“A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that worked.” - John Gall
Such a simple statement, such profound implications for almost everything we do: design, teach, govern, communicate. The simple idea that, despite our most intricate and thorough planning, we cannot create complexity at the beginning but must instead start with something smaller, simpler, easier.
It does take some pressure off, at least. It allows us to experiment with simple things, like the folks at Twitter did, when something else wasn’t working. Start simple and see where it goes…see what the network does with it. Do the simplest thing that adds any value…something that seems trivial by almost all observers but actually does add something that wasn’t there before. Start there.
Our brains can handle complexity, but they crave simplicity. The next time someone asks to build the Titanic, ask them instead if they might start with a canoe and see where it goes.
