Giving your business a shave with Occam's Razor.
March 13, 2008
Albert Einstein stated a principle in 1933 which is often paraphrased as "Theories should be as simple as possible, but no simpler." Occam's Razor is a similar principle of logic that can be summed up as "All other things being equal, the simplest solution is the best." Then there's the principle more people are probably familiar with: the KISS principle ("Keep It Simple, Stupid").
As a computer programmer and web developer, I've found all three principles to be very true. When an algorithm or piece of logic in my code starts getting too complex, I try to step back and see if my fundamentals are wrong. Almost inevitably, I find a simpler, faster, better way to solve the same problem. It's also taught me to be able to let go of hundreds (or thousands) of lines of code that took me hours (or days) to write. As painful as the wasted time may seem, I try to view it, not as a loss, but rather as simply the steps it took for me to find a better method.
This has helped me tremendously in my business, too. When things start getting too difficult to manage easily, I make the same kind of assumption I would make if the code I'm writing starts to get too muddled: I've got some fundamentals wrong. My willingness to make drastic changes for the sake of improving the way things work has been rewarded handsomely in this regard as well.
Unfortunately, it is not human nature to do this. By nature, we take the path of least resistance, and that means continually doing what we're doing, even if it will ultimately result in failure. Making drastic fundamental changes in our methods or routine is scary. What's behind the door of change is an unknown, and unknowns make most people very apprehensive.
To illustrate: let's say that you start a link building campaign, but after a few months you're still not seeing any good search engine rankings despite having the same number of links as your competitors. At this point you have two options: you can keep doing what you're doing in the hopes that getting more and more and more links will eventually get you ranked, or you can step back and examine what it is about the links you're getting, or the way you're getting them, that just isn't working very well.
In this particular case, if you choose to just keep doing the same thing, you might eventually see some results. That's what makes continuing with a flawed plan so dangerous. Because you did, in fact, see some results, you might continue going about your link campaigns in the wrong way, expending far too much time and too many resources on a flawed method over and over again. However, if you choose to step back and figure out where you went wrong, it might take longer to see good results this time, but going forward you've got a better method that will more than make up for the added time and expense.
I've never really agreed with the mantra "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Just because something is working does not mean it's working well, and it certainly doesn't mean it's giving you the best return on your investment. Where would technology be today if all of the great inventors took that stand? We'd still be driving Model-T cars and manually washing our clothes with a bucket and a bar of soap!
Thomas Edison first patented the idea of the electric light bulb in 1880. That light bulb lasted a whopping 13.5 hours before burning out. If he'd stopped his work then, we might be changing a lot more light bulbs around the house! But he didn't stop. After a few more months he created a filament that lasted 1,200 hours. A drastic improvement indeed, gained because he didn't believe that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."
A better philosophy is, "If it's simple and works well, don't complicate it." The key here is that it has to "work well." Only you can judge what's working well for you and what isn't. You have your own unique set of strengths and weaknesses, and you need to be willing to assess them and make decisions based on that assessment. You also have your own unique goals, and no one else should dictate what you should and should not accomplish. Set your goals to meet your needs, and go from there.
I can't overemphasize the importance of changing your view of the "lost" work that comes with making changes, either. It's not lost work — it's gained knowledge and experience. The sum total of all of your failures is what fuels the success that will come, if only you keep at it.
Thomas Edison failed ten thousand times before finally making a light bulb that worked. It's true that, had he quit, somebody else would have eventually made the discovery, so the world probably would not have lost too much. Edison was not the first person to experiment with electric light, nor would he be the last (in 1994 General Electric created a light bulb that will burn for 60,000 hours). But think of what Edison would have lost! And think about what you will lose if you give up and stop working to improve your business.
So if you're finding your daily routine full of drudgery and difficulties, perhaps it's time to take out Occam's Razor and give your business a shave.
Please post your thoughts and ideas below.
Comments
64 Responses to “Giving your business a shave with Occam's Razor.”
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Jonathan Leger has been earning his living online full-time since the fall of 2004. He regularly posts advice about search engine optimization (his current passion), AdSense and Internet Marketing. 
