Simple things, are beautiful things.

Think back to the early 2000’s design of the Blackberry or the previous “smartphone”…then look at the original iPhone design in 2007. When I first saw it, I thought, “Wow, what a beautiful and (simple) device”

I look at the design of Tesla Model S when it came to the marketplace. Even void of its rapid electric thrust and velocity differences vs. the competitive set, the design (inside and out) was simple, sleek, aggressive and beautiful.

I speak to my son all the time about the beauty of simplicity in sports. Show me an all-time great (golf swing, jump shot, throwing motion) that wasn’t refined down to the simplest and most fluid movements. No wasted energy. No wasted movement. Simple movements produce repeatable outcomes, effortless power, and poetry in motion. Viewers and onlookers will say a jump shot is fluid, or beautiful, or effortless. That’s simplicity at play. No waste.

Examples of Simplicity in Sports:

• Golf Swing – Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, Ernie Els (rhythm, on balance, effortless power)
• Basketball Jumper – Ray Allen, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson (simple, no wasted movement, quick to load, deadly accurate)
• NFL Passers – Dan Marino, Aaron Rodgers, Michael Vick (flick).
• Baseball Swing – Barry bonds (steroids or not), Ken Griffey Jr., Billy Williams

How about simplicity in Life?

I think about simplicity in storytelling often in my career. Don’t tell me in 40 slides, what can be distilled down to ten. I had an old boss share the adage, “Be Brief. Be Brilliant. Be Gone” when talking about a pitch or proposal and I’ve never forgotten it (Thank you Bob Alexander). Attention is more fleeting now than ever, and a decisive point well-made, is more effective than a half hearted story delivered with immense dosage.

Think 80/20. Eighty percent of the output, comes from 20 percent of the input. Think about that in diet, in exercise, in the books you read, or as I recommend (re-read). A person doesn’t need a fancy gym membership to get in shape. A person can choose to: run, do push ups, pulls ups and bodyweight squats like a jailhouse prisoner and be in better shape than 99% of the population.

Concerned with a diet? Eat quality meat, vegetables, fruit and limit highly process foods, soda and alcohol. Simple.

Think investing strategy. Warren Buffet recently challenged a hedge fund owner to beat the S&P average over a 10-year span. He put a $1,000,000 bet on it. It won’t happen. You can buy the S&P index on Vanguard (VFIAX) with a 0.04% expense ratio and outperform some guy sitting in his Westchester, NY mansion. VFIAX is up nearly 100% in 5 years. Simple. Immense wealth can be made owning only a few index funds. Want to get wealthy? Live on 50% of your income and invest the rest. Simple.

Design is a wonderful place to understand the beauty of simplicity. Think of the hustle and bustle of the busiest city in the world, New York City. All the grandeur, all the culinary delights, all the entertainment. In 1977, Milton Glaser encapsulated all of that with, “I ❤️ NY”. Simple.

If I ever find myself getting stressed out, or think there is too much chaos, I try to answer the question, “How can I simplify this?”

“Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” ― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Airman’s Odyssey

It was a dreary, rainy Thursday on October 16th. Just around lunch, I got the divine intervention to go for a run.

To be clear, I REALLY don’t like running…mostly because I get bored. But running and endurance is a standard for many fitness pursuits, and therefore it’s a challenge I feel the need to tackle again. I also wonder if I don’t hide in my boredom, from the need to just buckle in, and pass through the suffering miles can teach? Only one way to find out I guess…

I’d been out running a few times the last week or two putting in 3-5 miles a time. Nothing to write home about, but I was out there doing the work, in addition to doing other exercise at home and/or in the gym.

The road behind my house travels east and west along the golf course. It’s a county road setting the boundary for the city and golf course to the north, and the country and 100s of acres of farmland to the south. It’s easy to get out of the driveway, and complete a loop or two on the county road to log a few miles.

I was about 2.5 miles into this run and it was lightly raining. Not so much to be annoying, but just enough to keep a guy cool and refreshed with a kiss of moisture to a red face. I was at the top of a hill to the west of my house, headed east down a long and gradual decline into the countryside. It’s a nice place to reset the heart rate and stride. I heard a rumble and felt the exhaust of something very near me. A contractor’s truck loudly crept up alongside me. The window rolled down.

“You need a ride?” barked a large, gruff man out the window with a half-hearted smile

“Hell no!” I remarked.

Hell no? Where did that come from? (insert facepalm emoji)

“You know it’s raining right?” Said the driver.

“YUP!” I said with extreme pride.

This is the moment something changed!

I smiled, ear to ear, threw my fist into the air…and pointed East (not breaking stride). As to say, this is where I’m going and you better get your ass moving! The driver threw me a thumbs up, and rumbled off to the east. I wondered who put that guy there, in my life at that moment…knowing I needed a push?

A rush of energy and enthusiasm came over me. Was he kidding? Maybe. Was he really wondering why I was running in the rain? I kind of hoped so, because I knew he wouldn’t!!

I hadn’t felt totally myself in a month or so. September work travel to FL sent me home with what was likely a COVID diagnosis (although I never felt the need to test…why?). Another trip to Chicago a few weeks after and more interrupted sleep left my tank half full. I hadn’t gotten a great night of sleep in what felt like weeks since Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Even though my exercise routine continued on, I just hadn’t regained my stamina. It’s a flywheel and all gears need to find rhythm. Faith. Family. Fitness. Finances.

But doing the work, works.

Commitment works. I’d started mixing between running and indoor biking on my Peloton. In October I recommitted to my nightly stretching and meditation routine, in hopes of clearing my restless mind. I recommitted to my daily reading of a daily devotional and Stoic philosophy(one page a day, every day). It’s all additive. It creates, builds and sustains momentum.

I’m writing this on Sunday, Oct. 19th. Last night I had the first great night of sleep in 6+ weeks. This morning I listened to a sermon where the pastor challenged us to think about, How is God’s spirit operating in my life?” I truly felt like this was one of those moments. I felt like someone was saying, “I see you. I’m here. Here’s a little wind in your sails.” Keep Hammering! – Ok, that’s not God, that’s Cam Hanes…but I was listening to his audiobook ENDURE during this jog.

I returned home, after 5-6 miles and a full heart. I knew something had shifted in me on that quick, early afternoon effort. I knew there was more work to do, but that in doing that work, another breakthrough was certain. When will it come? Who will it come from? I do not know. But what’s the worst that can happen by staying committed to the work?

~Be out there! Good things will happen.

Have an amazing week!