Simply Brilliant – Fergus O’Connell

The one-sentence summary

• 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

1. Many things are simple – despite our tendency to complicate them
2. You need to know what you’re trying to do – many don’t
3. There is always a sequence of events – make the journey in your head
4. Things don’t get done if people don’t do them – strategic wafflers beware!
5. Things rarely turn out as expected – so plan for the unexpected
6. Things either are or they aren’t – don’t fudge things
7. 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