I learned this concept as a young boy playing the game of RISK all night long with my Aunt and family. This is a brutally straightforward game in which you roll dice and participate in an attempt at world conquest. When I first learned to play, I tried many strategies, feints, and clever ways to outmaneuver my opponents. However, those mostly ended in failure. Only when I finally figured out the simple method to winning the game did I learn how to accumulate my forces along one front and push forward as I conquered. Really simple technique and by far the most powerful.
The Power of Simplicity in Life
This concept would play out for the rest of my life. When I first learn of something, I try all these tricks to try to get an advantage. I found out, however, that usually, the method with the most success is the simple one that is straightforward and aimed right at the objective. Straightforward and simple are almost always the most powerful. I like to pretend that my cleverness, wit, and ability to come at a problem from a new angle is what wins, but that is not the case. When I am the strongest, I have the most simple approach. Simple is always better.
The Challenge of Finding Simplicity
I must admit, however, that simple is hard to come by. Usually, figuring out the simple path is the hardest part. We have to spend some time experimenting and failing on the intended course before we finally start to grasp the basic elements that work. Once I start to understand what really works and why, then I can focus my mind on the simple path, the best path, the path with the least amount of resistance. Oh, how I wish sometimes I could go back and tell that foolish young man to get off the complicated and find the simple.
Simplicity in Sales Messaging
There is no better example than in sales when you are trying to communicate a message to a potential client. If your messaging is complex and takes a great deal of thinking for a prospective client to understand, then it most likely is not going to be repeatable. You may have had success with one or two clients who were willing to spend time with you on the concept, but most people are not going to invest that kind of time. People will gravitate toward the messaging that they can quickly understand and know how to frame. They will move on quickly if they cannot rapidly decipher what you are trying to sell. You will argue that you need to communicate all these finer points, but the detail is lost because no one will spend enough time reading it. A simple message that is incomplete is infinitely stronger than a complete message that is complex.
The Value of Simple Communication
Our world is becoming much more technically advanced, so our tendency is to try to craft communications that cover everything, check all the boxes, demonstrate technical prowess, and provide credibility. None of this matters much if no one pays attention. The simple gets attention; the complex gets ignored. However, I have not seen this just in marketing. I have witnessed simple solutions become the most successful despite being inferior to the competition. Many shoot above the mark because they are so worried about a complete and complex message that they miss the target completely.
Embracing Simplicity in Life and Work
If we were just to keep things simple, we would improve ourselves, our messaging, and our daily lives a lot. A direct and straightforward plan, followed by courageous and bold simplicity in delivery, will usually beat anything crafted by hours, teams, and consultants. This not only applies to our messaging but also to our actions. Clear, straightforward and consistent are the characteristics of the strong. You may not be trying to take over the world or even rolling the dice, but you certainly could benefit from thinking about the simplest and most direct path that you can find.
This was a message I needed to hear this morning. Too often when I want to communicate a point my mind automatically anticipates potential counter arguments or avenues of misunderstanding – so I begin by setting context for my point. I strive to be brief and concise in this framing. I am stunned by the impatience I encounter. The lack of rapt attentions given to my concise eloquence is a frustration. Don’t they know and trust that my context/framing is meant to avoid misunderstanding and stupid assumptions?! Nope. No they don’t.
My anticipations are correct I think – but my strategy of ” context first” is motivated by fear – fear of conflict, fear of of my point/idea being derailed. I must face the failure of my approach and discard it. Your article drove the point home – simple is best. I would add courage is needed as well – courage to wait for the battle then engage as necessary – and be ok with misunderstanding/conflict – to let go of the outcome – but seek truth as best I can.
I think this is why simple is so hard. We get in the way of the simple all the time.