Focus on Keeping it Simple. Break things down into the simplest components, one thing at a time, each and every day in the simplest way. Keeping it simple is really important.

In the 1960s, the United States Navy used "Keep it simple, stupid" as a design principle for their engineers. They realized that most systems work best if they are kept simple rather than made complicated, so even to this day, they encourage using simplicity as a key goal and avoid unnecessary complexity. Kelly Johnson, who was an aeronautical engineer at the time asked his team to design their jet engines so they could be repaired by a limited set of basic mechanic’s tools. Thus, if an aircraft was damaged in the field, it would be capable of being repaired under combat conditions. The same holds true to all aspects of our lives. When we keep things simple, it makes it much easier to deal with the complicated crap that the world throws at us.

When making purchasing decisions, keep it simple. One guy came to me peddling a solar product, which started out sounding nice. It was good for the environment and it would save on my monthly electric bill. However, the more I got into it, the more I asked questions, the more convoluted and complicated it all became. Then I started to see the greed in him. So I chose to not pursue a solar project with him. I’m not saying that solar is a bad idea, but I chose not to work with him because he didn’t make it simple.

When dealing with interpersonal relationships and business interactions, keep it simple. At one point a business associate tried to make me accountable and responsible for his bad behavior and poor decisions. They had a foreclosure and they wanted me to pay my clients because their investment property didn’t return what they had planned. They had a contractual obligation to pay our clients, we were not liable for their poor choices. I was able to keep things simple, knowing the boundaries of what I'm responsible or accountable for in what I do.

During this time, I was also learning to overcome the fact that I was a “Yes” person. I felt that it was my not-so-simple task to take care of the world and that I was responsible for everybody. I needed people to like me because I felt that I was not enough. If I got their favor, I thought they would like me more which would validate my self-worth. I had so many people in my life expecting me to take care of them and do for them. What ended up happening is people would use and abuse me because they knew I would always say yes. If I did say no, they would judge me. I learned how to keep it simple and understand that I had the power to say no. If people didn't like you when you say no, then they never really liked you anyway. If you want to please everybody, you will find people that will not be pleased, and they'll get more out of you. 

“Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler.”

Albert Einstein

Here are some tips on how to keep things simple:

• Break your decisions down into simple components.
• Keep your business programs simple and you’ll attract and retain more customers.
• Keep your personal relationships simple and they will be stronger and last longer.
• Lies make things complex. Transparency and honesty build trust, and trust is simple.
• Think clearly, not in convoluted circles about essentially unanswerable questions and events that are outside of your control.
• Do the right thing the first time you don't have to repeat.