The Secret Weapon: Simplicity

In today's fast-paced business world, simplicity is a secret weapon. It's about cutting through complexity to focus on what truly matters. Simplifying processes, communication, and decision-making can lead to faster progress and better results.

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Steve Jobs was famous for finding simplicity.? When he began Apple’s turnaround in 1997 one of his first decisions was to reduce Apple’s product line to four computers; a desktop and a laptop for business use and the same for the home.? A food company was seeing fantastic growth with their seven jams and jellies until they expanded to 27 options and things stalled.

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Yes, keep it simple.

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A company I worked with had a serious safety problem.? They were seeing constant small accidents and their workers comp carrier was cancelling their coverage. Rather than build a huge safety program, we found the most common injuries and began taking action to eliminate them.? We talked about specific safety situations weekly at short tailgate meetings and we reviewed our progress every quarter.? Within a year we had an excellent safety record.

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From a strategic side, I once restructured a company with a plan that involved $70 million in assets over a seven year period with one simple drawing on one sheet of paper.? Even as we were implementing the plan and we had a table full of partners, bankers and attorneys involved, we always went back to that simple drawing to remind us of the plan and where we were going.

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So find ways to simplify your business, whether it is your product line, your plans, your processes or your communication.