I want to approach this topic on simplifying three important areas: simplifying our life…simplifying our teaching…and simplifying our systems through Life Training.
Our life can be over wrought with the pursuit of things. Now, before you roll your eyes, I’m not advocating becoming a monk or joining the Amish in pursuit of simplicity. And I’m not advocating losing balance like the old boy who had reduced his work chest down to two tools. He said that a person need only two tools – WD-40 and duct tape. If it doesn’t move and it should, use WD-40. If it moves and shouldn’t, use duct tape.
That’s a little too Simple for me! And, I’m not advocating that you begin to examine your life on such a micro level that you miss the obvious.
Can Life Training really be Simple?
Here’s an example…You all know how, when you look up at a flock of geese winging their way south how one side of the “V” is always longer than the other? Why is that? I’ve had hundreds of answers to that question! You want to know why? Because there are more birds on that side! So the moral is: A lot of times we make problems harder than they really are. Sometimes the simple answer is the right one!
There is a term called Ockham’s Razor. It was named after a 14th century English philosopher named William of Ockham. His work on knowledge, logic and scientific inquiry played a major role in the transition from medieval to modern thought. In his writings, Ockham’s stressed Aristotle’s principles that entities must not be multiplied beyond what is necessary. This principle became known as Ockham’s Razor or the Law of Parsimony. A problem should be stated in its basic and simplest terms. In science, the simplest theory that fits the facts of a problem is the one that should be selected.
This Simple rule is interpreted to mean that the simplest of two or more competing theories is preferable. Or, the best solution to a problem is almost always the simplest solution. Seek simplicity.
Here’s a good explanation of a Simple life balance.
A woman came out of her house and saw 3 old men with long, white beards sitting in her front yard. She didn’t recognize them. She said, “Sirs, I don’t think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat. Is the man of the house at home?” they asked.
“No,” she said. “He’s out. Then we cannot come in,” they replied.
In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what had happened. He said “Go on out and tell them that I’m home now and invite them to come in!” So the woman went out and invited the men in.
“We do not go into a House together,” they replied. “Why is that?” she wanted to know.
One of them pointed to one of his friends and said, “His name is Wealth,” and said pointing to another one, “He is Success, and I am Love.” Then he added, “Now, go in and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home.”
The woman went in and told her husband what was said. Her husband was overjoyed. “Wonderful!!” he said. “Let’s invite Wealth in. Let him come and fill our home with wealth!” His wife disagreed. “No! Let’s invite Success to come in?” Their daughter was listening from the other corner of the house. She jumped in with her own suggestion, “Wouldn’t it be better to invite Love to come in? Our house would be filled with love!”
“Let’s listen to our daughter’s advice,” the husband said to his wife. “Go out and invite Love to be our guest.”
The woman went out and asked the 3 old men, “Which one of you is Love? Sir…Please come in. We want you to be our guest.” Love got up and started walking toward the house. The other 2 also got up and followed him.
The lady, of course, was surprised. So, she spoke to Wealth and Success…”I asked Love to come in. Why are you coming in?”
The old men replied together, “If you had just invited Wealth or Success to come in, the other two of us would’ve stayed out, but since you invited Love, wherever He goes, we go with him. Wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success!!!!!!”
That is a Simple but powerful truth that you can learn through Life Training!
Simplicity is vital.
Three competing storeowners rented adjoining shops in a mall. Everyone waited for the inevitable outbreak of mayhem. The retailer on the right put up a huge sign saying “Gigantic Sale! Super Bargains!” The retailer on the left raised bigger signs that read, “Prices slashed! Fantastic Discounts!” The owner of the store in the middle saw his competitors were overlooking the obvious, so he had a sign made to hang over his door that said simply, ENTRANCE. He got the point!
It’s been said that when training or teaching that you should do it so that an eight-year-old child could understand it. That is not talking down. The entire job of teaching should be based on how much the student learns—not to demonstrate how smart the teacher is. People cannot learn unless they understand. And, they cannot understand unless it is explained simply. It’s like building a brick wall. You teach one step at a time. You begin with the most basic concepts and little by little you build on it. But, you never add a new layer until mortar has been applied to the first.
I believe that the best way to transfer knowledge is through a system.
Our culture thrives on a system-based mentality. Why? There are basically two kinds of workers. Work creators…and work processors. There are a lot more processors than creators. A “creator” says…give me a blank slate and I’ll improvise and create a way to get the job done. A “processor” says just tell me exactly what you want…exactly…and I’ll do it over and over again. Simply stated…no pun intended…they want a system.
Companies that are based on recruiting usually succeed or fail based on having a Simple duplicatable system. I often train for these types of companies and my video production company has produced numerous videos for the industry. Sometimes when I meet with the leadership and have a preliminary meeting I ask them what their system for recruiting is. Sometimes I get blank looks. They answer with comments like…well…we teach our people to be independent thinkers, so they all do it differently.
These companies rarely succeed. Unless a Simple system…that is easily duplicated and passed on to others is initiated…then growth will be unpredictable at best. You’ll have a few superstars that are, in reality, “work creators” but the majority of the “work processors” will blindly stumble forward till discouragement sets in! They needed a system. That keeps the business Simple!
Simple things are easy to remember. Training by using a system is the key to success. I call it ‘TT’, that stands for “transferable technique.” You have to have a simplified system that will be easily remembered and easily transferable. That way, everyone is on the same page…teaching the same concepts…and exponential growth will follow!
We live in a fast paced, fast food culture.
People will not spend weeks and months assimilating benefits and techniques. They want it now! They want to put it into action now! Right or wrong…agree with me or disagree with me…most people are not willing to go through a slow process. So, we have to have a Simple plan of action. Simple things are teachable through Life Training!
You keep thinking about it because you know that you’ll never be financially where you want to be with a weekly paycheck, but what business would you start?