The Beauty of Simplicity

“There is beauty when something works and it works intuitively.” – Jonathan Ive

Too often our world today is filled with absolutely complex problems. It’s filled with the incessant need to do more and more. Go faster and faster.

But in order to create something beautiful and functional, the reverse is necessary.

ENTER SIMPLICITY.

There are two illusions in the world today when it comes to creating something simple:

  • You must work harder and faster.
  • You must search for the right mood and mindset in a variety of forms for inspiration.

Simplicity is intentional and neither of these two misconceptions will accomplish it.

YOU MUST WORK HARDER AND FASTER

Our world is built around this concept. As companies get bigger, we tend not to think about the sheer size of the staff team working around the clock to create and serve to build useful tools and information we can use in our daily lives. In fact, many times we smack our foreheads wondering why we didn’t come up with that first. Or we try and convince others we did come up with it first but our resources were too limited.

Faster and harder doesn’t create better. Intentional purpose, focus, drive, and balance is what fuels teams to make great decisions.

It’s in this balance that allows for creativity to thrive and simplicity to surface.

YOU MUST SEARCH FOR THE RIGHT MOOD AND MINDSET IN A VARIETY OF FORMS FOR INSPIRATION

Searching for the abstract or playing to superstitions doesn’t build anything that can be replicated. Mindsets and moods can be directed. Environments can be created. And people can be formed around a commonality. But these are simply small pieces of an overall puzzle.

If you want to build something simple and functional, you have to stay intentional with discovering more about yourself. Ask the question How?

How do I learn? How do I process? How do I prioritize? How do I problem solve? How do I engage with coworkers? How do I support an idea? How do I speak my mind?

And then follow up with Why?

When you can answer your how and why then you can function at a high-thinking level that will enable you to be successful in all areas.

One of the biggest inspirations for this thinking is actually in Scripture. When you are laser-focused, you can accomplish great things. You see this through the lens of Jesus when He is walking through a crowd and one woman touches His robe with purpose. And He singles her out in the crowd and then speaks life into her situation (Luke 8:43-48).

If people today were trying to start a religion they would try to build a movement, brand it and market it like crazy. Jesus did quite the opposite. He chose a few disciples but the many of the people He healed were asked not to tell anyone who did it. He spoke in parables instead of being direct. And when someone asked Him how to be saved He told that person to sell everything (Mark 10:21).

This was not normal. It went against the grain. Jesus slowed the pace. He worked hard but not to get better. He actually worked to allow others around Him to get better. In fact, He even told them they would accomplish greater things than He did (John 14:12).

Jesus didn’t search for moods and mindsets. He understood his how and why and took advantage of that in order to stay true to His purpose and mission.

He simplified 600+ Old Testament laws into one. He preached a sermon in one sentence. He adopted common sense throughout His ministry even when it wasn’t popular. He stayed quiet when people wanted to kill Him. He spent 3 years doing actual ministry on earth instead of a lifetime.

And somehow we built something beautiful and functional: The Church.

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