By Manuel “Bobby” Orig, Director, Apo Agua

EVERYTHING IS FIGUREOUTABLE
One Simple Belief To Create Unstoppable Success
By Marie Forleo

The Main Idea

In business and in life, when you get right down to it everything is “figureoutable.” If you want to go after or achieve something great, there’s always a way to get there and you can figure out the path.

This one simple belief—that anything and everything can ultimately be figured out—can be a game-changer for your life and your career. It suggests that circumstances and results are never fixed but can be molded and modified at will. The mindset signals change is possible and even inevitable if you change the way you think and act. That’s a very powerful belief to have.

Everything is figureoutable is more than just a fun phrase to say. It’s a practical, actionable discipline. A mantra that helps you operate at your best and achieve what you want. It’s a mindset to help you solve meaningful problems, learn new skills, and find ways to help and contribute to others.

Praise for Marie:

Thanks to Marie Forleo, “Everything is Figureoutable” has been one of my mantras - and her book delivers on its promise. Marie’s guidance is brilliant and illuminating, and she delivers it in the most heartfelt, down-to-earth way. Everything is Figureoutable will energize you, move you, and inspire you to take fearless action!
–Gabrielle Bernstein, author of The Universe Has Your Back

Marie Forleo is a force of nature, out there helping others find their own confidence to grow themselves and their businesses. In Everything is Figureoutable, Marie shares some of the most powerful lessons she had learned.
–Simon Sinek, author of Start with Why and Leaders Eat Last

About the author:

Marie Forleo has been CEO of her own education and media company, Marie Forleo International, since 1999. She has been described by Oprah Winfrey as a “thought leader for the next generation.” She has her own TV show, Marie TV, which now has more than 47 million views in 195 countries. She is also the host of The Marie Forleo Podcast which has generated more than nine million downloads to date.

Marie Forleo trains entrepreneurs, artists, and go-getters to go after their dreams. She also runs her own training program, B-School, and presents an acclaimed copywriting course. Marie Forleo is a graduate of Seton Hall University.

INTRODUCTION

The obvious is that which is never seen until someone expresses it simply. - Khalil Gibran

The author’s mother has the tenacity of a bulldog. Her mother grew up the daughter of two alcoholic parents in New Jersey. She learned by necessity, how to stretch a dollar bill and is one of the most resourceful and industrious people you could ever meet. She once told the author that she rarely felt valued, loved, or beautiful, but she held tight to the promise she made to herself that, once she was old enough, she’d find a way to a better life.

As a kid, the author remembers going through the Sunday paper with her mom cutting coupons. She taught the author all the different ways to save money. She also taught her to pay close attention to the free stuff that brands would send you—like recipe books or cooking utensils—if you saved up and mailed in a “proof of purchase.” One of her mom’s prized possessions was a little transistor radio she got from Tropicana orange juice, for free. She loved that little radio.

Her mom is one of those people who is constantly busy. As a little girl, the author knew she could find her somewhere around the house or yard listening for the tinny sound coming out of that Tropicana orange radio. One day she was walking home from school and heard the radio playing off the distance. As she got closer, she realized the music was coming from above. She looked up and saw her mom perched on the roof of their two-story house. “Mooom! Is everything okay? What are you doing all the way up there?”

She yelled down, “I’m fine, Ree. The roof had a leak. When I called the roofer, he said it would be at least five hundred bucks. That’s friggin nuts! I remembered seeing some extra asphalt in the garage and figured it would just take a few minutes to fix it up.”

The author’s mom is highschool-educated and this was the 1980s. It was pre-Internet, pre-YouTube, pre-Google world. The author never knew where to find her mom or what she’d be doing, but all the author had to do was follow the crackle of the radio.

“Tropicana produced this promotional radio in the late 1980s with a straw that served as the radio antenna.“ (Source: Mets Virtua Vault)

One day, the author came home late from school. Everything was dark. Something was wrong. There was an unusual silence. She quietly walked through the house afraid of what she might find. Where was the sound of the Tropicana orange? Where was my mom? Then she heard clicks and clacks. She followed that sound and saw her mom huddled over the kitchen table. She saw electrical tape and screwdrivers, and spread out in front of her were countless pieces of a dismantled Tropicana orange radio. “Mom, are you okay? What happened to your radio? Is it broken?”

