City Year Los Angeles

Simplifying things is hard work — but it’s essential. Apple Computer Founder Stephen Jobs reminds us that “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”

At first, the solutions to most problems seem very simple. But the more we understand the problem, the more complicated everything becomes, and soon we are coming up with “all these convoluted solutions.” “That’s sort of the middle,” Jobs observes, “and that’s where most people stop. But the really great person will keep on going and find the key, the underlying principle of the problem — and come up with an elegant, really beautiful solution that’s simple and works.”

Whenever you are implementing or programming anything at City Year go back over the final result. If it’s too “convoluted” keep working until you make a breakthrough to real simplicity.

Doing so makes it easier to fix things, and encourages others to admit mistakes — and soon we all realize that it is all right to make mistakes, just so long as we learn from them.

Don’t let the unknown standards of others limit the possibility for your success. For example, if your whole presentation away from headquarters depends on having a slide projector, and you are told they are “99 % sure” they are going to have one for you, bring a slide projector anyway (and an extension cord).