#256 – From Generalities to Clarity: How We Actually Solve Problems

Building Better with Brandon Bartneck

In this solo episode, Brandon unpacks a powerful idea that keeps surfacing in his work and personal life: we can’t solve problems we don’t understand. And we can’t understand problems until we stop speaking in generalities and start getting specific.

The spark came from a bedtime story with his son—What Do You Do With a Problem? by Kobi Yamada—but the insight goes much deeper. Avoiding the problem makes it grow. Facing it, defining it, and breaking it down is what opens the door to real solutions.

Brandon explores how this principle shows up in manufacturing, leadership, strategy, communication, and day-to-day execution. From root cause analysis to structured methods like PDCA and A3, it all comes down to one thing: clear thinking.

About Building Better:
Building Better with Brandon Bartneck focuses on the people, products, and companies creating a better tomorrow, often in the transportation and manufacturing sectors. The show features real, human conversations exploring what leaders and innovators are doing, why and how they’re doing it, and what we can learn from their experiences.

Key Themes:

• You can’t solve what you don’t understand

• Specifics matter more than abstractions when it comes to problem definition

• Ambiguity creates unnecessary complexity and anxiety

• Systematic frameworks only work when grounded in clear thinking

• Manufacturing lessons apply across leadership, strategy, and operations

Show Notes:
brandonbartneck.com/buildingbetter/256

Listen to the Episode:

• Apple Podcasts

• Spotify