redefine success.
You’re not failing because the problem still exists. You’re succeeding if you’re engaging it with clarity, compassion, and persistence.
Today’s job: improve what you can. Stay in the work.
Growing Your Skills
Some days, you’ll feel like you’re crawling (I often do).
Some days, you’ll take a leap.
But every day you choose the resolution mindset, you’re growing your skills, your insight, and your long-term impact.
And that’s how real change happens.
See you in two weeks.