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Right again John. You cover 2 related issues here. That of failing and that of improving. We have to strive to fail and then we can only improve. Its taken me 2 years to learn how to make money on the internet the way that i would like.
My belief is that the process itself can deliver rewards even if the end result isnt what you would have wanted. Any process that fails can only benefit you in the long run through the things you learn.
Keep trying and keep failing, then you will succeed!
Jonathan,
I agree except for the "KISS" acronym. I use "Keep It Stupendously Simple"!
I try to refrain from calling myself stupid or anyone else for that matter. Even though we may do things considered by others to be stupid, doesn't mean we are stupid people.
Although if someone has a long track record…
Warren
A lot of times we have to get our of our own way when it comes down to it. Usually the conversation in our minds is of the 90 pound weakling that is too scared to figure out how to keep the bully from kicking sand in his face. But we let that voice control what we do and stay satisfied with mediocrity while hiding behind behind complexity. That way inaction is "justified".
Hi Jonathan,
I just want to appreciate you for your amazing software and Tips, and of course your kindness appear on all of your expression !!! God bless you!!!
Hi, Jonathan,
Thanks for your article, which I enjoyed reading.
You are source of integrity on the Internet.
All the best,
Norm Abbott
Jonathan,
Great post, your very analytical in your approach to things but coupled with a healthy dose of common sense as well. On occasion these two characteristics do not show up with an equal weight in everyone. Albert Einstein served humanity very well with his brilliance in his time. In our time I think you serve us internet marketers exceedingly well with sharing your insightful intellect . I for one enjoy reading your posts, As a matter of fact yours is the only posting that I take the time to actually read each one. Keep up the good work and thanks again for sharing thoughts with us.
Best wishes,
David
Simplicity in structure gives your mind the opportunity to assess each part of the "whole" as seperate entities… allowing you to focus on specific problems and solutions. Deconstructing a complex business problem often relies on "simple" assumptions visible to the trained eye… easy to fix then.
Many Corporate Companies (like General Electric) constantly and regularly shave their management structures. Every so often the bottom 20% of a Department's management structure will be razored… and replazed with fresh new blood… until the next round… of shaving that is!
i think the simple solutions get lost in IM and other SEO practices,or lost in the sales page hype anyway. If you read on alot of the forums there is alot of complex thinking and therioes when in reality the basic principles work the best for alot of what we do.
When you fail of trying, then this means that success is nearer to you than before.
So, what would anyone do if they know success is round the corner? Would they stop doing?
I feel everything is a learning process. The same goes for improving on what you have.
You have to tread into the unknown to learn and achieve. Sometimes it IS scary. I think success only comes from plodding along.
I heard this recently and thought it was so true. (I wish I could remember where.)
"The only difference between the people who are doing it and those that are not doing it…is that the people who are doing it are doing it."
Feeble and simple…but true.
Thanks for all you words of wisdom.
wrong link…sorry.
Hi Jonathan,
Great insight! I agree with David here. Your posts are worthwhile reading, because they are full of inspiration. Whenever I get your newsletter in my mailbox, I know this is something worth reading. You give us insights of your own achievements and failures; and this really helps us to relate with our own endeavours to make it and most of the time I won't hesitate to post my thoughts just to let you know what I think.
You're one of the few Internet Marketers who really can connect with your subscribers. I think what makes you really geniune is that your not that typical guru that will throw you here and then sales and promotions. As a programmer, you have a different approach about IM.
I wished you gave us more insights for internet newbies - the best tips to getting started, and how best to getting started. I can't tell you how much money I've lost trying to figure out how things work! I'm a little bit Internet savvy by now, and I hope I'm on the right path to finally achieve success. But I know there are people out there in the dark who are still struggling.
Regards,
Maurice
Hi Jonathan,
To be able to look at a project you have worked extremely hard at and realize that you need to go back to step one and start in another direction is what makes a winner. To keep at the same old thing is comfortable but being comfortable never got anyone anywhere.
Thanks
Terry
Jon
Sound advice for life as well as business.
