Think simple

No, not simple minded. But simple. In other words, with clarity and focus. Stripping the bark away to reveal the essence of your life and your work.

Ever work with someone who used a lot of words to explain something that could be done in a minute or two? Where you didn't want to ask them a question because you knew the answer would take much time?

Either they don't know exactly what they're doing but don't want you to know that and so they meander towards the answer. Or they know there's no substance there and want to obscure that fact. Or they're insecure and believe fancy talk makes them look smarter.

Don't mask a lack of substance with complexity.

The power of a little better.

Sometimes you want to shake up the world with something dramatic and huge. A moonshot.

Or you can take the path of being a little bit better. The latter is much more sustainable.

I follow Hiut Denim, a small jeans maker in Cardigan Wales. They make investment-grade jeans with care and craftsmanship of people who've been making jeans for decades. The business was founded as a way to bring a community back to its roots. You see, years ago it employed more than 400 people. And then the jobs got outsourced to cheaper geographies like so many other companies.

The factory sat empty. And now it brims with life.

They do things simply. I share them today because they produce an annual yearbook in print. With craftsman ship like everything else. Most pertinent to you is the theme: one percent better. Big change is powerful and worthy of chest thumping. Little change not so much. Yet this is the power of small and simple. If you improve just 1% per day in one year you'll be 40x better at your craft than you are right now. Imagine that: 40x! All by doing little simple things.

It's counter to how most of us think. It's not exciting or sexy. Until that year later when it is. Kind of like the person who gets lucky after a decade of hard slogging that no one sees.

What's more, Hiut denim was and is built through a couple of simple newsletters that inspire and teach. And then sell. What they don't cost in hard dollars they cost in consistent time, execution and simplicity.

I shared the 1% better concept on Linkedin and was asked how you measure it. To which I don't have a formula. Or a simple answer. What I do know is it forces you to think about all of the little things you can do differently to be better tomorrow than today.

Want some examples of what they did to improve? It's your lucky day:

• New parking signs and a welcome sign to replace those looking tired
• Cleaned out the studio to make space for creativity
• Created a Hiut Women Instagram page (#hiutwomen)
• Wrote a new series of welcome emails when someone signs up for their list.
• Adding a "Meet our suppliers" page to their new website.

All small things. But hopefully you get the picture that they add up to something big. Just like the time value of money.

Also noteworthy is how everything Hiut does hangs together through quality and simplicity.

You can too. Pick something and own it.

Would you pay more to limit options?

Speaking of craft, let's talk about the new Leica Q2 Monochrome. It costs $1000 more than the Leica Q2 which shoots color which you can easily convert to black and white. Why pay more for less? Why pay for limiting yourself? In general, Leica charges you for not having all of the features of most cameras. A lot actually. High price is part of their brand.

But they also have a special quality. And with the monochrome, it's a focus on doing black and white images extremely well. It lets a photographer committed to black and white focus on making images rather than futzing with complexity. Leica even removed their red logo and made all of the markings on the camera monochrome. Their attention to detail runs deep.

In short, this is a camera that gets out of the way. And also creates joy. It's not for everyone. But for those it's for, it's pure magic. As someone who loves BOTH color and black and white it would be a tough decision. I like options after all. But maybe the constraint it forces would be magical?

Leica knows what it stands for. How about you?

My final example on simplicity delivering more is about John Sharpe who has repped some of the best commercial photographers and artists around. I met with him 20 years ago about representing me. In the process he estimated a job for Nissan I didn't win. And because in 2001 by not being in New York or Los Angeles I ultimately wasn't a good fit. I also don't think I was as focused at the time (no pun intended) as those on his roster.

John's been doing this for 35 years, had offices in LA and New York plus other reps. Today, he has just two artists and no employees. And makes more than he did with more of everything. John knows what he stands for. He knows what he isn't.

Of course this doesn't work for everyone or everything. Sometimes it takes more people to achieve your goals. Yet there's still power in simplicity. Knowing what you have means everyone and everything counts. You eliminate slop. Increase your agility.

Think simple. It's harder than throwing everything together. Piling thought upon thought. Makes you organize. Consider. Prune. Takes time. Gotta think a little more slowly. But when you get the essence of your simplicity, you'll go faster than you ever thought you could.

Combine that with being a little bit better every day and imagine where you'll be next March.

I’ll leave you with an inspiring conversation with a photographer who took one camera (Yes, a Leica) and hit the road to create a book during the pandemic. He used the view out of his truck as a theme. The results are remarkable, I think. But see for yourself.

