| It can be said that there are only two certainties | | | | money, that we do what we do is our business |
| in our lives - that we will die and that there will be | | | | purpose - our vision that drives us forward and |
| change. The beginning of a new year is | | | | adds meaning to what we do. When we have a |
| traditionally a time for planning but sometimes | | | | strong, well-defined vision for our business then |
| planning at any time can seem futile when life can | | | | we have something congruent and steadfast with |
| be so unpredictable. How do we come up with a | | | | which to align our decisions. This usually makes |
| plan for our business or our personal life that is | | | | decision making simple and straightforward. It also |
| sustainable? How do we ensure that our plans are | | | | makes designing and creating robust business |
| flexible enough to be worth spending any time | | | | systems simpler, more sustainable and less time |
| on? | | | | consuming to manage. |
| The good news is that there is an easy solution. | | | | Your continued and sustained good health and |
| Sustainability in every aspect of our lives is about | | | | wellbeing are as much assets of value as the |
| simplifying. Somehow we've come to associate | | | | material items you believe you need for your |
| progress with more sophistication, in our | | | | success. It's a good idea to make sure that your |
| technology, in how we communicate, how we | | | | business plan leaves spaces for you to look after |
| look after ourselves, how we raise our children. | | | | yourself. |
| And yet, simplicity is often the more elegant | | | | Sustainable businesses place a heavy emphasis on |
| solution and the more sustainable. Think of the | | | | people and relationships. When we communicate |
| difference between creating energy from a | | | | from the heart we value honesty over |
| nuclear power station or a wind turbine. Think of | | | | manipulation, cooperation over competition and |
| the difference between steering an ocean liner or | | | | authenticity over propaganda. This is simpler and |
| a rowing boat. The simpler and less sophisticated | | | | less energy draining than trying to force |
| the system, the more maneuverable, flexible and | | | | ourselves, our employees or associates to |
| sustainable it is likely to be. | | | | behave in a way that's not authentic for them. |
| In Our Homes - fewer, multipurpose tools. | | | | With Our Children - individuality and exploration. |
| De-cluttering is a term in common usage these | | | | What is our vision for our children? What kind of |
| days. It seems to me to be an essential step | | | | parents do we aspire to be? |
| towards simplification. I've found, in my own down | | | | We can teach our children to live in simplicity and |
| shifting ventures, that de-cluttering is best treated | | | | in alignment with their values by modelling it |
| less like a "spring clean" and more like "brushing | | | | ourselves. Expecting them to lead a heavily |
| your teeth". By that I mean that simplicity | | | | timetabled life, controlled mainly by adults is just |
| requires daily rather than annual attention and | | | | leading them to believe that a rat race existence |
| involves a deliberate decision to maintain or | | | | is normal and healthy. |
| reduce items rather than accumulate. This can | | | | Whatever our views might be about the need to |
| apply to paperwork, gadgets, toys and games, | | | | control children, they will in the end walk their own |
| clothes. One way to reduce the number of items | | | | path. Our children are not just smaller versions of |
| you need is by using fewer multipurpose tools. For | | | | us, but have their own preferences and their own |
| example, in the kitchen, when your food | | | | strengths and weaknesses. It is usually simpler for |
| processor wears out, you could replace it with a | | | | all concerned when we acknowledge and accept |
| good quality cook's knife. Similarly with our clothes, | | | | this early on rather than battling with it. |
| we can decide to keep fewer, simpler, more | | | | When we consult children on decisions that affect |
| flexible items that can be mixed and matched. If | | | | them and show them that we value their input |
| more specialised items are required, for example | | | | then they feel respected and are easier to be |
| for a special occasion such as a wedding, we can | | | | with and to plan with. |
| choose to hire an outfit rather than buy it. | | | | Conclusion |
| In Our Businesses - simple systems, health and | | | | Plans for our future, whether at home, in our |
| heart. | | | | businesses or with our children, can be easy to |
| In my experience, most business owners who | | | | create and to follow when we emphasise |
| love their work have a strong, well defined vision | | | | simplicity and a well-defined vision. Having such a |
| and a few simple and robust business systems. | | | | focus allows for flexibility in the face of |
| For most of us, there will be several ways in | | | | unforeseen events and sustainability in our actions. |
| which we can earn a living. The reason, other than | | | | |