This afternoon, my son JC ran into a problem—his alternator started acting up. His car wouldn’t start, but we knew the battery was good because we could jump it off. That meant the next step was simple: work the problem logically. What could drain the battery like that? The alternator. The solution? Run a test on it. If it’s bad, replace it.
But JC hesitated.
“Shouldn’t we figure out exactly what’s wrong with the alternator?” he asked.
I could see his reasoning. He wanted to understand the root cause. Maybe there was a small issue within the alternator that could be fixed. Maybe it wasn’t completely dead—just struggling. But that’s when I laid out a simple principle that applies not just to mechanics but to life and business: the time vs. value equation.
Sure, we could dive deep, dismantle the alternator, test individual components, and maybe even find the root cause of the failure. But why? Would knowing exactly why it failed to make a difference if we knew the solution was replacing it?
The key question is this: Do we have the time to invest in the solution, and does that investment make sense?
If I invested all of my time in learning why something went wrong, I would need to be able to monetize that investment. If the possibility of monetizing it doesn’t exist, move on. I add this because some complex problems ARE worth finding the solution for. But this is the exception and not the rule.
The Power of a Level Head
JC took the lesson in stride. He’s level-headed and logical, and he understood the point right away. When I was his age, I don’t think I would have been as calm about the situation. I probably would have been stressed, overthinking every detail, wondering what I did wrong. But he saw it for what it was—just a problem to solve. Nothing more.
That perspective is something I try to apply in my own work. Sometimes, the real skill isn’t about digging into every problem to its core. It’s about knowing when to step back, recognize the pattern, and make a decision that moves you forward.
Overanalyzing vs. Progress
This lesson came up again at work this past week. One of our website developers had a tough time. He got stuck on some projects, which started wearing him down. His confidence took a hit, and he began doubting his abilities.
He got caught in the loop of overanalyzing—spending so much time second-guessing himself that he couldn’t move forward. It’s not that planning and analyzing are bad. They’re essential. But there’s a fine line between careful consideration and analysis paralysis.
So what was the solution?
He just needed to stop dwelling on the problem and shift gears. Instead of staying stuck, he needed to tackle one of the smaller, more manageable projects waiting on his list—something he could quickly finish and feel good about. That small win would help rebuild his confidence and reset his momentum.
When to Swap the Part and Keep Moving
This concept applies everywhere. When something breaks—whether it’s a car, a website, a business strategy, or even a personal habit—you have to weigh the cost of time versus the cost of fixing it.
Sometimes, a deep dive into the problem is worth it. Other times, the smarter move is to replace, pivot, or move on.
The challenge isn’t just solving problems—it’s knowing which problems are worth your time and which just need a quick fix.
So if you find yourself stuck, overanalyzing a situation, ask yourself: Do I need to dig deeper, or do I just need to swap the part and keep moving?
The answer might be more straightforward than you think.
