Sometimes the Answer Is Simpler Than We Think

A Small Purchase. An Unexpected Lesson.

A few weeks ago, I bought a small emergency sewing kit from Temu. I didn’t need it — I just thought it would be handy to have. I didn’t think much of it at the time.

Recently, a button came off my jacket. Instead of throwing it aside, I decided to sew it back on.

I have always struggled with this as my eyesight is not what it should be, but most people struggling to get the thread through the tiny eye of the needle. Close… almost there… and then I missed again.

A Tool That’s Been Around for Thousands of Years

The needle has existed for thousands of years. Its purpose has always been simple: to join fabric together — a small tool designed to solve a practical problem. Yet for generations, people have struggled with the same frustration — getting the thread through the eye.

And then someone had a simple thought:

What if we just add a small cut in the eye?

Not a redesign - Not a new needle and Not a revolutionary reinvention. Just a small tweak.

Instead of forcing the thread through a closed hole, you simply slide it in. And suddenly — the frustration disappears.

The Consulting Reflection

That moment made me reflect on how we approach systems and consulting. Often, when reviewing CRM platforms or internal applications, the instinct is to REBUILD, REPLACE or RECREATE it from scratch. When actually the real solution isn’t rewriting the whole application but just a thoughtful, human adjustment, A small UX improvement, A refined workflow, A targeted automation or just a small tweak to make the interface clearer.

And suddenly — what felt broken becomes smooth.

Technology isn’t always about dramatic transformation.
Sometimes it’s about removing friction.

The Developer Lesson

If we only work from Jira or DevOps tickets, we never truly understand the pain point.

Tickets tell us what to build. They rarely tell us why it hurts.

To build better systems, we must

• Speak to the end users,

• Sit with the teams

• Observe real workflows

• Understand daily frustrations

Growth Happens Outside Silos

Growth doesn’t happen in isolation.

Sitting in silos — doing work alone — will never allow us to grow to our fullest potential. The real learning often comes from the connections we make and the stories others share.

That’s why attending community events matters.

In groups like the Birmingham Dynamics 365 User Group and all the UK Dynamics 365 & Power Platform User Group chapters, we don’t just gain technical knowledge. We gain life lessons from people who’ve been there — real stories, real challenges, real solutions.

And the learning doesn’t stop.

The London D365 PPUG event is next week.

👉 https://www.meetup.com/d365ppug/events/312932726/?eventOrigin=home_page_event_from_group_you_are_in

If you haven’t registered and you’re in the area — register, attend, meet the team, meet the amazing leaders, and hear from inspiring speakers. You never know whose experience will open a door for you — or whose story will change how you think.

💡 Words of Wisdom

The best developers don’t just close tickets. They close pain points

And sometimes, the biggest impact comes not from building something new —
but from making something existing just a little easier.