The key is to know when to keep doing what we are doing and when to change.
To give up too early is as bad a mistake as to keep doing what we've always done.
I came across an iinspiring quote recently.
"The brick walls are not there to keep us out, they are there to let us prove how badly we want things." (The last lecture of Randy Pausch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQtwEKlUutA)
Paul
I agree with you. We should always strive to improve, not just our businesses but also ourselves.
I'm with Warren E Strader above. I've liked the KISS changed to Keep It Short and Simple. Why call myself or anyone else stupid. For some reason it has always rubbed me the wrong way.
As far as keeping track of what I'm doing, I even put a time tracker on my system that tracks what programs I'm using and for how long.
End of the day, I can see where my time went, email, web project, forums. It's a real eye opener. Let's me know if I'm staying on track or getting off of my goals list.
Yep, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail….
KIS- S for Stupid, MMMM ?
Have you heard of the 7-S Model?
==========================
The Seven-Ss is a framework for analyzing organizations and their effectiveness. It looks at the seven key elements that make the organizations successful, or not: strategy; structure; systems; style; skills; staff; and shared values.
Consultants developed the 7S model in the late 1970s to help managers address the difficulties of organizational change. The model shows that organizational immune systems and the many interconnected variables involved that change complex, and that an effective change effort must address many of these issues simultaneously.
The Five S Model
==============
5S is a basic, fundamental, systematic approach for productivity, quality and safety improvement in all types of business.
A Five S program is usually a part of, and the key component of Visual Factory (Workplace) Management (VFM). And 5s and VFM are both a part of Kaizen — a system of continual improvement — which is a component of lean manufacturing.
The Five S's are:
Sort - the first step in making things cleaned up and organized
Set In Order - organize, identify and arrange everything in a work area
Shine - regular cleaning and maintenance
Standardize - make it easy to maintain - simplify and standardize
Sustain -maintaining what has been accomplished .
Hey Jonathan,
good post, I love being reminded of Occam's Razor every so often, it appeals to the geek in me, but as always, there's a business lesson to be gleaned from your post.
Good post,
Dan
Enjoyable read. Thanks.
Some years ago I was stuck on a ledge for hours while waiting for the rock climbing party above me to make any visible signs of progress. The leader of the party couldn't climb past a spot and never varied his approach to the problem. It was incredibly frustrating to watch the guy endlessly repeating the same maneuvers which simply didn't work. He reminded me of how a bug tries to right itself when it's on its back. It repeats the same movements until it succeeds or dies.
Thank you Jonathan for another excellent post. Your sharing of your thoughts is very much appreciated and valuable.
Keep up the great work and continue to help others who are not as talented and successful as you are.
Barry
Jon,
Being very new to the IM arena, I constantly have to step back and take a look at where I'm at and if I'm still moving in the direction I need to.
I know from my IT background the propensity to not fix something because it "ain't broke." I spent the first few years of my career challenging dogma and improving processes that served only to make a coworker feel safe and within their comfort zone.
The hardest challenge I face now is having information coming at me from every angle and trying to process it so I can tell if it's good or bad for me.
Unfortunately, there is no substitute for experience.
Thought-provoking and insightful as always!
Jeff
Jon,
As a fellow programmer I know exactly what you are talking about. I am a big fan of pseudo coding, it is a forgotten discipline that really cuts down on complexity.
Alan Cooper, an expert on user interfaces in his book, About Face, wrote "No matter how cool your user interface is less of it would be better." That yardstick can be applied to far more than UI.
Many of websites I see have so much UI that it is nearly impossible to figure what the heck to do. Most people just leave.
Check out Google's home page, there is little doubt what you should do there.
When people are faced with a new problem they bring with them the solutions that worked other problems. This also contributes to undue complexity.
I do not know who to give credit for the quote "When you have a hammer everything looks like a nail!" but it fits far too many people.
The simple solutions are the best.
Well Jonathan - the timing of this post couldn't be better. I actually whipped that razor out today!
First I had to forgive myself all the lost time and money for unproductive attempts.