“It’s fine, Ree. No big deal. The antenna got busted and the tuner dial was a little off, so I’m fixing it.”

The author stood there for a second, watching her work her magic. Finally, the author asked, “Hey Mom, how do you know how to fix so many different things that you’ve never done before, without anyone showing you how to do it?”

She put down her screwdriver, turned to the author, and said, “Don’t be silly, Ree. Nothing in life is that complicated. You can do whatever you set your mind to if you just roll up your sleeves, get in there, and do it. Everything is figureoutable.”

The author was transfixed, reveling in and repeating those words in her head:Everything is figureoutable. Everything is figureoutable. Holy shit, yes…

Everything is Figureoutable!

This phrase and philosophy took root in the author’s soul. Since then, it’s become the most powerful driving force in her life.

It helped her end a physically abusive relationship. In college, it helped her win highly competitive and rare work-study positions to pay for room and board and get into the exact classes she wanted—despite prerequisite policies and waitlists.

It helped her land every job she ever had, from bartending at the most coveted restaurants in Manhattan—to trading on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, among others.

It’s what gave her the audacity to start a business at 23 and build it into a multimillion dollar, socially conscious education and media company from the ground up—with no clue, experience, investors, graduate degree, or connections. It’s what fueled her to start filming videos using her first-generation webcam, which would later evolve into an award-winning online show seen by tens of millions of fans in 195 countries. She does not say this to brag. She say this because deep in her bones she is that certain everything is figureoutable.

Maybe you’re wondering whether this idea can help you confront a harrowing reality. Like when you’re in the midst of despair or a sense of endless futility.

Yes. Everything is Figureoutable helps us face hard truths consciously. This book tells of the triumphant tales of everyday people confronting difficulties.

No matter what you are facing,
you have what it takes to figure out
anything and become the person you want to be.

Quite simply, none of us were given an owner’s manual at birth. Our educational system doesn’t train us to harness the power of our thoughts, beliefs, emotions, and the wisdom of our bodies. It doesn’t teach us how to develop winning mindsets, perspectives, and practical habits not only to meet and overcome life’s challenges but also to experience real joy and fulfillment. It fails to show us how much intrinsic power we all have. Sadly, we get very little (if any) practical training on how to use our gifts to make a difference.

It’s up to us to fix that, here and now. As the great Maya Angelou said, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”

Your Road Map to Results

Just because this idea is simple doesn’t mean the road ahead is easy. You’ll need humility and courage. Self-compassion. A willingness to experiment. A sense of humor. And patience. Lots and lots of patience. As writer Carlos Castaneda shared, “We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.”

The following road map ensures that you get the most bang for your buck. Once mastered, this figureoutable philosophy will become a treasure you own in your heart, one that you can never lose.

1/ TRAIN YOUR BRAIN FOR GROWTH

Your brain is an extraordinary biocomputer, and it’s constantly running programs that work either for you or against you. That’s why the author wants you to be aware of two destructive thought – viruses, - that can pop up when you’re learning something new.

The first destructive thought to watch out for is “I know this already.” Whenever we feel like we already know something, our minds disengage and shut down. The next time you hear yourself thinking or saying, “I know this already,” immediately catch that thought and switch to a growth-minded question. Ask yourself, “What can I learn from this?” Ask it again and again with genuine curiosity.

You can always learn one of two things. First, you can learn a new angle to a concept you’re familiar with. Or more likely, you’ll realize you’re not fully executing on the thing you “already know.” You’re not living it. Knowing something intellectually is very different from doing something consistently, mastering it, and benefiting from it. Be humble. If you come across an idea or suggestion you’ve heard before, don’t skim past it and say, “I know this already.” Be wiser than that. Ask the question “What can I learn from this? And train your brain to find new opportunities for growth.

The second destructive thought virus is “This won’t work for me.” Instead of saying, “This won’t work for me,” which instantly shuts down the possibility of anything working, stop, catch it, and change it to a more productive question. Ask yourself, “How can this work for me?” Asking this question again and again forces you to look beyond the obvious, stretch outside your cognitive comfort zone, and poke holes in your own status quo. You’ll train your brain to find new connections, innovations, opportunities, and possibilities that otherwise would have been missed.