Think simple

No, not simple minded. But simple. In other words, with clarity and focus. Stripping the bark away to reveal the essence of your life and your work.

Ever work with someone who used a lot of words to explain something that could be done in a minute or two? Where you didn't want to ask them a question because you knew the answer would take much time?

Either they don't know exactly what they're doing but don't want you to know that and so they meander towards the answer. Or they know there's no substance there and want to obscure that fact. Or they're insecure and believe fancy talk makes them look smarter.

Don't mask a lack of substance with complexity.

The power of a little better.

Sometimes you want to shake up the world with something dramatic and huge. A moonshot.

Or you can take the path of being a little bit better. The latter is much more sustainable.

I follow Hiut Denim, a small jeans maker in Cardigan Wales. They make investment-grade jeans with care and craftsmanship of people who've been making jeans for decades. The business was founded as a way to bring a community back to its roots. You see, years ago it employed more than 400 people. And then the jobs got outsourced to cheaper geographies like so many other companies.

The factory sat empty. And now it brims with life.

They do things simply. I share them today because they produce an annual yearbook in print. With craftsman ship like everything else. Most pertinent to you is the theme: one percent better. Big change is powerful and worthy of chest thumping. Little change not so much. Yet this is the power of small and simple. If you improve just 1% per day in one year you'll be 40x better at your craft than you are right now. Imagine that: 40x! All by doing little simple things.

It's counter to how most of us think. It's not exciting or sexy. Until that year later when it is. Kind of like the person who gets lucky after a decade of hard slogging that no one sees.

What's more, Hiut denim was and is built through a couple of simple newsletters that inspire and teach. And then sell. What they don't cost in hard dollars they cost in consistent time, execution and simplicity.

I shared the 1% better concept on Linkedin and was asked how you measure it. To which I don't have a formula. Or a simple answer. What I do know is it forces you to think about all of the little things you can do differently to be better tomorrow than today.

Want some examples of what they did to improve? It's your lucky day:

• New parking signs and a welcome sign to replace those looking tired
• Cleaned out the studio to make space for creativity
• Created a Hiut Women Instagram page (#hiutwomen)
• Wrote a new series of welcome emails when someone signs up for their list.
• Adding a "Meet our suppliers" page to their new website.

All small things. But hopefully you get the picture that they add up to something big. Just like the time value of money.

Also noteworthy is how everything Hiut does hangs together through quality and simplicity.

You can too. Pick something and own it.

Would you pay more to limit options?

Speaking of craft, let's talk about the new Leica Q2 Monochrome. It costs $1000 more than the Leica Q2 which shoots color which you can easily convert to black and white. Why pay more for less? Why pay for limiting yourself? In general, Leica charges you for not having all of the features of most cameras. A lot actually. High price is part of their brand.

But they also have a special quality. And with the monochrome, it's a focus on doing black and white images extremely well. It lets a photographer committed to black and white focus on making images rather than futzing with complexity. Leica even removed their red logo and made all of the markings on the camera monochrome. Their attention to detail runs deep.

In short, this is a camera that gets out of the way. And also creates joy. It's not for everyone. But for those it's for, it's pure magic. As someone who loves BOTH color and black and white it would be a tough decision. I like options after all. But maybe the constraint it forces would be magical?

Leica knows what it stands for. How about you?

My final example on simplicity delivering more is about John Sharpe who has repped some of the best commercial photographers and artists around. I met with him 20 years ago about representing me. In the process he estimated a job for Nissan I didn't win. And because in 2001 by not being in New York or Los Angeles I ultimately wasn't a good fit. I also don't think I was as focused at the time (no pun intended) as those on his roster.

John's been doing this for 35 years, had offices in LA and New York plus other reps. Today, he has just two artists and no employees. And makes more than he did with more of everything. John knows what he stands for. He knows what he isn't.

Of course this doesn't work for everyone or everything. Sometimes it takes more people to achieve your goals. Yet there's still power in simplicity. Knowing what you have means everyone and everything counts. You eliminate slop. Increase your agility.

Think simple. It's harder than throwing everything together. Piling thought upon thought. Makes you organize. Consider. Prune. Takes time. Gotta think a little more slowly. But when you get the essence of your simplicity, you'll go faster than you ever thought you could.

Combine that with being a little bit better every day and imagine where you'll be next March.

I’ll leave you with an inspiring conversation with a photographer who took one camera (Yes, a Leica) and hit the road to create a book during the pandemic. He used the view out of his truck as a theme. The results are remarkable, I think. But see for yourself.

