All modern day problems are problems of excess.

Too many things to learn

Too many movies to watch

Too many hobbies to pursue

Too many opportunities to go after

Too many clothes in the closet, too many shoes in the cabinet.

Too many friends on Facebook

Too many movies on Netflix to watch and too many books to read.

One thing is in short supply, though - it’s the time available to do these things. And therein lies the struggle.

When we have a problem, our natural instinct is to add a new habit or purchase a fix. It’s one reason why new year resolutions often don’t work. We keep adding more and more each year, without ever removing a thing - more fitness goals, more reading, more travel; it’s never less reading or no travel. The same is true in product development too. Over time, most product managers keep adding more and more features without removing the ones not used. It makes the product complex and difficult to use.

The famous Italian painter and sculptor, Michaelangelo was once asked by the pope about the secret of his genius, particularly how he carved the statue of David, largely considered the masterpiece of all masterpieces. His answer was: “It’s simple. I just removed everything that is not David.”

Sometimes, you can benefit a lot by taking things away. For example, the foods you avoid are more important than the foods you eat. Editors make articles more readable and crisp by cutting the boring parts out. And as someone choosing from 10 different options of detergent at the supermarket tell you, few options are better than more.

Do less.

It’s what Taleb calls, Via Negativa. Less is more.

Learn fewer things. Apply them more (be a hedgehog, not a fox)

Watch fewer movies. Be selective

And this new year, resolve to drop a few things (my favorite, drop one bad habit)

While addition is fantastic, there is a hidden power - and simplicity - in subtraction.

Best,
Kaddy

Twitter. Ain't Nothin Like It.

The Trust Economy