2/ TRY IT BEFORE YOU DENY IT

If you’re a person who thrives in playing devil’s advocate, you might already be thinking, No, Marie. Everything is NOT figureoutable. What about X ,Y, or Z.

Sure, there’s no scientific evidence to confirm the author’s hypothesis that everything is actually figureoutable, but you’ll never grow beyond your current circumstances if you’re closed off to everything except what you currently know. Even if this entire book is bullshit, can you think of a more empowering and pragmatic philosophy to embrace? Can you imagine a more useful and supportive belief than everything is figureoutable?

With that in mind, here are three rules of play. This mental container helps you stay focused on what matters – your growth, your fulfillment, and your ability to access your inborn wisdom to solve problems and contribute to others.

Rule 1. All problems (or dreams) are figureoutable.

Rule 2. If a problem is not figureoutable, it’s not really a problem – it’s a fact of life or law of nature (e.g. death or gravity).

Rule 3. You may not care enough to figure this problem out or achieve this particular dream. That’s okay. Find another problem or dream that ignites a blazing fire in your heart and go back to Rule 1.

As physicist David Deutsch says, “Everything that is not forbidden by laws of nature is achievable, given the right knowledge. You don’t have to take the author’s word for it. Apply it. Experience it. See for yourself. If you’re hell-bent on looking for reasons this won’t work, congratulations. It won’t. But neither will anything else.

3/ DON’T OFFEND YOURSELF

In the nearly two decades of the author’s career, she had the honor of helping people create meaningful change in their lives – people who come from a dazzling array of socioeconomic, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. People who are homeless. People with disabilities. People who are depressed and suicidal. People recovering from horrific abuse and lifelong addiction, and people who are battling a terminal disease.

While the author don’t know the details of your history or hardships, she know this: Your innate power is immense. Your potential is limitless. You are unique, valuable, capable, and worthy of the dreams in your heart. Most of you have what it takes to transform and transcend whatever challenges you face.

4/ DO THE WORK

Most books are designed to help you acquire new information. Some are made with the hope that you’ll feel inspired. The author’s intention goes beyond that. She is committed to helping you get results. For that to happen, you must do the work. Taking action is the only path to change.

Do the work suggested. Give your very best. If something doesn’t make sense right now, earmark it and come back later. The point is to stay in action and keep moving forward. All it takes is one new perspective or tool, and your life will never be the same again.

Like life, the figureoutable philosophy is a spiral path. Expect to hit some of the same issues again and again, each time at a different level. The author’s goal is to help you master the fundamental mindsets and habits you need to figure anything out, for the rest of your life.

5/ CONNECT WITH YOUR COMMUNITY

The figureoutable philosophy becomes geometrically more powerful (and fun!) when applied in collaboration with others. You’ll reach your collective goals faster and with a greater sense of joy, creativity, and camaraderie than ever before. That’s why one of the greatest joys in the author’s life is connecting with growth-minded, creative souls like you.

Everything is figureoutable is more than just a fun phrase to say. It’s a practical, actionable discipline. A mantra that helps you operate at your best and achieve what you want. It’s a mindset to help you solve meaningful problems, learn new skills, and find ways to help and contribute to others. Once adopted, this attitude will make you virtually unstoppable.

Not unstoppable in the sense that everything will always go your way, because it won’t. And not unstoppable in that you’ll never get disappointed, face rejection, suffer defeat, or find yourself in extraordinarily challenging situations, because you definitely will. But unstoppable in the most profound sense. Meaning that nothing – no thing, no person, no fear, no limitation, no circumstance – will ever again have the power to hold you back.

THE MAGIC OF BELIEF

The author felt like a total failure. Less than a year earlier, she graduated as the valedictorian of Seton Hall University.

Being the first in her family to get a college degree, she felt the weight of the pressure to make good on her education. As a trading assistant on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, she had pride, a steady paycheck, and health insurance. She felt grateful to have a job, but inside her she felt like she was dying.

But no matter how hard she tried, something wasn’t right. This little voice inside her kept whispering, This isn’t where you’re supposed to be. This isn’t what you’re supposed to do.

She tried to look more objectively at the situation, which is when she realized something interesting. She had no desire to one day become her own boss, or her boss’s boss, she thought to herself, If I don’t want to climb this corporate ladder, what the heck am I doing wasting their time and mine?

