The Complex Importance of Simplicity

I have heard before that the great become great because they do not settle. They realize from the beginning that even the smallest details matter. They strive for excellence across mediums and will not let anything compromise, even to the smallest degree, their message. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to have a clear message and a clear foundation for our company, Solavei. We have solidified our purpose and everything we do must align with it.

However, in any situation small details can get lost among big challenges. Vision can become fuzzy and operations, marketing, and messaging can become convoluted. This is inevitable at some point as a company becomes more complex. But I have found that it is highly important to maintain a sharp focus. I was inspired to consider this recently while reading an article on the history of the Apple logo. Here is an example of a business that has maintained its focus since almost the inception. The initial logo was a intricate design depicting Sir Isaac Newton sitting and thinking below the historic apple tree with an apple above his head. Within the frame was a portion of a poem by Wordsworth and there was a ribbon flowing over the frame with the name of the company. Rightly, Steve Jobs changed the logo a year later. The second logo was the much simpler rainbow apple with a bite out of it. According to this article, the rainbow represented the humanity of the company and the bite was to ensure that people did not confuse the shape with a tomato (and to play off the computer-related word “byte”).

The logo was adjusted one more time to the monochromatic apple. The brand needed a refresh and a new message to help transform it back into a successful company. Jobs kept the simple outline of the logo and updated it to look modern and edgy.

The enduring nature of the Apple logo represents how Jobs understood the company values and focus throughout his time at the company. In fact, the logo has been described to embody creativity and make a person more creative just by viewing it.  The goals and the messages are clear and they are depicted in the simplicity of the design. Especially during the first years of a company, striving to maintain clarity and simplicity in the company values is one of those little details where we must accept nothing short of excellence.

I often hear from others that I am extremely detail-oriented. But I believe that the smallest details can sometimes create the difference between success and failure. The sparkplug in a car is a small detail but without it, even the most expensive car won’t run. Having the ability to champion the major and the important minor details can create great success.