There are two problems with writing in a way that is complex and self-serving.
The first problem is that people will not understand.
The second problem is that people will not raise their hands to tell you they did not understand. You’ll go home thinking everything is clear. And you’ll be left wondering why you are not achieving what you were expecting to achieve.
Keep things simple.
Simple is also what you like to read, after all.
I wish I could say that cutting corners does not work, but it does.
I wish I could say that being mean to others, shouting, and badmouthing them does not work, but it does.
I wish I could say that underpaying employees and pursuing loops to avoid taxes does not work, but it does.
I wish I could say that hiding, pretending to work, faking a smile does not work, but it does.
I wish I could say that being bossy and controlling does not work, but it does.
I wish I could say that dumping trash in the environment, not caring about the community, avoiding regulations does not work, but it does.
I wish I could say that not acknowledging your mistakes does not work, but it does.
The point is, what does “work” mean to you? What is success? Are you happy with the way you carry out your business, your hobby, your profession?
Also, how would you expect others to behave when you are on the receiving end?
In the parenting journey, there comes a time when you realize you have to give your kids control. It happens quite early, to be honest. It’s when they start to go out play with other kids by themselves, without adult’s supervision.
You have to start give them control, even gradually. And be there to help them handle the consequences of the choices they make. Sure, you do that because you want them to grow as independent, resilient human beings. But you do that also for a very egoistic reason: you simply do not have the energy and time to deal with all the questions they have, to asses all the situations they come to you with, to fix all the problems they face.
In the leadership journey, you will find something similar. If you feel overwhelmed, if you find yourself wondering whether your team can do anything without your input, if you want everything under your own supervision. It’s time to give away control.
If not for your team, do it for yourself.
The benefit will be immediate.
Change is hard, complaining is easy.
That’s why we default to the latter when things get tough. For as much as we are unsatisfied with the current situation, it is a situation we know, we are familiar with, we understand. By complaining, we keep it under some sort of control and we normalize it.
Complaining is not bad per se. It can help us look inside and understand what it is we do not like. Of course, the problem starts when complaining becomes a constant state. We complain about work, the boss, about our relationships, the kids, our friends, our family, the government. That’s when we need to find the courage to get out of the comfortable spiral and actually do change.
It usually goes, change yourself first, then try to change the situation.
Not the other way around.
When you create something, some will not like it.
When you share an idea, some will find it impractical.
When you launch a project, some will say it will never work.
When you have a solution, some will argue it’s not the right one.
When you find a problem, some will say they can live with it.
Of course, the point has never been to have everybody agree. The point is doing something that feels right, and doing it consistently and continuously enough, so that others can find it and come on board.
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