“Figure It Out” — The Skill That Will Separate You From Most People
Son,
There’s a phrase I’ve used with you many times.
“Figure it out.”
When you were younger, you probably thought I was being stubborn.
Maybe even a little unfair.
You wanted a quick answer.
A clear solution.
A step-by-step explanation.
And sometimes I gave that to you.
But many times, I didn’t.
Because one of the most valuable skills a person can develop in life is the ability to figure things out on their own.
Life rarely hands you clear instructions.
Problems show up without warning.
Situations appear that you’ve never experienced before.
And there isn’t always someone standing nearby with the answer.
That’s where most people freeze.
They panic.
They complain.
They wait for someone smarter, older, or more experienced to step in.
But the people who move forward in life learn something different.
They start experimenting.
They ask questions.
They test solutions.
They try again when the first attempt doesn’t work.
They stay curious instead of becoming frustrated.
Over time, that mindset becomes a superpower.
Because every problem becomes something you can learn from instead of something that stops you.
The truth is, no one has everything figured out.
Even the people who look confident are learning as they go.
They’re solving problems one step at a time.
The difference is they don’t wait for perfect answers.
They take action.
They adjust.
They learn through experience.
And eventually, the things that once confused them become things they understand deeply.
That’s why I encouraged you to struggle sometimes.
Not because I wanted things to be hard for you.
Because learning how to solve problems is what prepares you for real life.
One day you’ll face situations where there’s no guidebook.
No clear instructions.
Just a problem sitting in front of you.
And when that moment comes, I want your first instinct to be simple.
Take a breath.
Look at the situation.
And remind yourself of something important.
You’ll figure it out.
— Dad
