I’ve come to realise that, despite his appearance, Einstein wasn’t just a mustachioed kook who spent too many days hanging around test tubes and chalkboards.
He actually made a few decent points in his time.
One of them, which I’ve come to think about a lot lately, is:
“Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.”
The essence of simplicity is reduction. Seeing the forest for the trees. It’s why classic lines and patterns cost more when it comes to cars, furniture or clothing. And why digital design that’s easy to use and beautiful to look at takes time.
It’s harder not to add more of everything. There’s nowhere to hide when all you have a simple idea that either stands out or collapses.
Buddha, himself not an entirely unwise gent, said some things that have helped me to evaluate what’s really important in business and in life.
I’ve started to think about these statements as mental road signs to get me where I want to go, even if the occasional detour pops up along the way.
Have a slow read of these. Consider how they apply to the frustrations and obstacles that come your way:
“The root of suffering is attachment.”
“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.”
“There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth: not going all the way, and not starting.”
“In the end, only three things matter: how much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you.”