Looking for a simple solution, especially today, will turn into a quest of disappointment. The complexities of our world have reached a point where we can no longer look for one-stop answers.

Even something as innocuous as what to use to keep your life organized requires a multitude of tools (a simple planner won’t cut it for most of us). It’s almost impossible for a software developer to be a generalist because they will be overlooked by those who are specializing in particular aspects.

When somebody tells me “the solution is this…” (for instance, we can combat climate change by all going vegan because of the environmental cost of raising livestock), they’re only seeing a small part of the bigger picture.

I’m particularly wary when there’s an article about how to “fix” education and the “proper” way to teach. The research has been going around in circles for thirty years, just giving different terms to the same concepts.

Not all solutions work at all times for all situations.

It’s best in today’s climate to look towards the master craftsmen as an example who keep a toolbox (or garage) full of tools, each one carefully selected for a purpose. They can always find what they need as the situation sees fit and they are constantly learning from each other.

If there’s a better way, it’s added to their mental toolbox.

We can solve an incredible magnitude of problems if we keep ourselves open to the complexity of a solution. It’s going to require more than one tool and we should be ready with a full toolbox.