I saw a quote from Einstein the other day. Now, I don’t necessarily believe he actually said it, since a gazillion quotes are said to be from him that aren’t, but it doesn’t really matter. The quote is this: “Possessions, outward success, publicity, luxury…to me these have always been contemptible. I believe that a simple and unassuming manner of life is best for everyone, best for both the body and the mind.”
I disagree with it for a few reasons. One is nothing is ever ‘best for everyone’.
Form
Two, beauty (or form if you will) matters. It’s not immaterial or without merit to have something be pleasing or interesting to the senses. A great illustration of this is seen in this interaction from the movie, ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ where a young woman is given a lesson in how her purely functional, non-luxurious sweater actually has its roots in choices made at the top end of fashion luxury. Take a look.
Form and Function
The quote I chose allows for both form (beauty) and function (usefulness) to have it’s place in our lives. If we focus on those two things, both equally valid, we can actually live a good life.
Quote by William Morris, 1834 – 1896, English writer, designer and artist. A founding participant in the ‘Arts and Crafts’ movement.
I wrote this 5 years ago after my first speaking engagement at SXSW. Still true.
SXSW
I am back from 6 days at SXSW Interactive in Austin, TX. I led a workshop then attended presentations and panels on a wide range of topics. Being there is the ultimate in complex reality. Between the overwhelming crowds and choices; the sheer logistics of eating, drinking, transporting, sleeping, and the intense focus of meeting, talking, learning, teaching, communicating, and remembering it all, it was anything but simple.
The Simplicity of Thinking Now
The only way I could keep it simple was to be focused on what was in front of me. Whether it was a person I was meeting for the first time, a slide on a screen, a lecturer, or a transportation moment, paying attention to that alone allowed it to stay as simple as it could be at the moment.
The Complexity of Thinking Not Now
Yes, I was multitasking. For example, I wanted to tweet what was being said but I also wanted to take notes. My solution? My tweets became my notes.
When I got in trouble was when I thought ahead instead of stayed with what I was doing. For example, leaving my hotel in the morning. I never forgot my badge, thank God, but I did forget my water bottles one day. Doesn’t seem like a big deal, but when water is 3.25 a bottle? It’s a big deal.
I forgot my schedule booklet one day and had to go over to registration (a long way in a big convention center) to get a new one, one not marked up with all my notes. I had left mine in the hotel bathroom when I went back in to make sure I was empty before starting my day.
Twice while at the conference I left a water or coffee behind that cost way too much to leave behind. Yes, I went back and got them each time and it added frazzlement to my day.
Less Thoughts, More Thinking
All this made me think about Simplicity. I realized I didn’t need to think less, I needed to have less thoughts. When I limited the amount of thoughts or was able to unify those thoughts into a clear thread of thinking, then I was successful in getting the most out of my time and efforts. That’s simple enough, right?
I am back from 6 days at SXSW Interactive in Austin, TX. I led a workshop then attended presentations and panels on a wide range of topics. Being there is the ultimate in complex reality. Between the overwhelming crowds and choices; the sheer logistics of eating, drinking, transporting, sleeping, and the intense focus of meeting, talking, learning, teaching, communicating, and remembering it all, it was anything but simple.
The Simplicity of Thinking Now
The only way I could keep it simple was to be focused on what was in front of me. Whether it was a person I was meeting for the first time, a slide on a screen, a lecturer, or a transportation moment, paying attention to that alone allowed it to stay as simple as it could be at the moment.
The Complexity of Thinking Not Now
Yes, I was multitasking. for example, I wanted to tweet (find me at @thenapkindad) what was being said but I also wanted to take notes. My solution? My tweets became my notes. When I got in trouble was when I thought ahead instead of stayed with what I was doing. For example, leaving my hotel in the morning. I never forgot my badge, thank God, but I did forget my water bottles one day. Doesn’t seem like a big deal, but when water is 3.25 a bottle? It’s a big deal. I forgot my schedule booklet one day and had to go over to registration (a long way in a big convention center) to get a new one, one not marked up with all my notes. I had left mine in the hotel bathroom when I went back in to make sure I was empty before starting my day. Twice while at the conference I left a water or coffee behind that cost way too much to leave behind. Yes, I went back and got them each time and it added frazzlement to my day.
