I was considering the solution to a problem today and it got me thinking, are easy & simple the same thing?
The answer is normally a huge NO but they can be.
The problem was – should I accept work from a new client?
Unless we work in the areas of advanced science most of our problems have simple solutions but they are not necessarily easy.
Want more free time – work less – simple
Want a bigger business – sell more – simple
Want more money – change jobs for a better paid one – simple
Etc. Etc.
All of these and indeed most problems have simple solutions but they are not easy. Working less is easy but there are, what economists would call externalities. If you work less then maybe you will earn less. If you work for a company with a macho “first person to leave is a wimp” attitude may get you the sack and so on.
With all problems we need to look at the solution and ask “is this effective”. In other words does it move me toward my ultimate goal? If yes the decision no becomes simple – do it. If not then it is not worth any more thought.
When looking at businesses the only way to move forward is to understand the ultimate objective and then choose solutions that effectively move the organisation or individual toward that goal.
Then decisions are simple and what to do (no matter how complex) is easy as it is the only route.
So, did I accept the work from the new client? The answer is no. Once I worked out that it would distract me from my ultimate objective and was not the type of work my plans said I should be doing the answer was simple – No. The solution was also easy – continue to concentrate on what moves me toward my goal.
Tomorrow we look at the Ivy Lee method and how that helps makes things even simpler and easier.
Try it and see.
If you want to look at this further we have both manufacturing and service simulations to enable everyone to be more effective then please contact us for details – https://www.wellsassoc.co.uk/contact/
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