Then one day at work, the author stumbled across an article about a brand new profession, “coaching.” This was in the late 1990s – it was all so new back then. Coaching was burgeoning industry focused on helping people set and achieve goals, both personal and professional. One of the things that resonated with her was how coaching was distinct from psychotherapy. Therapy is about healing the past. Coaching was about creating your future.

When the author read the article about coaching, something inside her lit up. A deep, gentle presence inside her said, This is who you are . This is who you’re meant to be. Of course, her rational mind was quick to doubt.

Marie, you’re twenty-three years old. Who in their right mind is ever going to hire a twenty-three-year-old life coach? You have nothing to offer anyone. Who do you think you are?

Despite the barrage of self-ridicule, the author couldn’t deny how right this felt in her bones. Within a few days, she had enrolled in a three-year coach training program. She worked at Mademoiselle during the day and studied at night and on weekends.

About six months into her training, the author got a call from the HR department at Condé Nast, publisher of Madamoiselle. They were offering her a promotion. This was a fork in her road. She asked herself, Do I stick with the steady paycheck at the top fashion magazine in the world, or do I quit and start my own coaching business? Cue the vicious fear ensemble emptying in her head …

Life coaching is the stupidest thing. Ever.

You have no clue how to start or run a business.

Who do you think you are?

And yet, a calmer, preverbal presence practically pushed the author out the corporate door. She quit her job at Mademoiselle.

She spent the next seven years slowly building her business, all the while supporting herself bartending, waiting tables, cleaning toilets, personal assisting, - you name it. Nearly two decades later, the author said the only thing that allowed her to take that leap was because a deeper, wiser part of her believed that somehow she’d be able to figure it out.

Nothing exists in our world
that does not first exist in our mind.

That’s the universal gift we’ve been given to help us shape our lives and, collectively, the world around us. We’re born creators with an innate power to bring our ideas and visions into reality. Though admittedly simplified, the process of creation goes like this:

Thought → Feeling → Behavior → Result

Beneath our thoughts lies an even deeper force that directs and controls our lives. It’s a critical component of the creative process, both individually and collectively. It dictates every aspect of our behavior: how much we sleep, what we choose to eat, what we say to ourselves and others, if and how much we exercise, and what we do with our time and energy. It impacts our health and fuels our feelings. It determines the quality of our relationships and, ultimately, whether we lead a life of joy, accomplishment, and contribution or one of misery, pain, and regret.

It’s a force that underpins every action we take and how we interpret and respond to the world around us. This deeper commanding force is our beliefs. Beliefs are hidden scripts that run our lives.

Like a track running underneath a train, our beliefs determine where we go and how we get there. Let’s use this shared definition: A belief is something you know with total and absolute certainty. It’s a thought that you’ve decided – consciously or unconsciously – is The Truth. Our beliefs are the root of our reality and our results.

Therefore our creation formula looks more like this:

Belief → Thought → Feeling → Behavior → Result

In order to solve any problem or achieve any dream, we must first make a change at the level of belief. Because when you change a belief, you change everything.

FROM BORDELINE RETARDED: TO COLLEGE GRADUATE

In the world of education, Marva Collins is a legend. Some consider her one of the greatest teachers of our time. Disillusioned after teaching in the public school system for sixteen years, Marva took $5,000 from her pension and opened the Westside Preparatory School in Chicago, Illinois, in 1975. Her goal was to open a school that would welcome students who’d been rejected by other schools, those labeled disruptive and essentially “unteachable.” Her mission was to prove that all children can learn given the proper attention, support, and instruction.

Marva’s abilities were so impressive that she was asked by President Ronal Regan to become secretary of education, but she declined so she could keep transforming one student at a time.

One student, named Erica, came to Marva, when she was six years old and considered a hopeless case. Erica shared, “I was told that I was borderline retarded; that I would never read.” Talk about destructive and devastating belief!

Yet Marva was undeterred. Erica began her studies at Westside Pre, and Marva imbued her with an unquestionable belief that she could, in fact, learn to read and write. This wasn’t a hope or a wish from Marva; it was an irrefutable fact. Marva also instilled in Erica her trademark devotion to discipline, dignity, and relentless hard work.

