The Complexity of Simplicity

Scanning the internet this morning I perused three different articles that offered "The ---- simple steps to..."  Amazing that lack of attention, social media addiction and great leadership can be solved in a maximum of seven simple steps (one of them only took 3steps). Wow, what's next, "3 steps to solve world hunger?" Heck, we can do it in one step. 1.Feed everybody. But though there are myriad "simple" solutions out there, the challenge of implementing these solutions is more complex. So why is it so difficult to implement some of these simple solutions?

1. Hard work. In the 12 years of study on personal greatness this is the one challenge easily forgotten when we read a blog or book on the simple way to become great. It takes lots of hard work. Though we know that 10,000 hours of deliberate practice is approximately what it takes to be an expert, we then have to sit down and put in the time. It's not easy. As a matter of fact, individuals who have great success usually have worked very hard to get there (unless you are a Kardashian).

2. The Problem of Experts. The media touts experts in every field asking their opinion on how others can join their ranks. They reply "simple.." and rattle off a few ideas on how to become the best in their field. The challenge is that they speak from a rarefied air. Usually experts have some natural ability or strength in their respective field. Trying to have them explain it is difficult because many of them always had somewhat of a natural ability. A natural athlete, performer, or innovator, though they may have put in the time to be an expert, usually had a head start with their skills that allowed them to soar in that field. Listening to them is good, but sometimes it's better to listen to others who have struggled more. We might get a better perspective on what it takes. I've learned a lot more from struggling writers than I have from the experts.

3. Desire. Too often we attempt to work toward something not because it is what we want to do but because it is what others want us to do. Society, friends and family have wonderful ideas of how we can better. The media makes a fortune telling us how to be the richest, most popular, most beautiful person we can be. Yet it is their concepts of what we should be. Many of us, deep down, have no real desire to live the way others want us to live, yet we spend a lot of time trying because we think it's what we are supposed to do or who we are supposed to be. (personally I'm giving up on the 6-pack abs because I'm convinced the guys in the mags are martians.)

These are just some of the challenges we encounter when we try "simple" solutions to complex problems. There are many more, but that would just make it too complex.

Really there is one simple solution to all of life's problems... Do what you love to do. But that is the most complex solution of all.