Everything Is Figureoutable

The antique wingback chair didn’t just arrive broken; it presented itself as an argument against hope. It was a puzzle whose pieces had been deliberately scattered and then stomped on for good measure. One cabriole leg was completely sheared off, a clean break that seemed almost spiteful. The rich mahogany frame was a roadmap of deep cracks and hairline splinters, while the once-plush velvet upholstery hung in defeated, dusty shreds, revealing the horsehair stuffing beneath like a gruesome wound. The delivery driver had shaken his head, muttering that it was 'a project for a bonfire, not a workshop.' To any rational observer, it was a lost cause, an elegant piece of history that had finally surrendered to gravity and neglect. But the furniture restorer saw something else entirely. Looking past the chaos of the damage, she could still see the chair’s original, confident lines. She ran a hand over a small, intact patch of wood, feeling the echo of its sturdiness. She knew, with a quiet certainty that defied all the visible evidence, that the solution was hidden inside the problem itself. It was a declaration of how it would be done.

This is the moment of choice every one of us faces when confronted with a seemingly impossible situation. We can accept the broken pieces as the final story, or we can decide that a different ending is possible. It’s the gap between 'it’s ruined' and 'how do I begin?' that defines what we’re capable of. The belief that a path forward always exists, even if it's currently invisible, is the most powerful tool for creation and reinvention we possess. It’s the difference between being a victim of our circumstances and the architect of our future. This is about a rugged, practical faith in our own resourcefulness.

That practical faith is the force at the heart of this book. For author Marie Forleo, it was the soundtrack of her childhood. Her mother, a woman who could fix a leaky roof, reupholster a sofa, and wire a new lamp with equal confidence, had a simple, unshakeable mantra for every challenge: 'Everything is figureoutable.' This single phrase became the core belief that propelled Forleo as she built a globally recognized coaching company and media empire from her living room, often without a clear roadmap or prior experience. She faced down technological hurdles, financial uncertainty, and creative blocks by trusting in her ability to find them. She wrote this book to codify that inherited wisdom, proving that this mindset is a simple, powerful truth available to anyone willing to embrace it.

Module 1: The Figureoutable Mindset

Let's start with the foundation: the core philosophy itself. It’s a fundamental shift in how you approach every obstacle you face. It’s the belief that no matter the challenge, a solution exists and you have the capacity to find it.

So, where does this belief come from? Forleo argues that the phrase "Everything is figureoutable" is a core belief, not a simple platitude. It’s an active, operational stance. When her mother said it, it was a statement of intent before picking up a wrench or climbing a ladder. This mindset transforms you from a passive victim of circumstances into an active problem-solver. It reframes a dead-end into a puzzle. A crisis becomes a project.

This brings us to a critical point. Adopting this mindset requires overcoming two specific mental traps that kill progress before it even starts. The first is the thought, "I already know this." It’s a defense mechanism of the ego that shuts down learning. The second is, "This isn't for me." It’s a way of disqualifying yourself from a solution before you’ve even tried. You must first disarm the two thoughts that kill progress. Forleo suggests countering these immediately. When you think "I know this," ask instead, "What can I learn from this?" When you think "This isn't for me," challenge it with, "How can this work for me?" These questions force your brain to switch from a closed loop to an open, creative search for possibilities.

And here's the thing. It’s about directing the powerful machinery of your mind. Your beliefs actively create your reality. Forleo points to the placebo effect as hard evidence. Patients given a sugar pill, who believe it’s powerful medicine, can produce real, measurable physiological changes. Belief is a command you give your system. She explains that our beliefs are shaped by five key factors: our Environment, especially what we absorb as children; our direct Experiences; Evidence we gather from authorities; Examples set by role models; and Envisioning, which is our intuition and dreams. By understanding these inputs, you can start to consciously curate the beliefs that serve you.