When the CBS show 60 Minutes profiled Marva and her students some sixteen years later, turns out that Erica did learn to read and write. So well, in fact, that she had graduated from Norfolk State University.

Take that in for a moment. Can you imagine how vastly different Erica’s entire life would have been if she continued to believe the so-called experts who said she’d never read or write – that she was simply incapable of learning? Can you imagine the devastating ripple effect that belief would have had on Erica’s family, emotionally and economically?

Now imagine the thousands of other students whose lives were forever transformed by adopting Marva’s unshakable belief. Think about the generations of families indelibly influenced by the power of one woman’s conviction in a child’s innate potential.

We begin to see how tragic and cataclysmic limiting beliefs can be. Not only to our sense of self and ability to grow but also to the trajectory of our entire lives and our ability to contribute meaningfully to society. That’s because …

When you change a belief, you change everything.

Our beliefs either propel us to or prevent us from living to our fullest potential. Our beliefs determine whether we fail or succeed, and how we define success in the first place. Just imagine the decades of relentless belief, action, and determination required to give women in the US the right to vote.

Or the unshakable belief that President John F. Kennedy and the team at NASA had in our ability to send humans into space and walk on the moon—something that seemed preposterous.

Belief is where it all begins. It’s the genesis of every remarkable discovery and leap forward humans have ever made from science to sports to business to technology and the arts.

The power that beliefs have over our lives simply cannot be overstated.

All beliefs are a choice and choices can be changed.

Since all beliefs are learned – either consciously or unconsciously - the ones that create pain, misery, and suffering can be unlearned.

Released. Let go.

Any limiting belief can be erased and replaced. Best of all, changing your beliefs doesn’t have to be hard, it just takes awareness, desire, and practice.

You already have what it takes to transform yourself from passive onlooker to a powerful creator of your destiny. So if you’re unhappy with any of the beliefs you’ve chosen (or unconsciously accepted from others) choose again.

And again. And again.

Everything is Figureoutable

Good. Now say it around again. At least five more times. Each time, say it with increased energy, passion, and yes -with gusto:

Everything is Figureoutable

Everything is Figureoutable

Everything is Figureoutable!!

You’re damn right it is.

Make yourself a promise. Say this phrase – both aloud and in your own head – as often as you can. Five, ten, fifty times a day. Make it a ritual. Why? Because …

The most powerful words in the universe
are the words you say to yourself.

Soon, you’ll begin to live an expanded sense of creativity, confidence, and authority. Before you know it, everything is figureoutable will not only become your most treasured belief, but the cornerstone of your reality.

PROGRESS NOT PERFECTION

THE PERILS OF PERFECTIONISM

220 Progress Not Perfection Images, Stock Photos & Vectors | Shutterstock

All too often we stop ourselves from doing anything new because we want so badly to get it right. We want to present an image to the world that we have it together. We have little to no tolerance for allowing ourselves the space and grace to be a beginner. Perfectionism isn’t a set behavior, it’s a destructive way of thinking about yourself. When you make a mistake, you don’t just feel disappointment in how you did but who you are.

Here’s how destructive perfectionism can be. Between 2003 and 2016, researchers interviewed the friends and family of people who had recently killed themselves, and discovered something shocking. More than half of the deceased were described as “perfectionists” by their loved ones. Another study revealed that perfectionists tend to die earlier while, by contrast, conscientious optimists tend to live longer. In over twenty years of research, Dr. Paul Hewitt and his colleague Dr. Gordon Flett found that perfectionism correlates with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and other mental health problems.

Perfectionism is deadly. It’s harmful to your health, happiness, and productivity. It’s a sad and ironic twist, it’s often the primary blocking device that prevents you from becoming, and feeling your best. Nothing about it is helpful.

Now for some good news: dismantling perfectionism is 100 percent possible. Even better, you don’t have to lower your standards to do it. In fact, without the toxic overlay of perfectionism, you’re likely to produce high quality work. You’ll enjoy the process and give yourself room to experiment. And your one-of-a-kind potential that’s been trapped inside. It’ll explode to the main stage of your life.

Progress not perfection.

