Most weeks in tech feel productive. Full calendars, constant Slack notifications, always “on.”
That’s not inherently bad. No pipeline, no lifeline, right? But busyness doesn’t always translate to impact. Lately, I’ve been trying to simplify things. A solid walk before the day starts. No headphones. No inputs. Just space to think:
What actually matters today?
Where should my focus go, at work and outside it?
Here’s what’s become clear:
1) Not everything needs (or deserves) equal attention.
2) Not every meeting needs to happen. Sometimes you’re revalidating decisions already made. Ask for the sale.
3) Not every opportunity is worth chasing. If you can help every single person with the same solution, there’s no real edge. No USP.
When selling, it’s easy to confuse activity and complexity with progress. The people who move things forward are doing less, better. Fewer distractions. Clearer decisions. More intent. Economy of words…
A moment this week really highlighted this for me. I was chatting with one of my best friends, a brother for life. We ended up discussing a Shakespeare quote about brevity being the soul of wit. I’ve found myself admiring his writing, his mind, his ability to keep things simple. My brain just doesn’t work that way with language.
But by the end of the call, I realised something: my life is relatively simple. My brain chemistry, my habits, my networks, my work…all of it combines into an elegant chaos and the heights that follow. They allow my life to be simple. I might not be a natural at brevity, but striving toward it is what matters.
A mentor once told me: “You’re in the top 1% amongst the 1,000s here. Arguably the most prestigious company. At the next place, you’ll be top, but not necessarily the same type of special. That’s where the breakthroughs come, and it takes time.” I’ve seen that happen. And now we go again. That next level up work is discipline and brevity.
This week reminded me: less noise, more control. Less distraction, more intent. Not just at work…but in life, in thinking, in writing. Simplicity isn’t about doing less; it’s about doing the right things, better.
So I ask myself, and you too:
What’s one thing you can simplify today?
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