More is better, in the context of less

Posted by Jaan on October 23rd, 2009 | Add your comment

You probably know that I am an advocate of clarity and simplicity in work as well as  in life. Recently a client wanted me to expand my thinking around this in preparation for an internal workshop he was running on a related subject. Here is what I wrote.

I’m working with less.

I have a smaller laptop, with less HD space. My paper notebook is cheap but good, and so is the pen I use to write in it with.

I use less and less apps, and I bookmark fewer things. My feed reader is heavily, or should that be lightly, curated so that I have less but better stuff to read.

I have a simpler fee structure for my clients, and a plain English non-lawyer-lingo (but iron clad) contract for us both to sign.

I have less “clutter”, not because I’m good at cleaning up but because I don’t give clutter a chance to creep in or pile up.

I have one inbox, and one place where I keep stuff. One simple business card. One clear message.

This is not frugality gone wrong or some trendy better way of working. It’s a personal choice to constantly clarify and simplify. Not to dumb down or take things to the brink of emptiness but to a level where there are no obstructions, nothing to get in the way of what I love doing, or what needs to get done.

If it’s anything it is just that… a back to human basics of having less of what I need and more of what I like, or at a minimum the opportunity to give what I like all my attention.

In the case of my work it is more good people to talk too, more conversations and more projects, more ideas, play, results and fulfillment. More inspiration, encouragement, knowledge and more stuff tested and more opportunity presented. And in this instance more equals better, as in more of the things I just mentioned leads to better results and happier partners, collaborators and above all clients.

Less in itself is just fewer of x and meaningless. On the other hand less as in part of an equation where the result is an elevated you is priceless.

Does my way of thinking make sense to you, or do you find it better to have more stuff saved and always at your fingertips? Is bigger in fact better? Either way, please share your thoughts on Twitter where I am @orvet, or in the comments.