 Think simple

No, not simple minded. But simple. In other words, with clarity and focus. Stripping the bark away to reveal the essence of your life and your work.

Ever work with someone who used a lot of words to explain something that could be done in a minute or two? Where you didn't want to ask them a question because you knew the answer would take much time?

Either they don't know exactly what they're doing but don't want you to know that and so they meander towards the answer. Or they know there's no substance there and want to obscure that fact. Or they're insecure and believe fancy talk makes them look smarter.

Don't mask a lack of substance with complexity.

The power of a little better.

Sometimes you want to shake up the world with something dramatic and huge. A moonshot.

Or you can take the path of being a little bit better. The latter is much more sustainable.

I follow Hiut Denim, a small jeans maker in Cardigan Wales. They make investment-grade jeans with care and craftsmanship of people who've been making jeans for decades. The business was founded as a way to bring a community back to its roots. You see, years ago it employed more than 400 people. And then the jobs got outsourced to cheaper geographies like so many other companies.

The factory sat empty. And now it brims with life.

They do things simply. I share them today because they produce an annual yearbook in print. With craftsman ship like everything else. Most pertinent to you is the theme: one percent better. Big change is powerful and worthy of chest thumping. Little change not so much. Yet this is the power of small and simple. If you improve just 1% per day in one year you'll be 40x better at your craft than you are right now. Imagine that: 40x! All by doing little simple things.

It's counter to how most of us think. It's not exciting or sexy. Until that year later when it is. Kind of like the person who gets lucky after a decade of hard slogging that no one sees.

What's more, Hiut denim was and is built through a couple of simple newsletters that inspire and teach. And then sell. What they don't cost in hard dollars they cost in consistent time, execution and simplicity.

I shared the 1% better concept on Linkedin and was asked how you measure it. To which I don't have a formula. Or a simple answer. What I do know is it forces you to think about all of the little things you can do differently to be better tomorrow than today.

Want some examples of what they did to improve? It's your lucky day:

• New parking signs and a welcome sign to replace those looking tired
• Cleaned out the studio to make space for creativity
• Created a Hiut Women Instagram page (#hiutwomen)
• Wrote a new series of welcome emails when someone signs up for their list.
• Adding a "Meet our suppliers" page to their new website.

All small things. But hopefully you get the picture that they add up to something big. Just like the time value of money.

Also noteworthy is how everything Hiut does hangs together through quality and simplicity.

You can too. Pick something and own it.

Would you pay more to limit options?

Speaking of craft, let's talk about the new Leica Q2 Monochrome. It costs $1000 more than the Leica Q2 which shoots color which you can easily convert to black and white. Why pay more for less? Why pay for limiting yourself? In general, Leica charges you for not having all of the features of most cameras. A lot actually. High price is part of their brand.

But they also have a special quality. And with the monochrome, it's a focus on doing black and white images extremely well. It lets a photographer committed to black and white focus on making images rather than futzing with complexity. Leica even removed their red logo and made all of the markings on the camera monochrome. Their attention to detail runs deep.

In short, this is a camera that gets out of the way. And also creates joy. It's not for everyone. But for those it's for, it's pure magic. As someone who loves BOTH color and black and white it would be a tough decision. I like options after all. But maybe the constraint it forces would be magical?

Leica knows what it stands for. How about you?

My final example on simplicity delivering more is about John Sharpe who has repped some of the best commercial photographers and artists around. I met with him 20 years ago about representing me. In the process he estimated a job for Nissan I didn't win. And because in 2001 by not being in New York or Los Angeles I ultimately wasn't a good fit. I also don't think I was as focused at the time (no pun intended) as those on his roster.

John's been doing this for 35 years, had offices in LA and New York plus other reps. Today, he has just two artists and no employees. And makes more than he did with more of everything. John knows what he stands for. He knows what he isn't.

Of course this doesn't work for everyone or everything. Sometimes it takes more people to achieve your goals. Yet there's still power in simplicity. Knowing what you have means everyone and everything counts. You eliminate slop. Increase your agility.

Think simple. It's harder than throwing everything together. Piling thought upon thought. Makes you organize. Consider. Prune. Takes time. Gotta think a little more slowly. But when you get the essence of your simplicity, you'll go faster than you ever thought you could.

Combine that with being a little bit better every day and imagine where you'll be next March.

I’ll leave you with an inspiring conversation with a photographer who took one camera (Yes, a Leica) and hit the road to create a book during the pandemic. He used the view out of his truck as a theme. The results are remarkable, I think. But see for yourself.

