6 Ways Make The Impossible Easy In The Workplace

Tim Ferriss, renowned author, entrepreneur, and self-improvement guru, has revolutionized the way many approach success. His powerful quote, "What would you do if it was easy?" challenges us to rethink our strategies, simplify our lives, and find a path to achieve our goals with greater efficiency. In this article, we will explore the profound implications of Ferriss' philosophy and how it can transform the way we approach our professional endeavors on LinkedIn.

Understanding This Philosophy

Imagine this: You're in the midst of chaos, buried under an avalanche of tasks, and the weight of complexity is suffocating. You’ve been asked to do a new thing, that you barely understand and motivate a team who isn’t too thrilled about this. Nobody seems to understand what “done” looks like but there’s a lot of pressure to act right now.

Sounds all too familiar, right? It was in the midst of this madness (or maybe better said, opportunity) that Tim Ferriss stumbled upon a powerful question.

Let me paint you a picture of Tim's early days as an entrepreneur. He was burning the candle at both ends, hustling day and night, convinced that grinding relentlessly was the only path to victory. But here's the kicker—despite his best efforts, progress was crawling, and frustration was setting in.

And then, a wise mentor crossed Tim's path. Over a glass of whiskey, this seasoned business guru dropped a truth bomb that shattered Tim's paradigm. He simply asked, 'Tim, what would you do if it was easy?'

That question hit him like a ton of bricks. Tim's mind began racing as he pondered the possibilities. What if he could make things easier? What if complexity wasn't the secret ingredient to success?

Now, to take a short break from Tim’s story, most of us first answer that question with something like “but it’s not easy.” Our brain then has a long list of why things are so hard. On autopilot, we’ve set up the whole scenario of how hard it will be and what a rough time we will have. But, if we allow it - even for a moment - to think about what “easy” would look like - how we would think, feel and act - it changes the entire energy. Our problem-solving brain will come up with ideas and ways to make it easy and lots of “what if” questions. This can take some practice, and sometimes we just need to go with something like “I’m open to the possibility of this being easy.”

Okay, back to our regularly scheduled program (already in progress)...

With a newfound sense of purpose, Tim embarked on a quest for simplicity. He created a world of freedom and untapped potential. He began slashing unnecessary tasks, automating mundane processes, and focusing on the essential elements of his goals. As Tim embraced the power of ease, he unearthed a profound truth: when you let go of needless complexity, you unlock a reservoir of creativity and joy.

Imagine waking up every morning, excited to tackle your work, and experiencing a sense of flow that carries you effortlessly through the day. It's about finding that sweet spot where productivity and passion collide - in a way that is in balance with who you want to be.

So, here's my challenge to you: take a step back and reflect on your week ahead. Are you bogged down by unnecessary complexities? Are you confusing hard work and long meetings with effectiveness??

Maybe, for just this week, it’s a good time to try something different. What are three things that would be different if your “this” was easy? How would you act if they were true? How can you put some of that in place, right now? You’re absolutely worth spending a few seconds thinking about this.

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In the upcoming sections, we will look at the barriers that hold us back from embracing simplicity, some practical strategies for infusing ease into your professional life, and real-life stories of individuals who have harnessed the power of 'What would you do if it was easy?' to conquer their goals.

Uncovering the Barriers to Simplicity

Okay, let’s shed light on the obstacles that stand between us and the beautiful realm of ease. When it comes to simplicity, we often find ourselves entangled in a web of self-imposed limitations. We create intricate webs of complexity, believing that success can only be attained through struggle. But let me tell you a secret: complexity is not a badge of honor; it's a burden we carry unnecessarily.

One of the greatest barriers to simplicity is fear—the fear of letting go, the fear of embracing a different path. We fear that if we simplify, we'll be perceived as lazy or that our efforts won't be valued. But guess what? Simplifying doesn't mean taking the easy way out; it means finding the most effective way forward.

There’s a? powerful story from Ken Blanchard that perfectly illustrates this point. There was a manager named Sarah who found herself drowning in complexity. She believed that being busy equaled being productive, so she took on every task that came her way. Sarah was overwhelmed, exhausted, and her team also suffered as a result.

Then, during a leadership workshop, Sarah heard a quote that resonated deeply with her: "Complexity is your enemy; simplicity is your friend." Sarah realized that her fear of simplifying was holding her back from true effectiveness - for herself and her team. “How can I make this simple?” is a good friend of “How can I make this easy?”

With newfound courage, Sarah started to peel away the layers of unnecessary complexity. She learned to delegate tasks, empowering her team members and freeing up her own time for strategic thinking. The results were astounding. Sarah's team flourished, productivity soared, and she finally found the breathing space she needed to lead effectively.

