Why Simplicity Usually Wins

(Transcript edited for clarity.)

Hi, I'm Wes. Welcome to Why Simplicity Usually Wins, or as I like to say, keep it simple.

I have a bad tendency to overcomplicate everything when I start creating a system.

A lot of times, it's when I start a business or I'm planning for a business and I start thinking about what needs to happen, what systems I need to put in place that I already use, and what systems I need to develop for this new business.

This also works for important areas in your life.

Often I have to stop and say, "Wait a minute. Let's simplify this instead of overcomplicating it."

Usually, when I start simplifying, that's when I start making real progress.

We often assume that complicated is better than simple.

There are some things that need to be complicated and that you'll have to use complicated systems for, but not everything.

More often than not, what I've found is that instead of more complexity, I need it simplified.

Then, once I simplify a system and start actually using it, I find the places where I might need to add a little bit more complexity.

So instead of starting with a huge, long, complex system, I simplify it.

I start with a simple step-by-step system.

Then as I work through that - and again, this is the key - after I start using and putting the simplified system into action, that's when I start seeing areas where I might need to add a little more complexity back in.

On the other hand, if you start with a very complex, complicated system, first of all, it keeps you from making progress.

Sometimes it even keeps you from getting started.

That's what I've found the biggest problem is with building extremely complex systems: I put off starting, or when I get started, I get bogged down because there's too much going on.

You can start very complex and, as you work through it, simplify.

But I've found that for me, the other way works better.

Start with the simplified system, then add complexity one step at a time only when it's proven that it's needed.

Simple systems are easier to remember, easier to follow, and easier to repeat.

But most importantly, they're easier to get started with.

I've made things way more complicated than they've needed to be over and over again.

It took me many, many years to figure out: Stop overcomplicating. Start simplifying. Get started.

So there are two steps there that are really important.

Simplify your system, then take action.

Get moving.

Okay, I want to give you an example.

You're watching a video right now. Your Life Systems.

That's my brand. I'm Wes. I own Your Life Systems.

I develop the systems. I'm talking to you. I'm trying to help you.

Maybe you're reading some of my writing.

I'm trying to help you create systems that make your life or your business, or both, better.

So Your Life Systems.

It's everywhere.

It's on YouTube. It's on Rumble.

It's on streaming channels.

I also post on Medium, then Instagram and Facebook and LinkedIn.

All over the place.

That's way too much for a complicated system.

When I started, it was complicated, but I quickly learned how to simplify the process.

I learned how to make this a simple process so I could handle actually doing it, but more importantly, I could handle it mentally.

At the beginning of the week, it can be, "Oh, I've got to get these 17 things done, and I've got to get them posted here, and I've got to do this, and I've got to put this stuff on my website."

It can be overwhelming.

But then I learned to simplify the system.

Every week starts with, "I've got to record this many videos to share with you, and then I've got to shoot this many short-form videos to share on social media, and then I've got to put this here."

I've got a system now.

It's a simplified system.

Everything starts with recording the videos and then recording the short-form videos.

That's a simplified system.

Then, when I started doing that, I thought, "Oh, we need to post on Instagram."

Then I figured out how to do that.

I got some help figuring out how to post on Instagram.

That was one step.

I only complicated one thing at a time.

The next thing was, "Okay, we're there now."

Then I needed to do some mid-form content somewhere other than the website, and I said, "Okay, I'm going to start posting on Medium. There's an audience there."

That was one thing at a time.

I didn't add seven things at once.

I added one thing.

A small level of complexity.

Start simple. Add a small level of complexity.

The website was there from the beginning, so it was shoot the videos, put them on the website, and then everything grew from there.

Now we've added each social media platform, or wherever else, one step at a time instead of trying to do them all at once.

That's what I'm talking about.

Simplify the plan at the beginning, then add complexity one step at a time, slowly, as you mentally get comfortable.

This is really a mental game, and you'll find most things in life start as a mental game. The same thing is true in business.

Most things start as a mental game, or a mental drain, or stress.

If I had looked at everything we're doing now with Your Life Systems at the beginning, it was overwhelming.

I had a whole page of stuff.

I want to be here, here, here, here.

I want to be everywhere.

That's too much at once.

It's overwhelming.

You start with two or three important things so you get started.

You start taking action, then you start adding everything else on the page one thing at a time.

One day at a time, or even one week at a time, or one month at a time.

That's how you develop a robust system like I'm using now.

Now think of one area in your life or your business, whatever, where you have thoughts or plans and there's this huge, big thing that might be weighing on you a little bit mentally or you might be starting to feel a little overwhelmed.

Identify the few key things that you need to simplify it to get started, and identify the things you can add later, slowly.

You can make it more complex later.

What's the minimum viable thing you can do to get started today?

Once you take action with a simplified plan, you can start adding the complexity later.

You don't have to be 100% of your entire plan from day one.

You need to start, then build to that plan.

There's nothing wrong with having the full-page list of everywhere you want to be like I did.

The problem is when that creates too much complexity for you to get started, or even if you get started, you don't start well because all of this is weighing on you.

So simplify it.

Complexity creates friction.

If it's too complex, that's what I've been talking about.

If there are too many steps, it's too complex. It creates friction.

Your mind doesn't want to get started, or your mind gets overwhelmed and can't handle all this at one time.

So never forget: Complexity creates friction, and one of your big jobs is to reduce the friction.

Simplicity improves consistency.

That's a big one.

Simplicity improves consistency.

Not only do you want a simplified plan to get started, you want a simplified plan so you can consistently do it.

To make big progress, you need to be consistent.

Keep it simple so you can consistently do it.

The best system is the one you actually use.

The best system is not the whole page, or the book, or whatever - 20 pages strung all over.

Even if all of that worked and would actually be the best system, if you never use it, it's not the best system.

So I'm going to repeat that one.

If this is the only thing you get from this, make sure you get this.

This is a writer-downer.

The best system is the one you'll actually use.

Never forget that.

Remove unnecessary steps, especially at the beginning.

Sure, list out everything in the entire system, everything you want to do, or the entire goal, everything.

But then remove any unnecessary step so you can get started taking action.

Simple isn't the enemy of effective.

Simple is often the reason something works.

Don't get overwhelmed and feel like if you make it too simple, it won't be effective and you can never make it more complete or more complex.

You can.

But I need you to get started.

Whatever your big goal is - business, life, family, whatever - simplify it.

Minimum viable product, minimum viable whatever.

Make it simple so you can get started today.

The thought I want to leave you with is: Simplicity is a strength, not a compromise.

You're not compromising when you take complicated things out.

You can always add them back in later.

That's not a compromise.

That's a step in the right direction because you're getting started.

So this is why simplicity usually wins.

Have a great day.

What's Next?

·        Choose one goal, project, or system that currently feels too complicated.

·        Write down the full version so you don't lose the larger vision.

·        Identify the two or three pieces you actually need to get started.

·        Remove unnecessary steps from the starting version.

·        Put the simplified system into action before adding more complexity.

·        Add one new layer only when real use proves that it's needed.

If you found this helpful:

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• Explore more articles and videos from Your Life Systems.