Two Great Quotes apply here:
"If you're going to make a mistake, at least make it a new one." - Unknown
"There's no such thing as Failure, only Feedback!" - Brian Tracey
~Schelli
Thanks for the great post Jonathan
Fear of the unknown plagues millions of people. Rather than letting go of what doesn't work, they cling to it in fear of the uncertainty ahead. Non action is the result.
Definition of insanity… Expecting different results but
doing the same thing/action over and over.
Fear is an emotion that vibrates at a very low frequency
and it resonates out into the universe and brings back to the source it's equivalent. More fear and apprehension.
Uderstanding fear will end it. "Laugh right in it's face and
then take action or don't take action if the situation does
not warrant it."
The poor souls who let their beards grow would do well to read this well thought-out article on using a razor.
There is a problem with Occam's Razor, or the principle therein.
Like beauty, it's in the eye of the beholder. What may appear
the shortest distance between two points is relative - as you
you say the long route may show a short cut but the long journey
has to be taken before the short cut is revealed.
So Time after all is only saved after you have expended a
great deal of it.
Change is brought about on the sacrificial alter of a bagful of
Time and effort. Simple & elegant is a 7 billion year old
earth twirling on it's evolutionary axis - isn't it?.
Simple is as simple does but really it's not that simple is it?
- understanding some of the basic aspects of Einstein's
"General"Theory of Relativity" or Filament Material's Science.
Child's Play! Mmm.. for the Mr. E.'s perhaps.
And anyway shaving is one thing but a good haircut is another…
Greg Jordon
You are right Jhon.
I have been through ups nad down in my life. But, i'm a survivor and i have a very high self confidence. I always beleive that there is a way out from a terrible complicated situation. And sometimes, the way out is the things that we take for granted or we overlook it.
Althugh I've never heard the Occam's Razor thing, but in a way that was just the thing i used to get me freed.
Ujang
you are great authors, i'm enjoying reading it
Thanks Jonathan,
We are unfortunately a sometimes stubborn and non logical species. Admitting that we have been wasting our time or doing something the hard way is admitting that we are wrong. I think that is another reason we are reluctant to do things differently.
Ted
I can honestly say that 9 times out of 10 when I run into a problem its because I have over-complicated the process! The best advice I can offer to anyone interested is that when i'm faced with a problem, the very first thing I do is take a look at the most obvious reasons why the situation went wrong in the first place. Most often, this is hardest to do, but once you've trained yourself to think this way, you'll speed up the solution AND be less likely to make the same mistake again! Thanks for the great read, Jonathan!
Hello Jon,
I enjoyed your post very much and am giving it a stumble. Thanks for the motivation for I sometimes can fail to understand why I bother so much with all the tweaks to my site.
I've been a fan of your blog for some time now because I see the value in the info that you share and for what you stand for. Thanks for bringing some clarity to my otherwise confused mind about website marketing.
With much appreciation,
Evelyn
Yeah, Jonathan,
May be with not that exact reasoning, but I too try to keep the things simple. It is much easier to handle that way, for sure
Misha
Hi Jon,
Very good advice!
I think you make a good point in reminding us that we
all have our unique set of strengths and weaknesses,
and that we should base our internet marketing
activities on our strengths (With an eye to improving
our weak points, of course.).
And, of course, the main thing is to get out there and
do things, rather than simply read and acumulate
information. Don't wait for perfection!
All the best,
Laurie
My latest revelation to keep things simple is to use Wordpress for building websites. I recently added a blog to my site and found that it makes everything so much quicker and easier I think I'll use it for most new websites in the future. The free plugins you can find for wordpress (which is also free) take care of so many tedious tasks like building sitemaps etc. It's definitely worth the learning curve to get up to speed with wordpress…
Yeah John, you are absolutely right…. Why complicate things when there are simple methods?
Thanks for the advice.
Ubi
Thanks for the shave, Jon.
Always appreciate your thoughts and opinions
and love the resources you share here…
Enjoy your day!
I view it all as a game. Sometimes I crash, but I still get back in the game to see if I can rack up more points or a higher score - more hits - more sales.
Thanks for keeping me motivated!
