There’s a well-known quote that goes, “If I had more time, I would have written a shorter letter.” It perfectly captures the paradox of simplicity: it requires more effort, not less.
I experience this constantly, whether I’m preparing a lecture, drafting a report, designing a presentation, or writing documentation. The challenge is not in filling the page or the slide deck, but in distilling complex ideas into their clearest, most essential form. It takes time to remove the noise, focus the message, and design with intention.
The same is true in product development, scope creep often sneaks in under the illusion of adding value. But more features or information doesn’t always mean better. In fact, it often does the opposite: it distracts, overwhelms, and weakens the impact.
The real work lies in doing the hard thinking ourselves, so the audience doesn’t have to. When we take the time to simplify, we give others the gift of clarity.
What’s your approach to keeping things simple?