A Simple Strategy? I don't need it, give me the complex one.
There’s a common tendency to resist simple strategies, even if they’re effective, and to chase after complex ones, even if they’re not.
As an English teacher, the most frequent question I get is, "How can I improve my English skills?" I always answer: "Read, write, listen, and speak more often." Yet, no one has ever taken that answer seriously! People often believe it can’t be that simple. In reality, it’s not that it’s easy; it’s just straightforward.
Simple means clear, but it doesn’t always mean easy. I sometimes think that if, every time someone asked me this question, I handed them a 200-page book on improving language skills, then they might be convinced I knew what I was talking about.
Mark Manson put it well: "Eight hours of sleep and a daily walk outside will solve as many of your problems as any guru or life coach."
Our minds often refuse to accept that simple solutions can be effective, and many others take advantage of this mindset, selling us unnecessarily complex solutions that complicate things even further.
To illustrate my point, I uploaded this video:
Notice how, when Piers Morgan simply said, "Eat less food, do more exercise," people went crazy? Why do you think that is? I’m curious to know what you think, so please share your thoughts in the comments.
Sometimes, things are oversimplified, but most of the time, that’s all you really need—unless you’re simply avoiding action. In that case, maybe you do need a 200-page manual on how to eat less or a lengthy guide on exercising so that you can feel like you're making progress by reading instead of acting.
Since I was young, I’ve loved these simple, memorable approaches that are easy to follow. They’re effective because, in truth, only an expert can distill complex ideas into clear, practical steps. Think of Warren Buffett’s principles; they made him the most successful investor alive, yet you could understand the basics of his approach in under three minutes.
If you’re constantly seeking complex strategies to "win at life," that’s all you’ll get—complexity. But if you’re after effective strategies, they’re not secrets. You just have to trust they work and then put them into action.