In the early '80s, when I was employed at one of Massachusetts's most advanced manufacturing facilities, there were two personal computers for my entire engineering team. One was a PC, used mainly by Tony, who maintained Lotus 123 spreadsheets tracking all sorts of data. Then there was the Apple Macintosh, used by no one but me. I was fascinated by the two different personalities of these two machines. I loved the feel of the MAC keyboard. It had a freaking mouse! Brilliant! It seemed to know who it was. It was clear on what it was trying to accomplish. Steve Jobs created a machine that was elegant, fun, and effective. It spurred my creative side. I used that thing every chance I could. Its crystal clear Clarity made it a powerful tool of profound Productivity.
At that same time, I adorned my office with all sorts of kitschy pop culture ephemera. One was a light switch plate (no offense intended) of then-president Reagan in his 80's stylized suit ala "Max Headroom" and overlaid colors walking with a big smile. When installed, the light switch protruded from an indelicate location.
Hah! Max Headroom. Look it up, kids.
I had another postcard on the wall from a friend. It said on the front, "Perhaps it's all very simple, or complex, or neither, or both." While on my morning walk, I thought of that postcard while organizing my thoughts for this missive, and it struck me. Clarity in its essence and application is a simplification, but Clarity in its practice is complicated.
I've been challenging myself and a few clients recently to engage in an exercise. It's for your journal. Here is the prompt I want you to consider; It's one year from now. You've just had the best year of your life. What does that look like? You must write this. You can use a keyboard, but I prefer paper. Always paper. Always old school for me.
Old school - I miss those days from the '80s where the computer in our offices was Digital Equipment Corporation terminal connected en masse to a VAX 11/780. But I digress.
This exercise will help you to generate some serious Clarity. But it's not a simple exercise. You will likely push it away like a plate of mushy peas laid in front of you by your Aunt Agnes.
Striving for Clarity reminds me of Meyers Law.
Meyer's Law – whenever you are confronted with an emotionally difficult decision, the most challenging alternative is the alternative that is the right thing to do. Meyer's Law is an application of a principle from decision theory known as Bayes' Criterion, which governs recurring decisions: make the decision that gives you the most significant average payoff. Another way to say this; It's a simple task to make things complex, but a complex task to make them simple.
Another pop-culture reference. Remember the Seinfeld episode featuring George questioning his decision-making process. He decided that whatever he chose to do, he would do the opposite in practice. Instead of seeking the path of least resistance, he would do the difficult thing; Meyers Law. Like the clouds parting on a rainy day, George's life became a cakewalk.
Jerry Seinfeld: "If every instinct you have is wrong, then the opposite would have to be right." George Costanza: "Yes, I will do the opposite. I used to sit here and do nothing and regret it for the rest of the day, so now I will do the opposite, and I will do something!"
Here is another exercise in Clarity impacting Productivity.
As the number of steps to a task increases, the complexity of the task increases exponentially. For example, if you have to relay a message to a friend, the number of tasks is one; call her. The complexity level is one squared or one. If you ask a friend to call a friend to relay a message, the number of tasks is two, and the complexity level is two squared, or four. You can imagine how much more complex this simple task becomes. Getting Clarity on your personal and professional operations and simplifying them, which is complicated to do, will simplify your life exponentially.
Getting Clarity on everything increases your Productivity in everything. Taking the time to complete the above-suggested journaling exercise is difficult and complicated. However, it will generate tremendous Clarity and level up your life productivity.
This is Life Engine Optimization. It's what High Performance is all about.
Be well, dear reader.
