The Joy of Having Better Problems

by Jean-Eric Plamondon | 20 Aug, 2025 | Management Operating System

The short answer: Better problems are the new problems you get once old ones are solved. Every meaningful solution introduces new complexity, so you’re going to have new problems when the work is done, but they’ll be better problems and signs you’re ready for the next level.

When people hire me, they usually think I’m here to make all their problems disappear.

They expect a clean fix. Install some software, streamline a few things, and boom: problem-free business.

But here’s what I tell them:

“You’re going to have new problems when we’re done. But they’ll be better problems.”

It’s not what most people want to hear.

But it’s the truth.

Why Solving Problems Creates More Problems

Business owners often fall into the trap of thinking success means eliminating problems.

But the reality is, every meaningful solution introduces new complexity.

Solve one issue, and you uncover another layer underneath it.

That’s not failure. That’s progress. 

Let’s say you clean up your intake process. Great.

Now your sales team starts delivering proposals quicker. But that means your fulfillment team can’t keep up.

Or maybe you build visibility into your inventory, and now the gaps in your order tracking become glaringly obvious.

These aren’t breakdowns. They’re signs you’re ready for the next level.

Better Problems Are Still Problems

Here’s what progress sounds like:

• “There’s so much to remember now (I used to be able to just do things the way I felt like it in the moment before).”
• “I forgot step one and two, and it’s not letting me move to the next step”
• “Why do I have to write everything down?”

Those complaints are a sign that the old problems—chaos, inconsistency, nothing documented—are on their way out.

What’s replaced them? Structure. Accountability. A clearer way of working.

I’ve had designers complain about new systems, only to find out later they were the ones who never documented anything before, causing a long trail of downstream issues.

Salespeople who initially resisted making calls soon realized that clients prefer personal follow-up.

These are growing pains. And they’re worth it.

Want to grow your business? Trade your current problems for bigger ones.

In my workshops, I ask: “Who here wants to make more money?”

Everyone nods (while the owners freeze and stare at me in fear of what I’m about to say next.)

Then I say:

“The compensation you earn is directly tied to the size of the problems you solve.”

That’s what this work is really about.

It’s not about making the problems disappear.

It’s building the capacity to handle better ones.

Every time you level up, your challenges & rewards evolve too.

The difference is, now you’re ready for them.

Common questions

Why does solving one problem create new ones?

Every meaningful solution introduces new complexity. Solve one issue, and you uncover another layer underneath it.

What is an example of a better problem?

Let’s say you clean up your intake process. Your sales team starts delivering proposals quicker, but now your fulfillment team can’t keep up.

What does it mean when my team complains about new systems?

Complaints like “There’s so much to remember now” or “Why do I have to write everything down?” are a sign the old problems are on their way out: chaos, inconsistency, nothing documented. What replaces them is structure, accountability and a clearer way of working.

Should the goal be a business with no problems?

No. The work is about building the capacity to handle better ones. Every time you level up, your challenges and rewards evolve too.