Book SummaryEverything Is Figureoutable, by Marie Forleo

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Everything Is Figureoutable

What’s the secret to achieving your dreams, overcoming life’s challenges, and living the most fulfilling life possible? In her New York Times best seller, entrepreneur Marie Forleo contends that the secret is to transform your mindset and live your life by the philosophy that “everything is figureoutable.”

Forleo garnered worldwide attention due to her work teaching...

Everything Is Figureoutable Summary Understanding the “Everything is Figureoutable” Philosophy

Before you can apply the “everything is figureoutable” philosophy to your life, you must first understand what it is. In this section, we’ll explain the philosophy and address some common criticisms.

Forleo explains that “everything is figureoutable” is a mindset with which you can approach every issue in your life. When you believe that things are figureoutable, you believe that you’re capable of solving any problem you face—although you may actively choose not to solve an issue if it isn’t a priority.

You can apply this mindset to all problems in life, even big ones like solving climate change: Even if you don’t solve the full issue in your lifetime, you can make huge progress—the same way that Martin Luther King Jr. didn’t solve racism but made huge strides. Forleo says she learned this philosophy from her mother, who had a fix-it attitude toward everything despite having just a high school education and lacking access to the internet. For example, when Forleo’s mother’s beloved radio broke, she took it upon herself to fix it—and succeeded.

(Shortform note: In The Art of Learning, Joshua Waitzkin suggests a...

Everything Is Figureoutable Summary Why Forleo’s Philosophy Works

You’ve now learned what Forleo’s philosophy is, but why does it work? In this section, we’ll explore why beliefs matter, how you developed your current beliefs, and how they can harm you. Then, we’ll examine how believing that all issues are solvable can mitigate the harm of what you believe and transform your life.

Understanding Your Current Beliefs

Forleo defines a belief as a conviction—something that you know to be correct. Your beliefs are important because they drive what you do and how you react to the world. For example, if you believe you’re bad at math, you might not study for your math test because you don’t see the point—leading you to fail, which reinforces your belief that you’re bad at math.

Forleo explains that while you can actively decide what you believe, you likely also have several beliefs that you’ve developed unknowingly. Most of your beliefs stem from five sources: your surroundings, proof, your models, your history, and your dreams.

For example, you might believe you’re bad at math because your family says math is for boys (surroundings) or because your high school teacher said math was your weakest subject (proof). You might believe...

Everything Is Figureoutable Summary How to Live Forleo’s Philosophy

Now that you know what “everything is figureoutable” means and why it works, how can you live it? Forleo contends that the first step is to select a single goal to focus on. In this section, we’ll first discuss why you should select a single goal and how to do so. Then, we’ll share how to combat two major reasons you might not pursue your goals.

Why You Should Select One Goal

If you want to live as though all issues are solvable, Forleo recommends that you start by selecting one clear goal for three reasons:

1) A single goal allows you to practice implementing her philosophy. If you’re new to living as though all issues are solvable, trying to apply that philosophy to multiple challenging goals will overwhelm you. Instead, focus your energy on applying the philosophy to one goal; then, once you achieve it, use what you’ve learned to tackle your next major goal.

(Shortform note: In The One Thing, Gary Keller also recommends focusing on just one goal, or “one thing,” so you can achieve great success. He doesn’t recommend this strategy as a way to live a particular philosophy, but he agrees with Forleo that...

Everything Is Figureoutable Summary How to Overcome What’s Holding You Back

Even if you select a goal, you still might not do anything to pursue it. Forleo writes that there are three reasons for this: You deny your agency, you don’t see the point, or you’re afraid. We’ll discuss each of these barriers in detail.

You Deny Your Agency

The first reason you may not go after your dreams is that you believe you’re unable to. However, Forleo argues that in most cases, when you say, “I’m unable to do this,” what you really mean is, “This is not a priority for me.” Using the word unable allows you to deny the agency you have over your own life. She recommends adopting the mindset that you are totally in control of your life—at least over your actions and how you respond to circumstances. Recognizing that you have control forces you to become more proactive and to solve any issues you may face.

(Shortform note: In The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck, Manson agrees that you must take responsibility for your life, as you can always choose what you think and how to behave in any situation. Further, he points out that [denying your agency and refusing to accept the control you have...

Everything Is Figureoutable Summary How to Deal With People Around You

Now that we’ve discussed how to deal with the inner fears that stop you from pursuing your dreams, we’ll discuss how to handle the outer influences on living like all issues are solvable. In this section, we’ll first discuss how to deal with critics. Then, we’ll discuss how you can adjust your environment to make sure it’s as supportive as possible.

How to Deal With Critics

As Forleo notes, people are prone to judging others—and so you must accept that you will inevitably face criticism. This criticism may be hurtful, but it’s not inherently a bad thing: Some criticism is constructive and can help you improve if you listen to it well. For example, your boss may suggest that you reply to emails more promptly because your delayed responses make people think you don't care about their requests.

So how should you respond when you encounter criticism? Forleo recommends that you first determine whether it’s constructive or purely hurtful. To do so, consider who is criticizing you and your relationship with them. If you care about this person’s opinion, consider adjusting your behavior as they think you should. If not, try not to let their criticism affect you....

Shortform Exercise: Identify and Connect With Your Supportive Friends

According to Forleo, living like things are figureoutable is easier when you have a support system you can call on when times get tough. In this exercise, we’ll help you evaluate whether you’re spending sufficient time with the most supportive people in your life.

In your life, who are the three people you spend the most time with?