One of my most important values is simplicity. The urge to simplify probably comes from my early work in manufacturing and consulting, where our goal was to eliminate nonvalue-added activities in order to promote employee satisfaction and profitability. By eliminating unnecessary activities, we found more time to reflect, strategize, and strengthen relationships. It wasn’t just about efficiency–even more important was the mental and spiritual space created by cutting out the extraneous.
Now, I must add that with the number of things I read and listen to, I have a tendency to overcomplicate some things. For every leadership topic, including this one, I’ve heard a dozen or more different takes each claiming to be the best. In the interest of simplicity I’ve distilled this mess of wisdom to a few basic intentions and practices that help me eliminate the nonessential and focus on what matters most.
Simplicity Starts With Intention
It all begins with intention, I start each day with an intention to be and do four things: be present, kind, curious, and helpful.
In this culture of distraction and anxiety, being present is both an immense challenge and a thing of incredible power. If we spend our days worrying about past actions and future events, we miss the essence of what is happening right in front of us. Being present, on the other hand, creates connection, focus, and understanding. And you are only ever one deep breath away from being present to what awaits you in this moment. What could be simpler?
Kindness Is Rooted In Awareness
Kindness, which is closely linked to presence, seems to be a lost art these days. I think part of why I see kindness less frequently is because many of us seem to be in such a big hurry to get to whatever is next. Just yesterday, while out with my wife for our weekly “Food Truck Fair,” I was disappointed that the counter person didn’t even make eye contact with me as he was handing me my evening meal. I am sure that he didn’t even hear my heartfelt “thank you” as his mind and attention leapt forward to the next order he had to fill. I can’t claim to be perfect in this regard, but I am making an effort to be kinder, in the simplest of ways: a smile, a kind word, patience with others, or even just eye contact.
Being curious is my way of softening judgement and establishing rapport with others. Channeling my inner 4-year-old works best when I am engaged with people that are from different backgrounds, subscribe to different beliefs, or have a different style than mine. My genuine curiosity enables me to see, hear, and experience the essence of the individual in front of me.
Lastly, I want to be helpful. Being helpful is a demonstration of compassion, which is an important interpersonal competency. Our willingness to recognize someone else’s challenges and to take an active interest in helping them is a critical leadership and life skill.
Having set these simple intentions for the day, I turn to the basic habits that help keep me healthy, grounded, and solvent.
The Simplicity Formula
One of these is a simple formula for financial independence, one which I did not learn in accounting school, probably because it’s so basic: 50/30/20. Regardless of what you earn (although it is easier when you earn a living wage) allocate 50% of your budget for needs, 30% for wants, and 20% for savings. It doesn’t need to be any more complicated than that. Oh, and take in more that you pay out!
Previous blogs have spelled out another one of my guidelines for focus and impact – 3, 5, 6, 8.
–Three essential activities to focus your energy on each day.
-No more than five unique events. Everyone needs space for unplanned events as well as for moments of intuition and inspiration.
–Six weeks of vacation. In the United States in particular, we do not have enough time away from our jobs. We have been brainwashed into thinking we need to work long hours to get ahead, and many of us have worked ourselves into burnout and ineffectiveness. One of the best ways to increase your effectiveness is to take some well-earned time off.
–Eight hours of sleep. Most people do not get enough sleep. The simplest solution to issues with health, mood, and productivity is to get your rest!
As you apply the practices of 3, 5, 6, 8, you will begin creating and integrating rituals that consistently keep you learning, moving, eating, socializing, and resting. Nurture or resurrect meaningful habits that get you excited about these vital activities. Rituals provide meaning, and meaning helps us stay motivated and in action.
Get and stay in flow in your life by replacing fear with love, anxiety with presence, and confusion with simplicity. Listen deeply, open your mind, and act upon the things that light you up and that allow you to share your gifts with the world around you.