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Listen "Ep 62 Cracked It: How to Solve Big Problems Like a Strategy Consultant"
Episode Synopsis
In this episode of The Business Book Club, we explore Cracked It: How to Solve Big Problems and Sell Solutions Like Top Strategy Consultants—a practical, step-by-step guide to mastering the skill of structured problem solving.
Drawing on decades of experience from elite consulting firms, cognitive science, and design thinking, authors Bernard Garrette, Corey Phelps, and Olivier Sibony lay out a proven framework to help anyone—from startup founders to corporate leaders—approach complex challenges with clarity, logic, and impact.
This episode walks you through the 4S method—State, Structure, Solve, and Sell—while revealing the psychological traps we often fall into and giving you the tools to avoid them. Whether you're dealing with business bottlenecks, team misalignment, or strategic decisions, this framework equips you to think better, solve smarter, and communicate your ideas with power.
Key Concepts Covered
Why Most Problem Solving Fails
✅ We rely too heavily on fast, intuitive thinking (System 1) and avoid slow, logical analysis (System 2)
✅ Common pitfalls include:
Poor problem definition
Confirmation bias
Choosing the wrong framework
Narrow framing
Miscommunication
The 4S Method: A Consultant’s Blueprint for Better Thinking
1. State the Problem
Use the TOSCA checklist: Trouble, Owner, Success criteria, Constraints, Actors
Reframe problems from symptoms to root causes
Engage stakeholders early to build empathy and insight
2. Structure the Problem
Break down complexity with MECE (Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive)
Use hypothesis pyramids for fast, focused exploration
Use issue trees for open-ended, unbiased analysis
Apply frameworks—but carefully. Don’t let them blind you to alternate perspectives
3. Solve the Problem
Use data wisely: beware of bad stats, hidden biases, and correlation vs. causation
Make assumptions explicit and stress test them
Pair analysis with design thinking:
Empathize deeply with users
Reframe the problem with point-of-view statements
Generate ideas using tools like SCAMPER, analogies, and brainstorming
Prototype quickly and test with real users
4. Sell the Solution
Use the Pyramid Principle:
Start with your core recommendation (governing thought)
Support with 2–5 logically structured arguments (key line)
Choose a grouping or SCR (Situation, Complication, Resolution) structure
Pre-wire key stakeholders before the big meeting
Don’t let slides dictate your story—craft your narrative first
Lead with stories, not stats—engage minds and emotions
Actionable Takeaways
✅ Diagnose before you solve—use TOSCA to define the real problem
✅ Fight bias—challenge your assumptions consciously
✅ Pick the right problem structure—hypothesis pyramid for speed, issue tree for depth
✅ Use empathy and prototyping to generate human-centered solutions
✅ Craft your message like a story—use the pyramid principle, pre-wire your stakeholders
✅ Remember: being right isn’t enough. You must persuade effectively
Top Quotes
📌 “A way of seeing is also a way of not seeing.”
📌 “Miscommunication kills good ideas faster than bad data.”
📌 “Being right is only half the battle—you also have to sell it.”
📌 “Frameworks are tools—not truths. Use them carefully.”
Resources Mentioned
📖 Cracked It: How to Solve Big Problems and Sell Solutions Like Top Strategy Consultants – [Get the book here]
Next Steps
Struggling with a challenge—big or small? Apply just one part of the 4S method this week. Define your problem clearly using TOSCA, structure it into a MECE issue tree, or prototype a small solution and test it. These tools aren’t just for consultants—they’re for anyone who wants to think more clearly and lead more confidently.
Subscribe to The Business Book Club for more practical deep dives into the world’s most powerful business books—decoded for action.
#CrackedIt #ProblemSolving #StrategyConsulting #DesignThinking #CriticalThinking #StructuredThinking #BusinessBookClub #DecisionMaking #PyramidPrinciple
Drawing on decades of experience from elite consulting firms, cognitive science, and design thinking, authors Bernard Garrette, Corey Phelps, and Olivier Sibony lay out a proven framework to help anyone—from startup founders to corporate leaders—approach complex challenges with clarity, logic, and impact.
This episode walks you through the 4S method—State, Structure, Solve, and Sell—while revealing the psychological traps we often fall into and giving you the tools to avoid them. Whether you're dealing with business bottlenecks, team misalignment, or strategic decisions, this framework equips you to think better, solve smarter, and communicate your ideas with power.
Key Concepts Covered
Why Most Problem Solving Fails
✅ We rely too heavily on fast, intuitive thinking (System 1) and avoid slow, logical analysis (System 2)
✅ Common pitfalls include:
Poor problem definition
Confirmation bias
Choosing the wrong framework
Narrow framing
Miscommunication
The 4S Method: A Consultant’s Blueprint for Better Thinking
1. State the Problem
Use the TOSCA checklist: Trouble, Owner, Success criteria, Constraints, Actors
Reframe problems from symptoms to root causes
Engage stakeholders early to build empathy and insight
2. Structure the Problem
Break down complexity with MECE (Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive)
Use hypothesis pyramids for fast, focused exploration
Use issue trees for open-ended, unbiased analysis
Apply frameworks—but carefully. Don’t let them blind you to alternate perspectives
3. Solve the Problem
Use data wisely: beware of bad stats, hidden biases, and correlation vs. causation
Make assumptions explicit and stress test them
Pair analysis with design thinking:
Empathize deeply with users
Reframe the problem with point-of-view statements
Generate ideas using tools like SCAMPER, analogies, and brainstorming
Prototype quickly and test with real users
4. Sell the Solution
Use the Pyramid Principle:
Start with your core recommendation (governing thought)
Support with 2–5 logically structured arguments (key line)
Choose a grouping or SCR (Situation, Complication, Resolution) structure
Pre-wire key stakeholders before the big meeting
Don’t let slides dictate your story—craft your narrative first
Lead with stories, not stats—engage minds and emotions
Actionable Takeaways
✅ Diagnose before you solve—use TOSCA to define the real problem
✅ Fight bias—challenge your assumptions consciously
✅ Pick the right problem structure—hypothesis pyramid for speed, issue tree for depth
✅ Use empathy and prototyping to generate human-centered solutions
✅ Craft your message like a story—use the pyramid principle, pre-wire your stakeholders
✅ Remember: being right isn’t enough. You must persuade effectively
Top Quotes
📌 “A way of seeing is also a way of not seeing.”
📌 “Miscommunication kills good ideas faster than bad data.”
📌 “Being right is only half the battle—you also have to sell it.”
📌 “Frameworks are tools—not truths. Use them carefully.”
Resources Mentioned
📖 Cracked It: How to Solve Big Problems and Sell Solutions Like Top Strategy Consultants – [Get the book here]
Next Steps
Struggling with a challenge—big or small? Apply just one part of the 4S method this week. Define your problem clearly using TOSCA, structure it into a MECE issue tree, or prototype a small solution and test it. These tools aren’t just for consultants—they’re for anyone who wants to think more clearly and lead more confidently.
Subscribe to The Business Book Club for more practical deep dives into the world’s most powerful business books—decoded for action.
#CrackedIt #ProblemSolving #StrategyConsulting #DesignThinking #CriticalThinking #StructuredThinking #BusinessBookClub #DecisionMaking #PyramidPrinciple
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