Cracked it! by Bernard Garrette Summary
Overview of Cracked it!
Crack the code of complex problem-solving with "Cracked It!" - the 4.27-rated strategic playbook trusted by elite consultants worldwide. Learn the revolutionary 4S method that transformed business strategy and turned JCPenney's failure into tomorrow's success blueprint. Your toughest challenges just met their match.
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Key takeaways
Breaking Through the Problem-Solving Paradox
Why do brilliant minds sometimes make catastrophic decisions? When Dell's performance plummeted in 2007, observers quickly blamed CEO Kevin Rollins-a classic case of jumping to conclusions without proper analysis. This tendency to create coherent narratives from incomplete information isn't just a business problem; it's fundamentally human. "Cracked It!" has become a cult favorite among consultants and strategists because it addresses this universal challenge with a systematic approach that bridges academic theory and practical application. The book reveals a fundamental tension in problem-solving: our brains operate in two modes. "System 1" thinking-fast, automatic, and unconscious-quickly constructs narratives through association. "System 2" thinking is slow, deliberate, and effortful, questioning assumptions and applying analytical frameworks. The challenge is avoiding both Othello's hasty conclusions and Hamlet's analysis paralysis. What makes this particularly tricky? Expertise can become a liability. Within their domains, experts recognize patterns effectively. But facing problems outside their expertise, they often perform worse than novices-their mental models become rigid, they grow overconfident, and develop poor solutions based on superficial analogies. This explains why brilliant engineers might struggle with marketing challenges or finance experts might mishandle organizational problems.
The Five Deadly Traps That Derail Even the Smartest Teams
The 4S Method: Your Roadmap Through Complexity
Beyond Analysis: When Design Thinking Saves the Day
From Problem Solving to Solution Selling
Becoming a Master Problem Solver
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
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"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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