Three ways to solve problems - Andreas Fragner

A problem is simply the gap between how we see things and how we want them to be. Fragner leans on Weinberg's definition to argue that leaders have three levers: push the world toward the desired state, shift their perception of the current state, or adjust the desired state itself. Moving the world is the classic approach - build features, fix bugs, add resources. It works when the gap is real and the cost of closing it is justified. The article notes that startups often face messy finances or HR, but those gaps are lower priority than shipping product. Changing perception means realizing the current state is close enough, or that the problem isn't worth tackling now. Redefining the goal lets you settle for a partial solution that hits 80% of the benefit at a fraction of the cost. The piece gives the example of opting for a "good enough" accounting setup while focusing on growth metrics. The real power lies in saying no. Leaders who can quantify opportunity cost and resist pressure from investors or their own perfectionism free up capacity for high-impact work. Founders and product managers alike are urged to focus on the ten percent of problems that truly move the needle.