Why Simplicity Wins

Today lots of information is fast spreading around and we live in a much connected world than 20 years ago. I am still not sure if my new iPhone makes my life easier or more complex. On average, we get exposed to heaps of data (ads, emails, junk), tools are invented to make information simple for us. A web page 'filter' like Readability is one good example. Readability allows web browsers to install a button on their web browser task bar and it discards away everything that is irrelevant to the main text you are reading. Doing away with ads, web banners, buttons and other links. You pretty much get a simple, black-white text article. You might first find this to be rather boring yet on hindsight, rather refreshing.

Do you crave for such simplicity in your life where it is more straightforward with less frills. Having less is more?

Interestingly, the trend is going the simplicity way. Fresh out of the financial crisis, consumers or tribes banded together and demanded a clearer, more transparent world. Brands are also recognizing this need. Some brands are striving towards being 'simple and transparent'. However, being simple is far more difficult that being complex. Anyone who presents information can attest to this. Having 10 bullet points in a Powerpoint is alot easier than summarizing it to a 6 word sentence and an image that tells the story. Yet the best presenters known today are known for being profoundly insightful yet simple at the same time. How? They painstakingly go through layers of complexity and refining it to make things simple for their audience to understand and spread the message. All these without losing the essence of the message. Here is George Whitesides talking about this topic in TED.

Simplicity wins not because it makes it easier for us to understand but also it allows the message to be digested and communicated quickly to other tribes. If you are struggling with simplicity, start examining simple things first. Look at its simple design and try to 'reverse engineer' why is it done this way? What is the intended purpose and end result? If you can come out with an even simpler solution to achieve the same result, you might be on your way to create something meaningful. Anyone wants to re-invent the ubiquitous PC QWERTY keyboard for a start? How many keys are unknown functionally to you and why is it there?

Be simple and win.

It is what it is. PASTA ALGAR from IKEA Food. Image from IKEA.

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Challenging your belief or stance

Beliefs are the makeup of our knowledge, views, culture and norms. As individuals or tribes, our actions are a direct translation of our beliefs. For example, you shake hands with another stranger as a belief of goodwill (I hope at least on your part). Brands try to shape your beliefs about them through advertising and other marketing activities.

It is a fact that we depend a lot on our beliefs and took it for granted. Questioning your beliefs can be fundamentally unnerving. Post September 11, it took a while for Americans to change their beliefs about homeland security. Beliefs are sometimes radically shaped by circumstance. Here are some beliefs that have been shaped over the last decade.

1) Commercialization of space travel. Virgin Galactic
2) Electronic books changing the entire publishing industry.
3) Consumers telling brands what to do.
4) You can make a living out of publishing your life online.
5) Designer office chairs that can cost up to S$2,000 each.

You can probably think of more.

Your beliefs or stance of the world is a powerful subconscious inner voice that guides and alters your decisions and actions. At the same time, altering these deep seated beliefs can potentially impact your lives. One of the most powerful result of changing your beliefs is to solve difficult sticky situations and problems. Relationships, careers and health. Taking a alternative discourse to solve them. In short, changing your stance for the better.

In the book Integrative Thinking, Roger Martin challenge readers to review and change your stance. Has it stifled your thinking and vision? If it is, probably time to reassess and think about reshaping it. Your own beliefs might be the single greatest barrier and tool for creative thinking. In the business world, changing stance can help deliver better experiences for customers or tribes. For example, if we change our beliefs that a hair salon can do more than hair related services, this business model will not look for other complementary services like pedicure and manicure services.

Engaging a coach might be a possible avenue. Here is Enrico Varella & Associates where change development is carefully shaped and mentored in the hands of experts.

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Happiness (x) & Pleasure (y)

x is different from y. I labeled them clearly.

Happiness(x) is an inward state of mind. You seek happiness by doing things that make you happy. Having happy surroundings, happy people, happy things and hopefully we get to be happy? Not really. You can have all the right 'ingredients' for happiness and yet you may not feel happy at all. It has to come honestly inward. Someone in a super fun Christmas party may be feeling very unhappy inside and tries very hard to feel otherwise. You cannot feel happy and sad at the same time. Happiness is ultimately an inward process which you seek to attain. What makes someone happy differs from people to people.

What about pleasure(y)?

Pleasure is transient and it does not equate to happiness. Pleasure is an event not a process. Humans get bored easily over events therefore they don't really last. Good food, nice looking companions, nice clothes, cigarettes and sex. These are fleeting, pleasurable things. Is your happiness defined as a series of pleasures?

Christopher Gardner (Will Smith) in the movie "Pursuit of Happyness" defines happiness as not being poor? Money is the idol here, not happiness. I say his love for his son is the real happyness.

Are the brands you surround yourself gives you pleasure or contribute towards happiness?





Christmas is 4 days away. Festive shopping is at its peak now. I hope the gifts or brands you choose are all conduits of happiness and not momentary pleasure.

Happy Christmas.

Please leave your comments, if any. Movie Poster taken from IMBD

That little knife on the road

2009 is drawing to an end. A new list of resolutions will encapsulate those who plan for the new year; I am no exception. In fact, I am planning for each new day, week, month. etc. For any resolution-builder, I hope that you spend more time thinking about each 'to do' item than your holiday plans. It is amazing how many people spend more time detailing their holidays rather than what they should achieve for the whole year. I am also guilty of this - I try to lessen it each year. I argue that the most important ingredient is not the list but the righteousness or commitment to make it right.

Fact: If righteousness is not in it, it is actually not worth putting it in. We know we want each resolution to be right because we are going to be tested for it: A commitment that this is the right thing to do.

Let me explain by telling the story of a little knife lying on the road last Saturday morning. It is a fruit knife that was dropped by one of the passing vehicles. It stayed harmlessly on the road, 10 meters away from where I was sitting at the bus stop. The possibilities of this little blade doing damage was real. It could have flown into somebody's face from a passing vehicle, or it could have punctured a car tyre and sent cars into accident spirals, etc.

If I chose to ignore it, it would have stayed there until something happens. If anything would have happened at all, God knows. The light turned red for the oncoming traffic before I picked the blade up and threw it into the dustbin. Did I do the right thing? Maybe. But my purpose on wanting to do the right thing was certainly within me, and I am tested my commitment that very moment.

Example: If you want to be more charitable in 2010, your mind will automatically seek the moments where charity encounters are present. Just like when you commit to see more of the colour red, your subconscious mind will automatically seek them for you. You will see more red.

Your resolution item, whatever it may be, is not entirely important. Why? It may change, deviate or be taken away. And the best is that you can write a new one if you want to. However, the commitment behind it is so much more important: Have the skills to self manage and self correct. The discipline to make the decisions each day to get closer to each goal. Only if you make the commitment to do that, then your list becomes an absolute possibility.

The same goes for brands and tribes that you made a commitment to, collectively by themselves or to their customers. They too will face a time where their values will be tested - a knife on the road moment. This begs the question: will you pass the test?

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