The word simplify means to make something less complex or complicated, plainer and easier.  You may have heard the story that during the height of the space race in the 1960s, The U.S. spent millions to create a pen that would write in space while the Russians simply used a pencil. It’s a great story, but not true.  Initially, both the U.S. and Russia used pencils. Nasa bought 34 mechanical pencils from Tycam Engineering Manufacturing, Inc., in 1965. They paid $4,382.50 or $128.89 per pencil. When these prices became public, there was an outcry and NASA scrambled to find something cheaper for the astronauts to use. Eventually the switch was made to pens and Paul C. Fisher and his company, the Fisher Pen Company, reportedly invested $1 million to create what is now commonly known as the space pen. None of this investment money came from NASA’s coffers.

Another story is told of a truck that was too tall to fit under a bridge overpass and got stuck. Police, Firemen, and other transportation personnel spent hours trying to figure out what to do to solve the problem and dislodge the truck. Hours later a young boy in one of the cars stuck in traffic said I know how to free the truck. Authorities concerned about his safety shooed him away and he blurted out “Why don’t you just let some air out of the tires?” 

True or not both stories teach us a lesson in simplicity and good ole common sense. Truth be told we can have the tendency to make things much more complicated than they need to be in the workplace and in life in general. The result is wasted time, energy, money, and effort. In the journey toward rest and life balance one of the first actions I took was to simplify my life. I evaluated life as a whole and started at work. I conducted an audit of all the tasks, workflows, processes and responsibilities in my role as Global Media Services Director for the organization I serve with.  I asked “Is this task needed or necessary? Can it be eliminated? Can it be delegated, or automated? In asking these questions the goal was to simplify, save time and money and become more effective and efficient.

Much of life is the same way and we can ask comparable questions that will make our lives simpler, more efficient, less complex, allowing us to save time and money that can be invested in relationships and the things that matter most in our lives. I encourage you to examine your life and conduct a similar audit. Simplifying your life, will lead to less stress, you’ll smile more, and it contributes to and promotes life balance.  I also find that simplicity and simplifying life is deeply soothing and satisfying. You’ve heard the acrostic KISS – Keep It Simple Stupid.  Well, that sounds a little harsh. How about BEST – Be Intentional Simplify Things.

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