Identify and don’t tolerate problems.

A practical principle that pairs honest recognition of a problem with a deliberate response. The response may be action, investigation, monitoring, revision of expectations, or acceptance of a stated tradeoff; it need not mean immediate repair of every imperfection.

Noticing a problem and deciding what to do about it are different accomplishments. A repeated complaint can remain detached from action, while a rushed fix can address something that was never clearly defined. State the gap, why it matters, and the response that is proportionate to it.

The title is deliberately forceful, but a useful interpretation does not demand fixing every imperfection. A response may be investigation, repair, a changed expectation, monitoring, or an explicit decision to accept a tradeoff. The distinction is between a considered disposition and a problem that remains unexamined because no one takes responsibility for the next decision.

When to use it

When a relevant problem keeps recurring without a decision, people fear reporting it, or responsibility for a response remains unclear.

How it can help

Helps distinguish recording or complaining about an issue from deciding what should happen next and following through.