Less Thoughts, More Thinking
All this made me think about Simplicity. I realized I didn’t need to think less, I needed to have less thoughts. When I limited the amount of thoughts or was able to unify those thoughts into a clear thread of thinking, then I was successful in getting the most out of my time and efforts. That’s simple enough, right?
If it’s not too much to ask, I hope you will take a little look at day #5 of Simplicity Week.
Relative Simplicity
Because simplicity has such a strong definition in people’s minds we tend to forget that it, like many other things, is relative. What is simple for one person is not for another. This is true of clothing and fashion, as I explored yesterday with ‘the little black dress’ idea. It’s also true of food, housing, emotions, science, art, intellectual pursuits, travel, sports and most any other human activity.
Missing Simplicity
Simplicity is missing when whatever you are doing, looking at or feeling is encumbered by distracting and indulgent elements. Simplicity is also missing when you have such a lack and want of substance that you can’t function. If you have too much you can’t see the tree in the forest. If you have too little you don’t have a forest and as a result you have no trees to see either.
Purity
It seems to me that, no matter where your idea of simplicity falls on that relative scale, it is primarily about purity. You can see the beauty if the expressiveness is pure. You can see the equation if the logic is pure. You can see the love when the intent is pure. You can see the culture if the authenticity is pure.
How complex is your simplicity?
_______________
Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman
Quote is a variation of one by Joshua Reynolds, 1723-1792, English painter.
Joshua Reynolds – Self Portrait, 1747-49
Joshua Reynolds Catalog – The Creation of Celebrity
Reynolds was a very famous painter and used his skill and networking savvy to create reputations for his clients that set off the modern idea of celebrity.
It’s here in black and white; day #4 of Simplicity Week.
A Definition
In many people’s estimation, the most visually iconic example of “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication” is ‘The Little Black Dress’. If it is not simple, or at least appear simple to the eye, it will by definition not be a ‘Little Black Dress’. If it is too ornate, overdone, or fussy it might still be a black dress and it might still be little, but it will not be a ‘little black dress’. A little black dress is simple and in it’s simplicity it becomes sophisticated.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
The quintessential example is, once again, Audrey Hepburn. She starred in ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ in the 1960s and her LBD (Little Black Dress) style became the instant example of contemporary style and sophistication.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s poster – 1961
Audrey Hepburn – Little Black Dress
CC
It didn’t start with Holly Golightly though. The LBD started with Coco Chanel. Before her the ornate, overwrought dresses of the Victorian era still said ‘sophistication’ to the general population. She (and others) changed that by creating dresses that were simple in line and decoration.
Original Coco Chanel drawing – 1926
Coco Chanel
Icon
And from then until now it’s been the standard of simplicity AND sophistication in fashion and design.
Grace Kelly – 1954
Jackie Kennedy – 1960s
Sophia Loren – Marilyn Monroe – 1960s
Little Black Dress – 1970s
Little Black Dress – 1980s
Princess Diana – 1990s
Taylor Swift – 2013
What is your favorite example of simplicity being the ultimate sophistication? It doesn’t have to be in fashion, it can be in any field.
It’s a beautiful thing that today is day #3 of Simplicity week!
Function
I saw a quote from Einstein the other day. Now, I don’t necessarily believe he actually said it, since a gazillion quotes are said to be from him that aren’t, but it doesn’t really matter. The quote is this:
Possessions, outward success, publicity, luxury…to me these have always been contemptible. I believe that a simple and unassuming manner of life is best for everyone, best for both the body and the mind.
I disagree with it for a few reasons. One is nothing is ever ‘best for everyone’.
