Simplicity, Complexity and a Return to Simplicity

Everywhere I look there is a recurring theme of simplicity, complexity and then a return to simplicity. This might sound boring, but after reading this, you will begin to see it everywhere. I’m not sure what it means, but let’s explore together.

I was first introduced to this notion by Adam Robinson on his episode of the Tim Ferriss show. Adam Robinson is chess-grandmaster, co founder of the Princeton review and economic advisor to billionaires. His example of simplicity on the other side of complexity is a musician who started out playing simple songs. Then, as the musician progressed, he learned all of these complicated riffs and rhythms. Finally, at the end of his career, he realized that simplicity sounds best and returns to playing those same three chord progressions that he start with.

Another common instance is the Mexican Fisherman parable. You can read the full story here, but the short version is: An American business man is traveling to Mexico and he notices a fisherman who has caught many fish. He asks the fisherman how long it took to catch the fish. The fisherman explains that it only takes a little while, then he spends time with family, takes a nap and plays guitar with his friends.

Recognizing the quality of the fish and the fisherman’s apparent talent, the businessman suggests he scale up the operation. Fish longer, sell them all over the country and create a big company! Confused, the fisherman asks what the point of all of that would be. The business explains that after running the company for 15-20 years, he could take it public, sell his stake and retire!

What is retirement? the fisherman asks. The businessman replies, “fishing a little, spending time with family and playing music with friends.”

So there it is again. Simplicity on the other side of complexity.

This is also the theme of many stories that we love. Think of Lord of the Rings. There’s a hobbit living a simple lifestyle and minding his own business. Then, he goes on the adventure of a lifetime and finally returns home to a simple life once again.

The burning question is, “do we need all of the complexity?” The Mexican fisherman certainly did not, but do we?

As with most good questions, the answer is “yes and no.”

We don’t need the complexity if we only ever want simplicity. The only purpose of the complexity is to enjoy the process of going on a journey.

The Hobbit wouldn’t be a story if there was no complexity. Similarly, our lives wouldn’t be very interesting if there wasn’t a little bit of chaos and adventure.

The real kicker is that this isn’t how we think and act. We embark on complex journeys with the sole purpose of returning to simplicity. We work for 40 years and live a well-off lifestyle, just to retire. The problem is that we don’t need to do 40 years of work to find simplicity. We could take a simpler job, live in a simpler town and buy fewer things. We could do that as soon as we graduate and for the rest of our lives.

I’m not saying that’s a desirable path, but if you do it all for the sake of retirement, you might as well just live modestly now and achieve that simplicity earlier in life.

The only solution is to enjoy the journey. To embark on the adventure for its own sake.

The last important application is that we tend to think of happiness as being on the other side of accomplishment. It’s simply not true. We don’t need to accomplish massive goals to be happy. The 40 year journey isn’t what allows you to be happy at the end. You can find happiness right here and right now.