One of my very favorite (possibly true, possibly not) literary anecdotes of all time is when Henry David Thoreau exclaims, “Simplify! Simplify!” in Walden, and his friend and mentor, Ralph Waldo Emerson offers the feedback, “One simplify would have sufficed.” 

Doh.

I think of this story often. It represents the bulk of what holds me back in life (and I’d venture to guess I’m not alone here):

I overcomplicate a whole lot of stuff that doesn’t need to be complicated. 

I go on and on with two “simplifys” when one would have sufficed….

Read More