Will this simplify or complicate my life?

Davinci supposedly said that simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

Apple computers adopted a variation of his mantra in the seventies as a slogan for their revolutionary personal computer.

So who should we give the credit to?

Doesn’t matter. The spirit of the statement is what matters.

The problem is, too many people are attracted to complexly because it feels like progress. It gives them a sense of power and importance. The allure of complexity is undeniable.

But lest we forget, the more complex something is, the more uncertainty there is, and the greater the probability of unexpected problems happening.

My constitution has always been a simplified one. Good enough is good enough for me. The question my brain almost doesn’t even have to ask anymore is:

Will this course of action simplify or complicate my life?

It allows me to figure out the easiest way to accomplish tasks with the fewest possible variables.

It’s a question that became second nature to me when running a business. Because when you’re an entrepreneur, your most valuable source of leverage is your own energy. It’s the single best tool for taking your enterprise to new places you couldn’t go before.

And if you are plagued by decision fatigue all the time, then there’s a level of energy that’s impossible to sustain in the long run.

That’s the trouble with optimization. Unlike simplification, it just makes my heart beat faster, my stomach churn and my blood pressure spike.

Not only at work, too. Whether it’s riding public transportation, going out for lunch, doing yoga, or spending time with friends, chasing the best possible outcome at every moment doesn’t appeal to me. It’s exhausting, stress inducing, and frankly, not worth the additional twenty percent of better results that come from it.

Optimizing does have its place with many of the larger projects and endeavors of life, but on an hour to hour basis, the goal should be giving ourselves permission to be satisfied simply, easily and quickly.

That’s what leverage is all about. Influencing the system without outlaying a ton of effort.

Minimizing the number of tasks and maximizing personal energy, so you can concentrate it where you need it most.

What question might help you let go of some complexity?