As leaders, we must also confront the allure of complexity. Society has conditioned us to believe that success is synonymous with busyness. We glorify the hustle, the grind, adversity, and the never-ending to-do lists. But the truth is, complexity often hinders productivity… and stifles innovation.

Ken Blanchard also talks about a young entrepreneur named Mark, whose passion for his startup was overshadowed by a never-ending stream of tasks and obligations. He worked day and night, juggling multiple projects, and soon found himself overwhelmed. But then, a mentor shared a simple piece of advice: "Simplify, Mark. Focus on what truly matters."

With those words ringing in his ears, Mark began decluttering his work processes. He identified the core activities that drove his business forward and eliminated the non-essential. As a result, his productivity skyrocketed, and he regained his enthusiasm and clarity of purpose.

It’s really time to challenge societal norms and expectations here. Complexity is not a prerequisite for success. It's time to let go of the false belief that we must overcomplicate our lives to prove our worth. Embracing simplicity is a courageous act that allows us to shine brighter, achieve more, and live with a sense of balance.

Spoiler alert - you’ll probably get MORE done and certainly enjoy the day to day much more.

In the next section, we'll explore the power of simplification and practical strategies for streamlining our processes.?

Embracing the Power of Simplification

Get ready to unlock the power of embracing a life of ease and efficiency.

To be clear, simplification is not about taking shortcuts or compromising on your dreams. It's about stripping away the unnecessary layers that weigh us down and discovering the essence of what truly matters. It’s allowing yourself to say “what if” and “how could I” a lot more - instead of “I can’t” and “It won’t”.

Life is already complex enough, so why burden ourselves with additional complications? It’s almost like we have an addiction with “making it hard” and that means the thing is more important. Take a moment to reflect on your daily routines, your work tasks, and your personal responsibilities. Are there just 2-3 areas you can simplify? What are a few actions you can take today to start that?

Sometimes, just creating some of the physical space to make this happen is a great first step.

For some,? creating an organized space brings clarity and focus. For others, our daily work routines could well reveal tasks that can be streamlined, automated, or eliminated. In just doing a few activities around this, you can build a renewed sense of purpose and perhaps think of a few ideas that had been hiding in the background.

Now of course, we have access to incredible tools and resources that can simplify our lives like never before. From scheduling apps to task management systems, there's a solution for every challenge we face. Again though, you’ll want to keep this easy and simple. What do you already have on your phone that could help? Can you just ask for a few reminders or have your device keep a “to do” list of things for later?

To be clear, making it easy is not just a manufacturing process simplification effort. It's about understanding what truly matters to us and focusing our energy on those areas. We live in a world that bombards us with distractions (how many social media platforms are we on, and for how long?). It's crucial that we learn to prioritize and say "no" to the non-essential.

Take a moment. What are the goals that truly ignite your soul? What brings you joy and fulfillment? And yes, you can have this at work - trust me, I know your brain will first tell you otherwise (“but I can’t…”).

As we make things easier, and assume there should be an easier path, we turn on an engine of “how can I” instead of “it won’t ever happen”.??

In the next section, we'll explore strategies for overcoming challenges and cultivating an easy mindset. We'll learn how to navigate discomfort and embrace the learning curve that comes with simplification. Remember, you are worth it.?

Overcoming Challenges and Cultivating an Easy Mindset

Now, when we talk about simplicity, it's important to acknowledge that it's not always an easy road. It requires us to step out of our comfort zones, confront our fears, and be willing to let go of what no longer serves us. But here's the thing: you are already brave enough to face these challenges head-on. You have the power within you to cultivate an easy mindset.

One of the key elements of this journey is recognizing the difference between easy and lazy. Our society often confuses the two, equating ease with laziness or lack of ambition. Embracing ease is not about taking the easy way out or settling for mediocrity. It's about making intentional choices and finding the most effective path towards our goals. It’s also about getting that awesome brain of yours in problem-solving (not problem creating) mode.

Without revealing too much, let me share that I’ve been there, and can often be there daily. Corporate cultures can sometimes be groupthink and new ideas are not always celebrated, right? It can feel like being innovative and going for simplicity would be a career limiting move, right?

Here’s one simple exercise that I’d encourage others that might be in this space. Every morning, even just for a few minutes, ask yourself “what are a few ideas I have for resolving X?” You may have some silly ones, you may have some days that are slower with ideas, and some that are faster. Just putting your brain in this wonderment state - “how can I solve it?” - changes more than may be apparent. Now, you don’t have to take action on any of these - you are just building up the skill and introducing a new voice of making things easy (and simple).

