A fix involves addressing the symptom, a solution involves addressing the root of the issue.

To “fix” your sore tooth problem, apply Anbesol as frequently as the directions allow. The solution, however, might involve a root canal.

To fix a slow leak in a tire, you only need to keep your supply of fix-a-flat stocked. The solution, of course, is a new tire.

Fixes are tempting because they’re easy and make problems disappear quickly. Clients understand fixes, and it makes us look good to implement them rapidly. They are almost never worth the trouble in the long term, though.

That five minute email turnaround with good news is much less commendable when you can’t send the same email two days later (but need to)…