Simple Isn't Easy (GWTW262)

Inspired by Company of One by Paul Jarvis, I’ve been thinking a lot about simplicity. While I talked about how to keep things simple recently, I thought I’d take another approach at simplicity because as Jarvis notes: simple isn’t easy. Just brainstorming ways to present this topic simply and clearly created a layer of complexity that simultaneously drove my point home and led me on the journey to strip away what was unnecessary.

12 reasons why simple isn’t easy:

  1. Simple is a journey, not a destination.
  2. Complexity often confuses the value inherent in simplicity.
  3. Simplicity is a function of clarity in values, goals, and vision.
  4. Overthinking is the leading cause of abandoning simplicity for complexity.
  5. The more people involved, the more complicated something gets. The more products, solutions, or services offered, the more complicated a business gets.
  6. Effective decision-making leads to simpler solutions.
  7. Simple is relative.
  8. Simplicity is the rejection of perfection.
  9. Asking questions to weed out complications in the system is a daily pursuit and takes time, effort, and energy.
  10. Procrastination and poor time management increases complications.
  11. Adding more instead of subtracting to enough.
  12. Simple is smart, sexy, and elegant.

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