Comments

KISS (aka The Simple Art of KISSing) — 8 Comments

  1. Alan, I love what you’re saying here. I agree with keeping things simple. And your car example really struck a chord with me. I’ve always tried to get the most basic car I can get – although I do like electric windows, but that is as far as I need with perks. I’ve known some people who get fancy cars with all these additional features that you really don’t need, and those are the things that usually break. I’d rather just not deal with things like that.

    Overall, I think we should all be keeping things simple. Why unnecessarily complicate things if you don’t have to? More features or options doesn’t mean better.

    • Yeah I nearly called it The Simple Art of KISSing A$$, but that’s a different article entirely.

      I reckon there’s a gap in the market both in the US and the UK for a modern, mechanical, uber-simple car – one which you don’t need to plug a computer into for diagnostics but which can be fixed in most cases with a screwdriver and a spanner πŸ˜‰

      Someone’s gonna spot that at some point…

  2. Great Post, Alan πŸ™‚

    My principle is to not worry at all. I mean, when has worrying solved any problems? Instead care. Replace worry with caring – it allows us to remain calm and solve the problem.

    When I read about your car buying experience, I was thinking about a book I read recently – How we choose. In the book, the author suggests that complicated choices – such as choosing a car – should be given to our emotional brain and simple decisions should be given to the rational brain. I do believe his suggestions since he does support it with a lot of studies and examples, and when I think about it, it makes sense. I mean, choices like buying a car overwhelms our rational brain – too many things to think about! And we end up making a bad decision.

    I haven’t consciously tried his methods – got to try it and see how it goes πŸ˜€

    I do love keeping things simple. It makes life so much easier (and the easier it is, the more enjoyable it will be).

    Anyways, thank you for sharing your experience, Alan πŸ™‚ Appreciate it!

    • Worry is indeed a terrible thing Jeevan.

      Sometimes we just can’t escape it, but at least we can remind ourselves how little it helps – especially when we’re worrying about things that might not happen or that we can’t change.

      I like your point but somehow I think it could be the other way round for me – it’s definitely my rational brain that’s telling me it makes more sense to have the most basic car. My emotional brain might be impressed and tempted by the bells and whistles…

      Do you know the name of that book (or the author)?

        • OK I’ll check it out, but isn’t that the guy whose last book was discredited for using fake quotes/information?

          I’m not sure if that’s true or not or why anyone would want to do that given how much readily available ‘real’ data we have at our fingertips these days but maybe worth knowing if you’re going to read other books by the same author and act upon that information…

          Just a thought.

          • Oh, wow, I didn’t know that.

            Yeah, I am reading a lot of personal development books (I am interested in learning the psychology behind behavior), and a lot of these books do contradict each other. It’s hard to believe anything about psychology, since we still have a lot to learn about our own brains).

            Guess I have to do a little more research for getting any books (I just pick my books from Goodreads, based on recommendations).

            Thanks for letting me know, Alan πŸ™‚

            • No worries, and again, given the way the media is these days these accusations could well be exaggerated – just search on his name and check out the reviews on Amazon.

              I personally think we have come a long way in the field of psychology and a lot of the discoveries are fascinating, but you’re right – we still have a lot to learn – which is one of the greatest lessons of all!

              Plus I also think we should be learning every day but also prepared to change our views as we take in new information – at the end of the day, what we think we ‘know’ is only our own unique view of the world anyway πŸ˜‰

              (as you may have heard me say a few times)

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