Everything is Figureoutable

“‘Hey, Mom, how do you know how to do so many different things that you’ve never done before, without anyone showing you how to do it?’ She put down her screwdriver, turned to me, and said, ‘Don’t be silly, Ree. Nothing in life is that complicated. You can do whatever you set your mind to if you just roll up your sleeves, get in there, and do it. Everything is figureoutable.’”

Forleo establishes the foundation of her book’s core philosophy through a moment of dialogue with her mother, using direct speech to emphasize the impact of her words. The phrase “Nothing in life is that complicated” simplifies a potentially overwhelming concept and reinforces the idea that perceived limitations are often mental barriers rather than actual constraints. By structuring her mother’s response as both a reassurance and a call to action—“roll up your sleeves, get in there, and do it”—Forleo highlights The Importance of Resilience and Adaptability and proactive problem-solving, illustrating how belief in one’s ability to figure things out can transform hesitation into action.

“This phrase and philosophy took root in my soul. Since then, it’s become the most powerful driving force in my life. It helped me end a physically abusive relationship. In college, it helped me win highly competitive and rare work-study positions to pay for room and board and get into the exact classes I wanted—despite prerequisite policies and wait lists. Even as a kid, it’s why I kept trying out for sports and cheer teams, even after getting rejected year after year.”

Forleo demonstrates how the philosophy of “everything is figureoutable” has shaped her resilience by grounding abstract belief in concrete personal experiences. The parallel structure of “It helped me…” reinforces the phrase’s repeated role in overcoming adversity, creating a rhythmic emphasis on persistence. By listing challenges of varying intensity—from escaping abuse to maneuvering academic hurdles—she illustrates the philosophy’s universal applicability, making it relatable across different life situations. The use of first-person narration enhances emotional connection and allows readers to see how adopting this mindset can lead to real, transformative change.