When Systems Stop Working

If a system stops working,

it doesn’t mean you failed.

It usually means you’ve outgrown it.

Recently, my son needed a new bike.

Not because anything was wrong with the one he had—it fit him really well… for a while.

But at some point, it didn’t.

Too small to ride comfortably.

Not quite ready for an adult-sized replacement.

So we had to find something in between.

Not perfect forever.

Just something that fits now

and will carry him forward for a while.

It made me think about how often we expect our systems to last longer than they should.

Something works.

It feels steady.

It fits the way things are.

And then things change.

Not all at once.

Just enough that what used to feel easy

starts to feel slightly off.

Before trying to push through it, it’s worth asking:

Would this still work on a hard day?

Or is it something that only worked

for a different version of your work, your time, or your capacity?

That’s usually where the friction shows up.

Not because the system was wrong, but because it hasn’t been updated.

Growth doesn’t always mean building something new.

Sometimes it just means adjusting what used to fit.

This is where I often see teams get stuck—

Holding onto systems that worked…but don’t quite match how things actually operate anymore.

And not always realizing that the friction they’re feeling

is a sign something needs to be updated—not pushed harder.

It’s also where I tend to do a lot of my work—helping teams recognize when something no longer fits,

and adjust it before it starts to break down.

Curious where something in your work has started to feel “just a little off.”

Build systems that support your real life—not your ideal one.