So, be honest with yourself here, embracing simplicity and cultivating an easy mindset often requires us to navigate lots of discomfort. We’re experts already at saying how hard things are - but not usually expert in thinking about how we can resolve the most complex and daunting situations.?

As Brené Brown expertly shares, growth happens outside of our comfort zones. Embracing simplicity may require us to recalibrate our mindset and challenge the patterns that have kept us stuck in complexity. But with even a little vulnerability and courage, we can create a space for ease, joy, and true fulfillment.

In the next section, we will explore practical strategies for integrating simplicity into our professional lives.?

Real-Life Applications of Ferriss' Philosophy

It’s one thing to write (and talk) about simplicity - and it’s another to do it. It’s messy, and it can feel like it doesn’t work.

Years ago, there was an important project at my work. It had a huge benefit to our end customers, our internal employees, and our bottom line. At the time, the organization had only identified a very expensive way to just get part of this done. That budget was about 10x what we had to spend, and so most were going down the path of “I guess we can’t do this… and we have to keep suffering with this mess.” Okay, nobody said this exactly, but it was absolutely what they were thinking.

Many very talented people made other efforts that were not able to help this move forward either.

What they all had in common was the mindset of making the effort very complex, hard, and expensive to solve. Everyone was well intentioned, and wanted to do a thorough job. They wanted to highlight all the risks and cover them all. Nobody wanted anyone to take short cuts or put the company (or customers) in peril, for sure. All good things.

For a moment, somehow I got some courage. Trust me, this doesn’t happen often. I’m an introvert and know that there are risks introducing different paths in the corporate world. However, somehow I said “what if” and suggested an idea to a few colleagues. We somehow found a way to prototype this - starting from “what if this was easy?”

Again, almost like a small miracle, this caught on. In half the time expected and about 1/10th of the cost, we had a very working system that was nearly impossible before. It’s been live for a number of years now and continues to provide value - this was not “throw away” work or a sloppy hack.

The difference here was honestly asking some “What if” and “How could we” questions, and taking small actions in that direction. And trust me, no matter your corporate culture, this works.

Ready to get started?

Here are four? practical strategies to help you apply Ferriss' philosophy to your life:

1. Assess and streamline: Take a critical look at your routines and commitments. Identify areas of complexity and streamline them to create more space for focus and growth. Block out areas on your calendar to ask “what if”.

2. Embrace technology and automation: Leverage tools you already have to remind yourself of activities, simplify tasks, and free up valuable time and mental energy.

3. Prioritize ruthlessly: Clarify your values, goals, and priorities. Say "no" to non-essential commitments and focus on the activities that align with your purpose. If you really cannot say “no”, then schedule it for a later time.

4. Foster a culture of simplicity: If you're a leader or part of a team, champion simplicity as a core value. Encourage open dialogue, innovation, and continuous improvement and make sure to ask “what if this was easy” - even if it’s a thought exercise.

Making it simple is a powerful leadership mindset.

And, as you do this, remember to be empathetic and validate people’s fears (including your own). You aren’t agreeing with them here or letting them run you - you are just being straight-up that they exist. This will allow more energy to focus on the path to simplicity and making it easy.

The Ripple Effect of Embracing Ease

There’s a great YouTube video that describes the principle of the “first follower” better than anything I’ve read.

In short, it shows a person dancing at a large outdoor concert. He’s by himself. And honestly, he’s a little awkward. However, he is focussed, doesn’t seem to care that he is being stared at, and keeps dancing.

In a few moments, another joins him. He mimics the slightly awkward dance of the original dancer. But in a few moments, he’s clearly enjoying himself, dancing and seeing how happy this makes him.

In a few more moments, dozens join in and are dancing. It’s clearly a movement.

The person that was laughed at, and was a bit awkward, now has a huge following. Maybe more importantly, dozens of people are having fun in the moment, instead of spurning more negativity.

Maybe you cannot dance at work, but you can ask what if. You can have the courage to maybe be awkward (if that’s what it takes). And, in a shorter time than you realize, you may just have a tribe of others dancing with you, as you have shown them how to make it easy.

As? Peter Drucker says: "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." In other words, it is through simplicity that we unveil the elegance of true effectiveness and unlock our collective potential.

In Closing

Tim Ferriss' philosophy of "What would you do if it was easy?" offers a powerful lens through which we can reframe our approach to success - for ourselves and our teams.

Even just the thought exercises around this are powerful - yes even if you don’t (yet) take action on them.

And, I encourage you, no matter how awkward it may be, to be courageous and … dance.

Have a great week!

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#SimplifyForSuccess

#EffortlessExcellence

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