Everything Is Figureoutable
Any problem can be solved if you are willing to try enough approaches
Marie Forleo's Everything Is Figureoutable is a meta-belief — a belief about beliefs — that acts as a master key for problem-solving across every domain of life. The philosophy holds that no matter what challenge you face, if you are willing to be creative, persistent, and resourceful enough, you can find a way through it. This is not naive optimism — it is a practical orientation that keeps you in problem-solving mode rather than victim mode. Forleo inherited this belief from her mother, who grew up in poverty but approached every challenge with the conviction that solutions existed if you were willing to work hard enough to find them. The framework operates at the level of identity rather than tactics: when you truly believe that everything is figureoutable, you approach obstacles fundamentally differently. Instead of asking 'Can this be done?' you ask 'How can this be done?' The shift from whether to how opens creative problem-solving pathways that remain closed when you are stuck in doubt. Forleo extends this to emotional challenges: every miserable reaction is your responsibility because it is what you are doing internally that creates the reaction, and if you are the problem, you are also the solution.
- Everything is figureoutable — the question is not whether but how
- If you are the problem, you are also the solution — emotional responsibility is empowering
- Fear of rejection is fear of other people's thoughts, which cannot actually harm you
- Being multi-passionate is a strength, not a liability — do not force yourself into one lane
- Every moment is an opportunity to check yourself before you wreck yourself
- Reframe the Problem from Whether to HowWhen facing any challenge, catch yourself asking 'Can this be done?' or 'Is this possible?' and deliberately reframe to 'How can this be done?' or 'What would I try if I knew I could not fail?' This linguistic shift is not just semantic — it activates different neural pathways associated with creative problem-solving rather than threat assessment. Write the reframed question down physically and brainstorm at least 10 possible approaches without filtering for quality. The goal is volume of ideas, not immediately finding the right answer.Pro tipForleo's mother would try 10 different approaches to a home repair before even considering calling a professional — quantity of attempts beats quality of planning
- Take Radical Emotional ResponsibilityWhen you feel miserable, upset, angry, or stuck, recognize that the external event is not causing your emotional state — your internal interpretation is. Forleo states it bluntly: every single moment is an opportunity to check ourselves. If I am miserable, it is my responsibility because it is what I am doing internally that creates that reaction. This is not about blame — it is about power. If external events control your emotions, you are powerless. If your interpretation controls your emotions, you have the power to change your experience by changing your interpretation.Pro tipWhen triggered, ask: 'What am I making this mean?' — the meaning you assign is almost always more painful than the event itselfWarningThis does not mean suppressing emotions or invalidating genuine grief — it means taking ownership of prolonged suffering that comes from unhelpful interpretations
- Act Before You Feel ReadyFear of rejection and imposter syndrome do not go away with more preparation — they go away with more action. Forleo started MarieTV, B-School, and her writing career while feeling terrified and unqualified. The secret is not eliminating fear but acting alongside it. Take the smallest possible action toward your goal today, even if it feels inadequate. Momentum created by imperfect action reliably dissolves the paralysis created by perfectionism and fear.Pro tipForleo recommends asking: 'What would I do right now if I were not afraid?' — then do that thing
Forleo created B-School, an online business education platform, when online courses were not yet mainstream and she had no formal teaching credentials, no technology background, and no guarantee of enrollment. She figured out every component — course design, video production, marketing, platform technology — through the 'everything is figureoutable' approach, learning each skill as needed rather than waiting until she had mastered everything. The program grew to over 30,000 graduates across 195 countries, was recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest-growing companies, and disrupted traditional business education.
Forleo learned this philosophy from her mother, who despite having no formal education and limited resources, could fix anything around the house — plumbing, electrical work, car repairs — by simply refusing to accept that the problem was unsolvable. When the young Marie asked how she knew how to do all these things, her mother replied: 'Don't be ridiculous. Everything is figureoutable.' This single belief became the foundation of Forleo's career as an entrepreneur, building an eight-figure company, creating the B-School educational platform with over 30,000 graduates, and becoming one of the most recognized personal development figures in the world.