At some point or another everything breaks. And always at the worst time. There are so many things we use every day, both at work and at home that can break, disconnect, or wear out. It doesn't help that it feels like they break faster than they used to!

However, with a little confidence, curiosity, and the right tools we can often fix things ourselves or even discover it's not broken at all. The best way to get things running again is to have a toolbox of approaches, so even when there's a problem, you'll have an approach.

So, here's a list of the 3 things I do first when I need to troubleshoot a problem.

1. Turning it Off and On Again

This isn't always literal (but that often helps too). Sometimes a fitting's just loose or someone didn't tighten something up quite right. I'll remove the power cable and put it back in. If my tires aren't inflating, I'll take the hose off and reattach it.

It's the same principle: Reset It.

2. Substitution

When resetting doesn't work, we can look for something to swap out. If it's cheap to pick up, easy to substitute, or I have an extra on-hand already (we all have that bin of cables, just in case, right?) that's where I start. If we can identify the part that's not working, we can either fix that part or simply replace it. If my TV's not working, sometimes it's just the batteries in the remote, so I swap them out. If my mom says her wi-fi isn't working, I'll see if I can connect with my laptop first, so I know if it's the router or her device not working.

Substituting pieces helps narrow down where the problem really is by telling us where it isn’t.

3. Rubber Duck

"Rubber Ducking" is a term for problem solving where you explain things out loud. You explain the issue, how you got there, and what you’ve tried so far. When explaining the issue and the context for why you're stuck on a problem, you think about it differently, and sometimes realize the solution before you're even done explaining. Go into as much detail as you can and if you’re listening, ask lots of clarifying questions.
If you're talking to a person, they can ask you to clarify things or suggest ideas, but that also eats up another person's time. So, instead of bothering a person, you just grab a Rubber Duck to talk to instead (my dog is also a great listener) and that's where the technique gets its name.

Here's a little example for you of how this can go...

Me: UGH!
Them: What's the problem?
Me: Well, you see I can't seem to get the new TV working. I got it on the wall, plugged it in and it's not turning on! I double-checked the plug and everything. Look I press the button on the remo-
(I pause as I notice the "remove before use" plastic tab sticking out of the battery area. I sheepishly remove it, and voilà it works)
Me: Nevermind, oops.
Them: Hahaha, glad to "help"

A Few Final Thoughts:

Those three abstract tools of Re-setting, Substitution, and Rubber Ducking are a great start to your toolbox of approaches for solving problems. You can honestly use them in most situations in life. Sometimes however, you've exhausted your tools and ideas or discover the problem is inside something you’re not comfortable opening (cracking a warranty seal or anything with a lot of power like a big capacitor or power supply perhaps).

When I encounter the deep magics, that’s when I know I need a wizard or Customer Service.

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