We unnecessarily complicate tasks by adding elements or assuming important work must be difficult. McKeown notes, “The complexity of modern life has created a false dichotomy between things that are ‘essential and hard’ and things that are ‘easy and trivial.’ It’s almost like a natural law for some people: Trivial things are easy. Important things are hard.”
Though we equate simplicity with insignificance, our minds naturally seek efficiency—an instinct we should embrace rather than resist. “Our brain is wired to resist what it perceives as hard and welcome what it perceives as easy. This bias is sometimes called the cognitive ease principle, or the principle of least effort.” The author captures this cultural bias perfectly: “Puritanism went beyond embracing the hard; it extended to also distrusting the easy.”
Mathematician Carl Jacobi offers valuable insight through his problem-solving approach: “Man muss immer umkehren,” which translates to “One must invert, always invert.” Rather than asking how to accomplish something difficult, ask, “What if this could be easy?” As McKeown explains, “Effortless Inversion means looking at problems from the opposite perspective.” This principle finds historical application in Wilberforce’s strategic shift after encountering James Stephens’ paper on neutral flag frauds. By reframing his approach toward a more accessible and less controversial issue, Wilberforce achieved breakthrough success.
Invert the problem: ask, “What if this could be easy?” Seek solutions that flow naturally downhill—minimal effort, substantial results.
We often accept conventional wisdom about how things must be done. Instead, as Seth Godin suggests, “If you can think about how hard it is to push a business uphill, particularly when you’re just getting started, one answer is to say: ‘Why don’t you just start a different business you can push downhill?’” Seek solutions that flow naturally downhill—requiring minimal effort while producing substantial results—rather than exhausting yourself pushing uphill for diminishing returns.
Disclaimer: Information in my “slip-box” doesn’t necessarily reflect my agreement with the source or all its content. Recording diverse perspectives helps strengthen one’s position beyond the echo chamber of like-minded thinkers. By documenting alternative viewpoints, we engage in the intellectual wrestling match that ultimately deepens our understanding.
I aspire to post one note from my “slip-box” every weekday. If you want to learn more about how to work with knowledge, click this link: What is knowledge management?
Pastor Dan Patrick, raised in Northern Virginia near Washington, D.C., holds both a Bible degree and a Master’s of Divinity. He has ministered across five states from coast to coast, serving in various capacities, including pastoral leadership. Dan’s primary mission is to help people love God’s Word and find their purpose in God’s work.
