They say you can’t solve a problem from the level of the problem.
That’s mostly true — but not always.
You can solve it from the same level.
You’ll just burn out doing it.
The Daily Grind of Low-Leverage Solving
Think about everyday life:
Relationships.
You can win the argument. Or you can end the pattern.
Arguing couples often “solve” their problem by scoring points — not by shifting perspectives.
It works, but it’s exhausting.
Parenting.
You can nag your teen into doing homework tonight.
But until the motivation comes from their side, you’ll be repeating the same dance every night at 9 p.m.
Work.
You can work late, again, to hit the deadline.
But if the system keeps overloading, no amount of caffeine or heroics will save you.
That’s not leverage. That’s entropy disguised as effort.
The Difference Between “Doing” and “Designing”
When you solve from the same level, you’re doing the work.
When you solve from the meta level, you’re designing the system.
The first gives relief.
The second gives freedom.
That’s the essence of High-Leverage Leadership — learning to shift from activity to architecture, from reaction to redesign.
The Quiet Truth
Yes, you can solve a problem from the same level.
That’s what most people do, most of the time.
But it’s not much fun.
And it doesn’t scale.
Because leverage doesn’t live inside the problem.
It lives one level above it.
👉 Join the 8-Week Shift Management Course
Learn how to think, lead, and design from the meta level — where clarity, energy, and results compound.
– Lex, your CEO coach
📌 P.S. Most breakthroughs don’t start with doing more. They start with seeing differently.
