TRANSMISSION #7 //BACK TO BASICS

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. – Leonardo Da Vinci

I begin each day like (what I assume) most entrepreneurs and producers do: 14 cups of coffee, workout, shower, mashable, Inc, Fast Company, Hollywood Reporter, Joe Blo, blog mix (Seth Godin, Richard Branson, etc., etc) and a look into new tech that’s going to “radically change and improve my life, project management and quality of whatever-the-hell-I’m-working-on”. And therein lays the problem.  I’m so busy “learning” about new processes, tools, information, improvements and new ways to improve the way my brain soaks up and utilizes information that I’ve stopped relying on my years in business and production.

Anyone can be an expert in anything now. There are a zillion ways to consume information and a billion ways to second guess how you’re doing something – doubt, it seems, is a lucrative business. What’s 10 years of experience starting companies and producing a variety of projects worth if I’m second guessing everything I do because “experts” are telling me about “the top 10 things you do that KILL your business” daily?  Nothing.  Nothing at all.

All of this information, for me anyway, leads to over complicating things – what used to be instinctual, that feeling of just knowing it’s the right move, is all but gone and replaced with “what did Fast Company say about process the other day?”. Then usually followed with “didn’t they say NOT to do that a month ago?” and boom, I’m busy trying to figure out a better, more innovative way to do what I already know how to do. My instinct is gone and replaced by over-complication and doubt.

All of this has lead me to looking and focusing on simplicity and I’ve found a resurgence in people (from QA’s to Executives) striving and pushing for it, constantly reminding themselves that “we’ll do anything so long as it makes sense to do it” – you know, simple & clear…letting the facts, numbers, instincts and inner drive have their day.

When Sean and I looked at doing Planet Fiction, which in itself can be viewed as a fairly complicated business model to most, it was simplicity and direct paths that was pillar # 1. “Strong simplicity” (a term I first heard from Michelle Lee, an awesome Sr Creative that I had the pleasure of working with a while back) became our top brand and key marketing pillar. Our approach to business development was back to basics as well: direct communication by approaching individuals, teams, and companies.  Being upfront, honest and striving to constantly deliver quality work and exceed expectations.

We start our day, every day, by taking a 30 min walk through Deep Cove – such a simple act but right in so many ways.

By focusing on getting back to basics and simplifying anything that can and should be simplified I feel I’ve gotten back my natural instincts.  I feel unstoppable and excited again for the first time in a long time. Not a bad attitude and approach to have – given today’s entertainment landscape – perhaps more people should apply this, take the insanely large amount of advice in moderation (“taking what you will & leave the rest” as my mum would say) and stop trying to outsmart themselves.

END TRANSMISSION.

– Chris