Sometimes we just make things too complicated.
As an entrepreneur running you own business or as a business professional leading a team and delivering value for your customers, how can you get back to basics? This means focusing on what’s really important (for your customers) and avoid processes, rules and ways of doing things that are overly complicated and confusing. Your business may be complex but it doesn’t have to be complicated in how it operates. Clarity is key. What are you actually trying to achieve and what is the simplest most direct way of delivering that. Look for the obvious ways don’t be too clever and just get it done
Here is a short story that highlights the need to look for what’s obvious first.
Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson go on a camping trip. After a good dinner and a bottle of wine, they retire for the night, and go to sleep.
Some hours later, Holmes wakes up and nudges his faithful friend. “Watson, look up at the sky and tell me what you see.”
“I see millions and millions of stars, Holmes” replies Watson.
“And what do you deduce from that?” Watson ponders for a minute.
“Well, astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, I observe that Saturn is in Leo. Horologically, I deduce that the time is approximately a quarter past three. Meteorologically, I suspect that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. Theologically, I can see that God is all powerful, and that we are a small and insignificant part of the universe.
What does it tell you, Holmes?”
Holmes is silent for a moment. ”Watson, you idiot!” he says. ”Someone has stolen our tent!”