Form
The second reason is illustrated by this interaction from the movie, ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ where a young woman is given a lesson in how her purely functional, non-luxurious sweater actually has it’s roots in choices made at the top end of fashion luxury. Take a look.
Form and Function
But I love the quote I chose because it allows for both form (beauty) and function (usefulness) to have it’s place in our lives and that if we focus on those two things, both equally valid, we can actually live a simple life.
__________________
Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman
Quote by William Morris, 1834 – 1896, English writer, designer and artist. A founding participant in the ‘Arts and Crafts’ movement.
Some interesting links on his art, career and influence.
It’s the naked truth – today is day #2 of Simplicity Week
The Naked Traveller Nightmare
Have you ever had a travel nightmare where you are standing at a baggage claim naked waiting for your suitcase to arrive but it never does? It’s a variation on a school nightmare or speaking in public nightmare. I haven’t, but I have had waiter nightmares where I was waiting on people naked, and that was pretty embarrassing and fear inducing.
The Overdressed Traveller Nightmare
Why don’t we ever have overdressed nightmares? Can you imagine a person dreaming of being at a baggage claim with too much clothes on and too many bags? I can imagine it, but I can’t imagine them being filled with embarrassment or fear because of it. More likely they would be frustrated, tired and stressed rather than fearful or embarrassed.
Follow Through
Let’s imagine what would happen if these two people really did show up at the baggage claim like this. One naked with a small carry-on and no luggage, the other overdressed with too many bags. What would actually happen to them? The naked person would be in danger of cold, sunburn, cuts, scrapes, bruises, exposure to the elements, not to mention possible arrest, ridicule and/or unwanted sexual attention. He or she would be limited in where they could go, what they could do, and how they would move forward in life.
The overdressed person with too many bags would be in danger of also not being able to get where he or she is going, or having to pay a lot of money for others to help them get there. They would have to figure out what is appropriate to wear, where to store all the suitcases and the stuff in them. Choose what to change into depending on what event or activity they were going to. And of course cleaning all the clothes. They would worry about the clothes getting old, torn, wrinkled, out of fashion. They could worry about stuff being stolen or ruined. A lot to worry about.
Baggage of Life
Now, let’s abstract this idea out, using it as a metaphor for our emotional, psychological and historical baggage. We come in the world naked, it’s true. But we survive by putting on clothes. We survive emotionally and psychologically by putting on emotional and psychological clothes via life lessons. The question is how much do you continue to carry with you and how much do you leave aside as you go. One key to success is to practice giving up that which emotionally and psychologically weighs you down. The overdressed, overpacked traveler has not learned this lesson. Another key is to hold on to that which emotionally and psychologically is essential to your survival and protection within your world. The naked traveler with no luggage has not learned this lesson.
The path to a successful and happy adulthood is found in being a traveler between the two extremes.
________________
Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman
Quote by Charles Warner, 1829-1900, American essayist. He is the actual author of the famous quote, “Everyone talks about the weather, but know one does anything about it.” It is commonly misattributed to Mark Twain, who was a friend of Warner’s and used this quote in a lecture.
“Simplicity is the final achievement. After one has played a vast quantity of notes and more notes, it is simplicity that emerges as the crowning reward of art.” – Frederick Chopin
Simplicity isn’t just about the art having simplicity, it is about your mind having simplicity. It means you have a mind dedicated to essence of creating, not the complexity of finding a ‘style’. It means a mind focused, a mind free and a mind pure.
My favorite artist is Henri Matisse. His radical and expressive color work (Le Fauves) is beautiful. His Moroccan period is sensual. but it is his simplest of line drawings, his simplest of paper collages done at the end of his life that excite me the most. Why? Because all the ingredients of 60 years of being an artist had been distilled into an simple, glorious dish. A dish a younger Matisse could not have understood or wanted to pursue. He was like a master chef who learns what doesn’t need to be in the dish.