From this moment forward, that’s all you strive for. Progress not perfection. That’s the measuring stick to use to determine whether you’re on track. That’s all you care about. Did you make progress? Did you apply effort to learn and grow as it relates to what you want? It doesn’t matter how small; progress is all you’re after.

This is one of the core principles that the author drill into the hearts and minds of over fifty-four thousand B-school students. It’s so transformative that at least one student had this mantra tattooed on her forearm. In tens of thousands of survey replies, “progress not perfection” is repeatedly cited as participants’ most pivotal, game-changing breakthrough. It transforms your life by directing you to focus on the only thing that matter – learning and growth. Plus, it prevents premature quitting and the mental agony that accompanies wondering if you should.

Please understand, progress is never a straight line. Progress zigs and zags. It expands, then retreats. You will move forward and then back. Up and down. Then sideways and back again. To fight the erratic rhythm of progress is futile. Expect setbacks, stumbles, and big flops along the way. They’re inevitable, and they’re also positive indicators you’re making progress.

MIND THE GAP

We need to mind the gap on our figureoutable journey, particularly as it relates to choosing progress over perfection. There’s a significant gap between what we feel, see, and know in our hearts about the change we want to make, and our capacity to pull it off. In other words …

Mind the gap between your ambition and your ability.

Figuring things out, creating real change, building skills, abilities, and understanding takes time and effort. across all disciplines, concerning virtually all acts of creation – no matter who you are, what you want to do, achieve, experience, or solve …

Progress not perfection is the only way to bridge

the gap between your ability and your ambition.

PROGRESS PUTS YOU IN A PRODUCTIVE MINDSET

Carol Dweck, PhD, proves how the right mindset changes our behaviors and, most important, our results. In her book, Mindset, Dweck, a Stanford University psychologist, discovered what she calls a “fixed mindset” versus a “growth mindset.”

When you’re in a fixed mindset, you believe that talent – without the application effort – creates success. You’re either born with it or you’re not, and there’s nothing you can do to change it. When in a fixed mindset, you’ll avoid challenges, resist criticism, and perform for approval. This set of beliefs, and the behaviors that flow from it, are destructive.

In a growth mindset, you believe that your most basic abilities – like talent and intelligence – can be improved through effort, perseverance, and experience. In this mindset, whatever intelligence and abilities you’re born with are just the start. People in a growth mindset crave challenges, welcome constructive criticism, view setbacks as learning opportunities, and develop a passion for hard work and a hunger for growth. They know that getting better is a process. One that requires the right attitude and dedication over time.

Here’s the best part. At any given moment, you can choose your mindset. And the results of that choice can be life-changing. Dr. Dweck tells the story of a struggling student name Jimmy, whom she described as one of the most “hard-core turned-off low-effort kids.” After being taught the fixed and growth mindset she writes that Jimmy “looked up with tears in his eyes and said, “You mean I don’t have to be dumb?” From that moment on, Jimmy transformed. He stayed up late to do his homework and handed his assignments early, eager for feedback to improve. As Deck wrote, “He now believed that working hard was not something that made you vulnerable, but something that made you smarter.

At this moment, you can choose to put yourself in either a growth mindset or a fixed mindset. Just like you can choose progress instead of perfection. These are distinct choices with dramatically different outcomes. One leads to a life of pain and stagnation. The other to endless growth and fulfillment. Which will you choose?

THE REAL SECRET TO LASTING SUCCESS

A few years ago, the author hired a film crew to record their big three-day conference in New York. They’ve been planning this for nearly a year. Speakers came from across the country, and hundreds of students flew from all over the world. Immediately after the conference, their film crew went directly to the airport. They were heading to Europe to interview half dozen business-school graduates for a series of case studies. The logistics and money required to record a three-day conference, followed by a week of international filming, would make your head spin.

After the trip, the author got a call from her team. Their film crew’s equipment was stolen. Every camera, every lens, every tripod, and every second of footage – the entire conference and a dozen interviews across multiple European cities.

Not only was losing that footage creatively devastating, but they had a crucial promotion campaign planned around those interviews – a promotion their company needed to survive. The campaign was weeks away. Because of how many outside partners they had on board to support it, there was no way to push back their launch date.

But here’s what’s wild. That sick feeling in the author’s stomach lasted only for a few moments. Why? because her entire team lives and breathes the figureoutable philosophy. It’s embedded in their company’s culture.

