Simplicity in a world of constant distraction

Have you ever thought about how many decisions you make in a day? A thousand, ten thousand? Most likely more.

The truth is, the world was never simple and in our lifetimes has become ever more complex. More information brought more complexity, there is now more rules, responses, and connectivity than ever.

But how do you avoid all that and stay in your line, accomplishing your goals? You have to keep it simple.

One of the books I am reading right now is Jocko Willink  Extreme Ownership. A book that blends the line between War Stories in the rough parts of Iraq and how those very same leadership lessons can have an impact on the day-to-day.

A lesson that jumped out at me while I digested this book is the one about simplicity. In short, Jocko mentioned that Simplicity in everything you do is of the uttermost importance.

Although Jocko and his seal’s crew routine involved wiring explosives or trying to outsmart foreign enemy soldiers, they thought about simplicity. The way they thought about it, just because something is difficult, doesn’t mean you can’ try and make it simple.

Imagine if you make this a practice in everything you do. Something such as, “Getting a Promotion to VP” or “Being involve in the community” became three straight years of above-target performance and two activities a month for a nonprofit or for doing something where you don’t get paid.

Complexity is interwoven in everything in our lives. Don’t believe me? Think about it:

How much mental energy do you spend on the following day? 

Complexity brings friction and friction stops progress. There isn’t any way around it.

Imagine if you took a long deep look at what makes winners in society and put their archetypes upon the board. What would Jeff Bezos or Tom Brady’s board look like?

They have the same twenty-four hours in a day, but how do they find the time? How do they cut through all the noise?

They do it by making things as simple as possible.

Sending an email? – Be bold, be brief, be gone

Sending an email? – Be bold, be brief, be gone

Posting on social media? – Don’t post for clicks or views, post to provide value, and always ignore the noise from the comment section.

Starting a business? – Avoid gurus and the people selling ways to get rich. Focus on the customer and the process. Then repeat that thousands of times.

Unfortunately, the smartest and brightest have gotten jobs at large tech companies whose business model is based upon making social media and the internet addicting. That means we must do whatever it takes to find a simple way of doing things.

What we want to accomplish must have clear goals with clear boundaries. We have to take the path of least resistance with as minimum friction as possible.

A simple email can become one hour of typing the perfect words. A business proposition can turn into weeks of practice the perfect pitch. An MVP can turn into months of designing the perfect product.

The reality is, what you need to do is way less than you think. Ignore the noise, ignore the layers of decision fatigue and burocacity and go out there and execute. You will be surprised that producing and learning beats aiming and waiting to fire any day of the week.