04.15.2026

IGNITE

Where Dr. Tom Webb sparks your curiosity and inspires action!

Reader,

As leaders, we are often like first responders rushing to the scene of an emergency.

A problem erupts. Somebody needs help. Something is off track. Emotions are high. The pressure is on.

So we do what leaders do. We triage the situation, take decisive action, and work to stabilize the moment. Then we hope future incidents can be prevented through awareness, training, and better habits.

But this week, I want us to pause right there at the triage stage.

One of the teachers I work with, Laura, is incredibly sharp when it comes to taking current research and turning it into actionable practice. This week, she shared an idea that stopped me in my tracks. As you begin forming solutions to a problem, ask yourself one simple question:

Am I fixing the symptom, or am I fixing the cause?

That distinction matters more than we realize.

Symptom fixes address what is visible right now.

They relieve the immediate pressure.

They calm the chaos.

They make the moment more manageable.

But cause fixes address what is producing the problem in the first place.

They go deeper.

They take more thought.

They often take more courage.

And they are the only fixes that create lasting change.

Let’s pause for a reflection moment.

Think about your role as a parent, spouse, or leader at work. Think about a recent problem that forced you to respond. Maybe it was a staff issue, a missed deadline, tension at home, or a repeated behavior from a child or employee.

What did you fix?

The symptom or the cause?

Too often, we fix the symptom because symptom fixes feel supportive. They provide immediate relief. They release the pressure valve. They help us survive the moment.

But like putting a bucket under a leaky roof, they only manage the mess for a little while. The drip always returns.

Cause fixes are different.

Cause fixes require us to slow down, study the situation, and ask better questions. They push us beyond quick comfort and into meaningful correction. They may take longer on the front end, but they produce stronger outcomes on the back end.

And that is what sustainable improvement is all about.

As BOOMLeaders, let’s not just become great responders.

Let’s become Cause Fixers.

Because anyone can place a bucket under the leak and deal with the drip for another day. But real leaders climb higher. They find the weak spot. They repair the roof. They solve the problem at its source so the damage stops and the future changes.

As BOOMLeaders, let’s stop living life with buckets in our hands.

Let’s climb higher, repair the roof, and become the kind of Cause Fixers who create lasting change.

That is where the real BOOM begins.

Onward >>>>>

Tom

#TeamBOOM

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