Learn to Think in Color

Is It Working or Just Not Broken Yet? Why “fine” is often the most dangerous answer Framing the Question How do we know whether something is working or just not broken yet? The cliché is “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”—and yes, that is the phrase. But the problem is that “not broken” can be a very low bar. A system, habit, relationship, process, or strategy can look stable while quietly becoming outdated, expensive, fragile, or dependent on luck. The Trap Hidden Inside “Fine” “Fine” is one of the most suspicious words in decision-making. A project is fine. A marriage is fine. A process is fine. A product is fine. A team is fine. Sometimes fine means healthy. Often, it means no one has looked closely enough. Something is truly working when it is doing what it is supposed to do, for the people it is supposed to serve, at a cost that can be sustained. Something is merely “not broken yet” when it keeps moving only because the conditions are forgiving, the people are compensating, or the ...