The one-sentence summary
Life is simpler than you think, so get on with it.
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WHAT THE BOOK SAYS
- The best ideas aren’t always complicated and the incredibly straightforward stuff is often overlooked in the search for a complex answer
- Many smart people lack the set of essential skills which could roughly be described as “common sense”
- There are 7 principles here that can be adapted for attacking most everyday problems
- Many things are simple – despite our tendency to complicate them
- You need to know what you’re trying to do – many don’t
- There is always a sequence of events – make the journey in your head
- Things don’t get done if people don’t do them – strategic wafflers beware!
- Things rarely turn out as expected – so plan for the unexpected
- Things either are or they aren’t – don’t fudge things
- Look at things from other’s point of view – it will help your expectations
WHAT’S GOOD ABOUT IT
- In a world of over complication, asking some simple questions can really make your life easier. For example:
- What would be the simplest thing to do here?
- Describing an issue or a solution in less than 25 words
- Telling it as though you were telling a six year old
- Asking whether there is a simpler way
- Try writing the minutes of a meeting before the meeting – then you’ll know what you want to get out of it
- It highlights the difference between duration and effort. “How long will it take you to have a look at that?” “About an hour.” But when?
- It explains the reasons why things don’t get done: confusion, over-commitment, inability – usually busy people never say there’s a problem!
- Plan your time assuming you will have interruptions – the “hot date” scenario
WHAT YOU HAVE TO WATCH
- The orientation is very much based on a project management perspective, which is fine if you are one, but others may prefer to cherry-pick the most applicable ideas
- Anyone who flies by the seat of their pants would have to be very disciplined to apply these ideas. It’s a bit like dieting