“Working smarter, not harder” could be one way to describe my entire life. I always try to do things the “smart way.” Not necessarily to avoid hard work, but because I’ve always thought that was the way to success. Oftentimes, the smart way is more work than just doing the damn thing.

I have spent incredible amounts of time coding a tool to help me do something that took 3–5 times longer than just writing the document, provisioning a live stream, or simply writing the documentation. I get this dopamine hit, this crazy little rush when I have the idea of, “I know a faster/better way to do this!” It has been nearly impossible to avoid then doing that thing.

This blog is an example of that. Instead of just using WordPress, Blogger, Squarespace, or ANY other off-the-shelf blog platform, I had this idea of using HUGO to publish my Obsidian note files directly to a static blog. Okay, well, I watched a video from one of my favorite creators that talked about this idea, and I knew I could build it. Does this blog work? Yes. Did it take 3 hours to set up when I could have been just writing for 3 hours? Yes.

There is this idea that I had when I was about 15 years old. I saw another business owner when I was working with my father one day. He was very successful (financially—no idea on fulfillment), but talking to him and getting to know him over the years showed me how simple his thinking was. He operated from, “What needs to get done? Go do that now.” That’s it. Prioritize what needs to get done, do it. Eventually, get employees to do those things too. He built a very successful business doing this year after year.

He didn’t find the best way to do something; he didn’t buy a new machine that could make it easier; he didn’t do research on the most cost-effective tools, materials, and techniques. HE JUST DID IT.

And this was the idea that you could be “just dumb enough to be successful.” Maybe being smart was actually an impediment to ultimate success. It’s been ~20 years since I had this idea, and it’s evolved since then. I don’t think “being dumber” is the answer. Looking at some of the most successful people in the world, who are very smart, they have shown and talked about this kind of behavior. But there is one thing that they do that allows them to still find wild success in their smart ideas: A “why” or purpose that is stronger than anything else.

Having a purpose behind an outcome will drive the result harder, faster, and more focused than without one. So it’s not about being “just dumb enough”; it’s about finding a purpose and harnessing its power to laser-focus on what needs to get done.

I am going to stop being smart and get focused on why, not how.

Working this way, it will be clear when I just need to get the thing done or if it really is better to build the tool to work smarter. I will know in my gut if this is the right thing to do or if I’m just placating my inner need to solve problems.

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