KISS It
Applying the KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) principle
In 1960, engineer Kelly Johnson coined the famous phrase KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid).
Johnson was a renowned aeronautical and systems engineer at Lockheed Martin for over 40 years. While heading their secret R&D department (Skunk Works), he told the designers at Lockheed Martin that their designs should be simple enough to be repaired by a man in a combat situation with only some basic mechanic training and simple tools.
This was a way to remind his team that their jets still had to be repaired by average mechanics with the basics of tools. By eliminating unneeded complexity, Johnson and his team went on to create and develop some of the military aviation’s most significant breakthroughs. The Skunk Works division is still creating and operating inside of Lockheed Martin today.
The KISS principle states that most systems work best if they are kept simple rather than made complicated; therefore simplicity should be a key goal in design and unnecessary complexity should be avoided.
The goal of KISS is to make things simple, straightforward, reduce the complexity of a system or situation by making things easier.
Where people miss the boat on the KISS principle, is that it should be applied to many more things than it currently is.
Instead of things being made easier, things are made more complex. It’s as if the more complex and hard something is, the better or smarter it makes a company or person look. When in reality the view is the opposite.
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication“ - Leonardo da Vinci
Do you like things complicated or complex? I didn’t think so. Then why make it for others?
Strip away unnecessary details and focus on what really matters. Don’t make anything more complicated than it has to be. Unnecessary complexity gets in the way of purpose and should be avoided.
People don’t read instructions, pay attention or engage when things get too long, complex, or drawn-out. Consumers prefer fewer choices. If faced with more selections, people are more likely to feel indecisive and overwhelmed than if they had fewer options.
When something is not clicking or making sense for you or your team, go back to the beginning and use the KISS principle. Apply it to anything that you’re struggling with. Most processes or systems work best if they’re kept simple.
Make it simpler. Everyone likes things simpler. This goes for anything both personally and professionally. Are you even avoiding or putting something off because it’s too complex or overwhelming? Think of all the things (personally and professionally) that you could simplify for yourself and others with the KISS principle.
Developing programs
Creating, engineering or designing something.
Explaining or give instructions
Presentations to clients
Incentives/promotions for your team
Marketing and advertising
Your investments
Decision making processes
Routine and habits
Everyone wants things simpler, lighter, leaner and easier.
Keep it simple, stupid.
The Coffee Table ☕
Our family watched The Great Outdoors this past weekend. Talk about a laugh-out-loud classic movie! This was one of my favorite movies as a kid and I couldn’t watch it enough. This was the first time my kids saw it and it was so enjoyable to watch them laugh just like I did at their ages. Peak John Candy was one of the best.
I had to share this great tweet by Brian Feroldi. This is spot on and not talked about or taught enough. It goes into a mindset and needs to be instilled into people earlier in life. Many don’t understand and learn this until later in life. I wish I had known this much earlier in my life.
Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed Spilled Coffee, please subscribe.
Spilled Coffee grows through word of mouth. Please consider sharing this post with someone who might appreciate it.