The Ground – Simplicity and Directness
Ground—Simplicity and Directness, the following elements do not have hard, fast lines; there are gray areas or soft areas of bleed-over.
Simplicity has a Clear Goal: there are no extraneous trappings. As my old college roommate said, “Get a degree, get a job, get a check.” Furthermore, he believed in the simplistic goal so much that he wrote them in blue marker and put the paper on the fireplace mantel. His purpose was twofold. He taped the paper to the mantel in the living room to remind him of his simple three-point goal. Posting his simple goals also served to remind his roommates remind him of his goals should he stray. He met every one of the goals in the order written.
Simplicity Has Focus
It is minimal because simplicity brings focus. You can easily test an idea for simplicity by expressing it in a few words. I recall my uncle when he heard of a business deal that was a little sketchy. He addressed it with this phrase, “I don’t think much of that.” The condescending tone assisted in conveying the message. A simple statement that served as a warning when doing business with that other person.
Simplicity Is Flexible
The more complex an idea is, the more difficult it is to explain or adapt. Richard Feynman (1918-1988) won a Nobel Prize in Physics in 1965. Feynman believed that if you couldn’t explain something simply, you didn’t understand it. This allows flexibility of the simple Idea. It allows creative people to find solutions. Simplicity often rejects strict adherence to protocol or multiple orders. Further, simplicity can be creative in its straightforwardness.
Simplicity Uses Resources Well
During the 1st Gulf War (1990-1991), the A-10 “Warthog” flew nighttime missions. The designers created the A-10 “Warthog” for the Eastern European battlefield as a tank killer, rather than building it for the Iraqi desert.
The A-10 lacks design features for nighttime combat. Strikes 1, 2, and 3 against the Warthog. Instead of calling it quits, the ground crew patched the pilot’s heads-up display through one of the infrared missiles mounted to the A-10. There was no need for an intensive retrofit. A simple end around and missions are underway.
Simplicity in Communication
Simple communication is the best communication. During a Senatorial campaign I was working on, a family friend of the opponent accused him of sexual molestation.
Our campaign manager called an all-staff meeting about half an hour after the news broke. He said, “The press is going to call everybody on this staff to get a comment. “If you speak to the press or your friends about this, you’re fired.” No deep explanation was needed. Speak to the press, talk to your friends about the situation, and you’re fired. Simplicity, do this, and it will result in that. Period, and for the record, nobody spoke.
Advantages of a Simple Strategy:
- Simpler Implementation: Simplicity reduces confusion. A Senate campaign example clearly decrees: speak and get fired. Unpretentious ideas are like comfort food. They are generally well-received and appreciated for what they are.
- Increased Focus: One simple Idea. Notably, the Invasion of Normandy during World War II was complex, yet it had one goal. Establish a foothold for Allied forces in France.
- You Make Faster Decisions: because straightforward strategies enable more confident and rapid choices. For example, during the battle of Agincourt in 1415, English King Henry V was facing a larger army and heavily armored French knights. The French used a traditional frontal assault, expecting to meet the English on the battlefield. The English quickly shifted to their longbowmen and nullified the French full-frontal attack. A simple Idea executed well. “Keep the knights away from us.”
You may enjoy this past posting on The Ground as well: https://www.martialjournal.com/the-ground-seeing/
You can reach Kris Wilder here: https://linktr.ee/KrisWilder
He has authored several books on martial arts and self-defense, such as "The Way of Kata" and "The Little Black Book of Violence". Kris also runs the Wilder Karate Academy, where he teaches classes and conducts seminars.
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