Think simple

No, not simple minded. But simple. In other words, with clarity and focus. Stripping the bark away to reveal the essence of your life and your work.

Ever work with someone who used a lot of words to explain something that could be done in a minute or two? Where you didn't want to ask them a question because you knew the answer would take much time?

Either they don't know exactly what they're doing but don't want you to know that and so they meander towards the answer. Or they know there's no substance there and want to obscure that fact. Or they're insecure and believe fancy talk makes them look smarter.

Don't mask a lack of substance with complexity.

The power of a little better.

Sometimes you want to shake up the world with something dramatic and huge. A moonshot.

Or you can take the path of being a little bit better. The latter is much more sustainable.

I follow Hiut Denim, a small jeans maker in Cardigan Wales. They make investment-grade jeans with care and craftsmanship of people who've been making jeans for decades. The business was founded as a way to bring a community back to its roots. You see, years ago it employed more than 400 people. And then the jobs got outsourced to cheaper geographies like so many other companies.

The factory sat empty. And now it brims with life.

They do things simply. I share them today because they produce an annual yearbook in print. With craftsman ship like everything else. Most pertinent to you is the theme: one percent better. Big change is powerful and worthy of chest thumping. Little change not so much. Yet this is the power of small and simple. If you improve just 1% per day in one year you'll be 40x better at your craft than you are right now. Imagine that: 40x! All by doing little simple things.

It's counter to how most of us think. It's not exciting or sexy. Until that year later when it is. Kind of like the person who gets lucky after a decade of hard slogging that no one sees.

What's more, Hiut denim was and is built through a couple of simple newsletters that inspire and teach. And then sell. What they don't cost in hard dollars they cost in consistent time, execution and simplicity.

I shared the 1% better concept on Linkedin and was asked how you measure it. To which I don't have a formula. Or a simple answer. What I do know is it forces you to think about all of the little things you can do differently to be better tomorrow than today.

Want some examples of what they did to improve? It's your lucky day:

• New parking signs and a welcome sign to replace those looking tired
• Cleaned out the studio to make space for creativity
• Created a Hiut Women Instagram page (#hiutwomen)
• Wrote a new series of welcome emails when someone signs up for their list.
• Adding a "Meet our suppliers" page to their new website.

All small things. But hopefully you get the picture that they add up to something big. Just like the time value of money.

Also noteworthy is how everything Hiut does hangs together through quality and simplicity.

You can too. Pick something and own it.

Would you pay more to limit options?

Speaking of craft, let's talk about the new Leica Q2 Monochrome. It costs $1000 more than the Leica Q2 which shoots color which you can easily convert to black and white. Why pay more for less? Why pay for limiting yourself? In general, Leica charges you for not having all of the features of most cameras. A lot actually. High price is part of their brand.

But they also have a special quality. And with the monochrome, it's a focus on doing black and white images extremely well. It lets a photographer committed to black and white focus on making images rather than futzing with complexity. Leica even removed their red logo and made all of the markings on the camera monochrome. Their attention to detail runs deep.

In short, this is a camera that gets out of the way. And also creates joy. It's not for everyone. But for those it's for, it's pure magic. As someone who loves BOTH color and black and white it would be a tough decision. I like options after all. But maybe the constraint it forces would be magical?

Leica knows what it stands for. How about you?

My final example on simplicity delivering more is about John Sharpe who has repped some of the best commercial photographers and artists around. I met with him 20 years ago about representing me. In the process he estimated a job for Nissan I didn't win. And because in 2001 by not being in New York or Los Angeles I ultimately wasn't a good fit. I also don't think I was as focused at the time (no pun intended) as those on his roster.

John's been doing this for 35 years, had offices in LA and New York plus other reps. Today, he has just two artists and no employees. And makes more than he did with more of everything. John knows what he stands for. He knows what he isn't.

Of course this doesn't work for everyone or everything. Sometimes it takes more people to achieve your goals. Yet there's still power in simplicity. Knowing what you have means everyone and everything counts. You eliminate slop. Increase your agility.

Think simple. It's harder than throwing everything together. Piling thought upon thought. Makes you organize. Consider. Prune. Takes time. Gotta think a little more slowly. But when you get the essence of your simplicity, you'll go faster than you ever thought you could.

Combine that with being a little bit better every day and imagine where you'll be next March.

I’ll leave you with an inspiring conversation with a photographer who took one camera (Yes, a Leica) and hit the road to create a book during the pandemic. He used the view out of his truck as a theme. The results are remarkable, I think. But see for yourself.