This is why you’re like Picasso…
As you get good at something, you embrace more complex options (Notion over Apple Notes, leading meetings, etc).
As you get really good at things you make things simpler again (back to Notes, avoiding meetings, etc).
Reembrace simplicity.
The amateur does not know what to do.
The master knows what not to do.
The master has hiked Picasso’s Hill
Picasso's Hill
As you improve at something, you journey along a curve. You’ve probably seen the memes. I’m sure it’s got some fancy name like "The Complexity Curve of Mastery."
But it looks like a hill. So I’m calling it Picasso’s Hill
Why?
Because dude can draw and paint his ass off. But he got to his signature style by returning to simplicity. Check out Picasso’s Bulls if you want to see this in action.
So about that hill…
When you first start, you’re on the simple end of the curve.
As you progress you climb the curve to complexity.
Then you hit a point in your progress where you head back down the hill to simplicity.
But this doesn’t mean you’re back where you started. You hiked over a hill.
As James Clear puts it:
The amateur does not know what to do.
The master knows what not to do.
So keep it simple, stupid
JK, you’re not stupid 💜
2024 Resolution: Defer To Data
Here’s another New Year’s resolution for curious marketers:
DEFER TO DATA
Why guess when you can test?
The benefit of working in a digital world is rapid data collection. Digital is fast and flexible, use that to your advantage.
We don’t have to rely on opinions or gut feelings.
I have sat in so many meetings where taglines or ad creative or button color is discussed. Meetings filled with “I thinks” and “I likes”.
Don’t think and feel. Launch & learn.
- The algorithms want more pieces of robot food to learn on.
- People like different things.
- Our brands aren’t just one color and one phrase and one picture.
What I’m saying is:
Yes, I’m being a bit extreme. Our experience and our expertise is what makes us valuable. But we don’t have to settle on one thing.
Narrow down to a few options that represent your brand well and just put them out there. Let your audience decide.
We don’t need to rely on our opinions and gut feelings, we can find out what our customers actually like, which is way better.
Our opinions don’t matter. Our audience’s opinions matter.
Toss on the lab coat and start cranking out robot food.
2024 Resolution: Defer To Data
Why guess when you can test?
We don’t need to rely on our opinions and gut feelings, we can find out what our customers actually like, which is way better.
Toss on that lab coat and start cranking out robot food.