{
  "id": 16303016,
  "title": "What’s keeping you stuck isn’t the real problem",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/whats-keeping-you-stuck-isnt-the-real-problem",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-24T08:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fast Company",
    "slug": "fast-company",
    "url": "https://www.fastcompany.com/91627779/whats-keeping-you-stuck-isnt-the-real-problem"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Seth Godin, a renowned author and entrepreneur, offers five key takeaways from his book, The Knot: Problems Can Be Solved. He explains that we often remain stuck because we mistake situations we must accept as unsolvable problems, while clinging to outdated identities, unrealistic expectations, and past investments. To break free, one must clearly identify the true problem, define what work needs to be done, and release what no longer contributes to that purpose.\n\n1. Gravity is a situation, not a problem. Situations are beyond our control and should be accepted, while problems can be solved. The moon, for instance, cannot be escaped due to gravity. People frequently give up on problems prematurely or waste time fighting against them. The term \"transfixed\" signifies being held in place by a spear. To overcome a problem, one must let go of these obstacles. The author shares a personal anecdote about meeting a fan at a supermarket, highlighting that his work is both simple and challenging.\n\n2. The words \"but\" and \"and\" can entangle us, much like a knot with interlinked ropes. We must discern whether our multiple desires are \"buts\" (mutually exclusive) or \"ands\" (pointing towards the same goal). For example, wanting to run a marathon while also desiring to avoid fatigue is a \"but,\" which hinders progress. Conversely, wanting to run while being eager to get tired is an \"and,\" propelling us forward. The author uses the example of Jackson Pollock, who, despite initial success, sought to become an outsider artist rather than a celebrated, conventional one. This change led to a period of depression, heavy drinking, and eventual death in a tragic car crash.\n\n3. Not all entanglements are within our immediate surroundings. We often focus on irrelevant factors, past achievements, and imagined future expectations. This fixation on external stakeholders can lead to unnecessary entanglements. The author emphasizes that success is a personal choice and that we should define our own success metrics.",
  "summary": "Below, Seth Godin shares five key insights from his new book, The Knot: Problems Can Be Solved . Seth is a best-selling author, an entrepreneur, and one of the world’s most influential thinkers on marketing , leadership, and creativity. He has written more than 20 books, including The Dip , Purple Cow , and This Is Marketing , and has published thousands of posts on his widely read daily blog.…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}