Don’t Just Solve The Problem – Delete It

Garth Beyer

We’re wired for solutions. It’s comforting. Elegant even. There’s a problem—aha!—we’ll fix it. Add a patch, run a script, bolt on a tool, call a meeting, layer the frosting.

But here’s a spicier approach: what if the real genius isn’t in solving the problem… but in removing it?

Think about it: You’ve got a dirty window. Most people grab the Windex and a rag. But what if you take out the window?

Now you’ve got airflow. Unobstructed views. And yes, probably some weather to contend with. But the original problem? It’s gone. You’re now dealing in a completely different reality.

Let’s pivot to software: Two buttons do the same thing. Classic solution? Sync them. Make sure the logic behind both stays perfectly aligned. That means coordination, QA checks, documentation, more meetings, maybe even some late-night Slack pings.

The alternative? Question the need and then delete one.

No sync logic. No extra code. No ambiguity for the user. Just simplicity.

The problem with always “solving” is that it often means adding. And every addition has a weight—mental, operational, technical. Over time, you don’t just have a product or a process. You have a Rube Goldberg machine of half-fixes and duct-tape ingenuity.

But removing? Removing is sacred. Removing is rare.

Removing is a declaration that maybe… just maybe… the thing doesn’t need fixing—it needs obliterating.

So next time you see a problem, don’t rush for a screwdriver or a strategy deck.

Ask the uncommon question: What happens if this didn’t exist at all?

Stay Positive & Some Of The Best Solutions Are Actually Subtractions

Garth Beyer
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