August 6

What If It Were Easy?

When confronted with a difficult creative challenge, it’s tempting to dive in and start building or making something without first stepping back to think strategically about the best way to approach it.

On his podcast, Tim Ferriss once shared a question that helped him find more clarity in his work. He said that when he feels overwhelmed by a project, he asks, “What would this look like if it were easy?” This is not a lazy question. He isn’t implying that the work shouldn’t require effort. Rather, he is asking how his approach to the work might be simpler so that he can pour his problem-solving efforts into the work itself instead of wasting mental cycles resolving the complexity of the process.

As you consider your work today, pause and ask, “What would this look like if it were easy?” Is there a way to simplify the process or the objectives so that you aren’t wasting energy doing work that provides little return on your effort?

Simplicity of process yields complex, interesting ideas.

QUESTION

What would it look like if it were easy?