The Curse of the Problem Solver: You Can't Solve It All Sometimes, you have to let some problems go unsolved.

By Jason Feifer

99designs

This is an episode of our podcast, Problem Solvers. Each week, an entrepreneur reveals how they overcame an unexpected problem in their business -- and were happier and more successful as a result. The show is hosted by Entrepreneur's editor in chief, Jason Feifer. Listen below, or subscribe on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Patrick Llewellyn discovered that his design company, 99designs, was only fulfilling some of his customers' needs. He wanted to fill more, so he created a spinoff brand called Swiftly. But in doing so, he created a major problem for himself: He was stretching his resources too thin, and confusing customers about which brand they should use. In the end, he discovered the Curse of the Problem Solvers: Sometimes, you have to let some problems go unsolved.

Related: How Do You Find Your First Customers?

Thanks to our sponsors:

Small business never stops moving, so Dell's US-based Small Business Advisors are trained to keep up. Just call 877-BUY-DELL to get connected. You'll get tailored solutions you can trust, from an advisor who knows your business -- like which Dell PCs with Intel® CoreTM processors are right for you. That way, you can focus on your business and leave the tech questions to Dell.

People hate calling companies and not getting an answer. Companies hate missing calls, and potential new customers. And yet, it happens every day. That's what Ruby Receptionists is designed to solve—all your calls are answered live by a team of friendly, professional remote receptionists, helping you secure customers and build a thriving company. From their offices in Portland, Oregon, Ruby deliver exceptional experiences to your callers by answering calls live in English or Spanish, transferring calls, taking messages, addressing common questions, and making follow-up calls, and more. To learn more or get started, visit Ruby online.

Jason Feifer

Entrepreneur Staff

Editor in Chief

Jason Feifer is the editor in chief of Entrepreneur magazine and host of the podcast Problem Solvers. Outside of Entrepreneur, he is the author of the book Build For Tomorrow, which helps readers find new opportunities in times of change, and co-hosts the podcast Help Wanted, where he helps solve listeners' work problems. He also writes a newsletter called One Thing Better, which each week gives you one better way to build a career or company you love.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

These Married Doctors Used ChatGPT to Start a Side Hustle That Has Nothing to Do With Healthcare — and It's on Track to Hit $75,000

Lee Kojanis, 37, and Daniele Orellana, 34, wanted to address a frustrating issue related to a long-time passion.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

'Cracking Down on Waste, Fraud, and Abuse': President Donald Trump Is Canceling Paper Checks. Here's What We Know.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the Treasury to go digital first. Here's why, and how it will affect future tax refunds.

Business News

'Cash Delivered On-Demand to Your Doorstep': Robinhood Says Its New Banking Service Will Have Some Wild Perks

Robinhood execs said they want to see the kind of perks usually reserved for the ultra-wealthy trickle down to the masses.