- Greg

Of course, complexity is often part of the process in finding simplicity, like all the math that went into arriving at e=mc2. There are times when one is thinking out loud with colleagues, and times when one has it finally sorted out and is sharing it generally. And times when you are thinking out loud with the wrong people listening.

In any case, you’ve provided a great reminder for us to keep trying for the best balance, and being mindful of who is listening. Your post got Yojimbo’d. (It rates big!

Greg (Project Syndicate)
Greg Ivanov´s last [type] ..WEEKLY- The Road to Arab Democracy

- Greg

I feel no shame in admitting that this is the only post of yours that I fully understood!

Does that make me dumb or smart?

Anyway great ideas and in the world of advertising there is a saying that the best solutions are always simple but they being simple is what means they’re ignored.

If you are into multi-culture you’d know about India’s gruelling educational system and its high pressure on students. A recent movie challenged the premise of the system : rote learning- good grades, success in life.

Being an MBA myself I’ve personally experienced the rat raace at post chaste speed. Friends worried about grades which are linked to future jobs and ultimately future success.

Great post and thanks for writing summin I can digest with my lack of intellect:

The point about we being stifled by society etc was well explained by St Exupery in The Little Prince

Here’s a clip from that Indian movie 3 idiots:
http://www.youtube.com/user/IDIOTSatSominalTv#p/u/30/npGZGzwMp3w

It’s long but quite a good watch and funny too! (it’s w subtitles)

The part I’m talking about is after 8min but you shud watch the whole thing once!

Happy New Year!

Tyrone

Thanks for finally commenting, please don’t be shy about posting in the future.

- Greg

Long-time reader, first-time poster! I was so amused and encouraged by your posting, that I could not help but reply. I have championed such simplicity in certain environments only to be mocked. I’ve concluded that it takes a lot of security within one’s self to be plain-spoken and follow the KISS rule; particularly in a work environment full of well-intentioned over-achievers constantly seeking the same, fleeting validation as an ‘A’ on a math test. All I can say is that insecurity is the root of all inefficiency! Therefore, I posit that we wouldn’t necessarily have to be more stupid to be better problem solvers, just more secure to accept the simple, efficient answer.

Sharon
Recovering Smarty-Pants

Thanks.

- Greg

Reminds me of a passage in the book Cheaper by the Dozen…The real, original story about the family of John Galbraith, one of the first time-study experts. When he was a very young man (18, as I recall) he told the owner at a bricklaying concern that if he could be allowed to watch the “Laziest man you have…some guy who’s so lazy he wouldn’t scratch his own ass if it itched.” he could devise a more efficient method of bricklaying for all the employees to follow.

The premise was that the lazy man would never make any move twice if he didn’t have to.

Galbraith was hired and did devise an optimal method for bricklaying and went onto a long career developing the science of Time-Study.

Stupid people are sometime smarter than one thinks.