During that same phone call, their head of storytelling presented a reshoot plan, complete with revamped travel schedule and interviewee approval.

She took a deep breath and said, “All right we can do this. It’s totally figuroutable!” Within a few days, the crew got new equipment, packed up, and flew back to Europe. Yes, it was intense. Yes, they worked around the clock. But they pulled together, leaned on each other, and got the job done on time. And guess what? The new interview footage was even better than the first round!

Anyone who leads an organization or runs a household knows this: something goes wrong all the time. Meltdowns occur. Tech breaks. People get sick. These situations are perfect opportunities to strengthen your figureoutable muscles.

But if you want to supercharge your ability to overcome obstacles, reduce stress, and create outstanding results …

Go beyond yourself. Think in terms of we, not me.

You believing and behaving as though everything is figureoutable will radically change your life. But when the people around you – friends, family, and colleagues – also believe and behave as though everything is figureoutable, you’ll become capable of experiences and achievement beyond your wildest dreams.

First, it’s way more fun to solve problems and overcome challenges together. Second, a community you can count on instantly multiplies the mental, emotional, spiritual, and creative resource available. Third, you’re more likely to persevere in the face of setbacks when you have the support of others. Plus, the collaborative mix of ideas, strengths, and diverse perspectives often leads to far greater, richer results in a deeper sense of purpose.

YOU ARE HERE FOR A REASON

Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play.

You were born with an innate power to create change, both in your life and in the lives of others. This power doesn’t exist outside of yourself, and it’s not something you can buy or borrow. You already have it within you, right now.

That said, here’s what’s vital to understand. When you have an idea, a possibility, the tiniest nugget of a dream for yourself or others and you don’t do everything you can to bring it to life…

YOU ARE STEALING FROM THOSE WHO NEED YOU MOST.

That’s right … s t e a l i n g.

There are countless out there who need the gifts that you have and you alone are here to give. If you don’t do the things your heart keeps telling you to do, the world will have lost something truly irreplaceable …

YOU.

It will have lost your unique voice. Your unique energy. Your unique ideas and stories and perspective. By holding back and playing small, you’re robbing countless people of the goodness and joy and healing and growth that only your unique contributions can offer.

Maybe you’re stealing from the future customers or fans who are waiting for the exact kind of ___________ (book, song, story, movie, novel, speech, educational platform, etc.) you’ve been dreaming of.

Maybe you’re stealing from your own kids, loved ones, or colleagues because they’re not getting the real you – the most fully alive, emotionally available, playful, confident, strong, and loving you that you could be. Maybe you’re stealing from generations to come because you’re not willing to heal a wound or break a cycle that must be broken in order for others to have a better life.

When any of us deny or suppress our gifts, those gifts sour into a toxic poison. That poison eats us alive from the inside out. We become sick, lethargic, bitter, cynical, angry, addicted, short-tempered, and judgmental.

Consider all the things that have brought you value, joy, or growth throughout your lifetime. Every song that’s made your head bop. Every movie that made you laugh, cry, or expand your point of view. Every athlete or artist who inspired you to reach for more. Every invention that’s made your life easier.

Imagine if all those beautiful people never followed the call of their soul – never “figured out” their dreams and created and contributed and shared.

The world needs that special gift that only you have.

CONCLUSION

Whether it’s with friends, colleagues, or loved ones, remember this golden relationship rule: whatever you long for, give to others.

If you long for more support,
support others.

If you long for more appreciation,
appreciate others.

If you long for more love and acceptance,
love and accept others.

If you long for more recognition,
recognize others.

If you long for more celebration,
celebrate others.

If you long for more understanding,
understand others.

Whenever you feel a sense of lack or that you “need” something, that’s the exact moment to turn around and give it to someone else. Please know, you cannot do this as a manipulation. You can’t give with an expectation of getting something back, because it’s no longer a gift but a demand. Instead, realize that which you give freely, you receive instantly. Whatever you give to another, you experience yourself.

Ultimately, the measure of our lives is not determined by what we achieve for ourselves; it’s determined by what we share, give, and contribute to others. Do whatever you can to put yourself in an environment that focuses on contribution, not complaint. Giving, not getting. Service, not self-importance.

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