Seth
Hi Jon,
A very interesting post!
I didn't know about the bulb burning out after 13 hours…fascinating!
I did however know that a Brit called Joseph Swan was beaten to the patent office by Edison by a matter of hours!! - so what you're saying is totally true in that we still would have light bulbs.
But naturally - Swan is nothing like as well known as Edison - for the sake of a few hours headstart…lol
I do enjoy reading most of your posts, you seem to be one of a very few who share information of value without holding back to gain a sale….lol
Warm Regards
Randy Smith
Great post!!
As you stated, all of us have a have a tendency to forget the simple and think that the more difficult is better or more appealing.
Throw a little impatience in with this and a chance of failure is even greater.
I speak of patience because this is one of my biggest flaws that is difficult to overcome.
Thanks Again for the post.
Hi Jon,
You awekened something inside on me that was pretty asleep.
Despite I studied Occam at the University (20 years ago)… never thought about him in my approaches to IM.
You're brilliant!
Thanks so much and keep doing this wonderful job.
Excellent article Jonathan! Wow! It IS easier to just do what we've been doing because it's what we know and are comfortable with. But very often (more often than we like to admit) it is NOT the best way or what will get us to the goals we SAY we want.
I see this so often with business owners and their bookkeeping records. I see myself making this mistake too! Thanks so much for this excellent wake-up message and inspiration to stay awake and stop wasting time. Because time is life.
Your excellent information and products are greatly appreciated. You are clearly one of the few internet marketing who is bringing immense value to the industry. Thanks for your integrity and dilligence.
Gabrielle
As always a great article, this dovetails perfectly with the 80/20 rule.
I know with my own business I found that the greatest part of my time was being spent doing things that were not making me money. Once I realized this I discontinued businesses/campaigns that weren't profitable. It was amazing how much extra time I had, without hurting my bottom-line.
I hope this helps others!
Charles Taylor
Jonathan, I always enjoy reading your posts. I think that this one about Occam's Razor's is great.
One ebook that you might think about publishing is the "KISS Guide to SEO & Link Building" - I'll bet you'd have a lot of buyers.
Always enjoy stopping by your place Jon!
Would love to have you post your articles with us!
Have a great weekend!
[…] March 14th, 2008 | Useful Pages OK, well I was going to write about my experiences outsourcing work today but instead I came across an article by Jonathan Leger that I thought was perfect for this blog. The article is called Giving your business a shave with Occam's Razor. […]
Hi, Jon!
Recently I have noticed, that than more we read similar articles from devoted of the Internet, especially our business quickly advances. What it? Hypnosis? Autohypnosis? Motivation?
Thank.
Hi Jonathan,
This is an extremely important post. It is often easy to want to complicate things thinking that will stand you out from others. No - it actually negates the principle of human psychology and emotions.
This principle, KISS to me has been so helpful in my own business and life.
Again, you really helped pointed to me that it really pay to look back to the 'old masters' and learn the real secrets of success they applied.
Thanks for sharing man…
As always, another great post.
And having worked in the IT department of a major British credit card company for 20 years or so, if there was one thing that caused most projects, large or small, to be late and/or over budget and/or just not delivered at all, it was trying to over-complicate stuff.
I guess this goes hand in hand with the Pareto Principle (aka 80:20 Rule), which is another great principle to live and work by.
Finally, if we're doing quotes, then I love this one from Hector Berlioz: "Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils."
This is something i've struggled with all my life
Which is why I'm now trying to follow a simple proven plan that i know works, so far so good, I'm already starting to see positive results 
A great post, looking forward to your next
Jayen
Hello Jon!
I enjoyed reading your post. I agree with your views. Striving for improvement and perfection brings progress and a sense of accomplishing something of significance. Now we have energy efficient fluorescent light bulbs which consume only 13 watts of electrical energy but give as much light as a 60 watt incandescent light bulb. We now know that it is very important to be energy efficient, because Energy is the integral component in the three big E triangle: "Economy, Environment, and Energy".
"The sum total of all of your failures is what fuels the success that will come, if only you keep at it."
Truer words were never spoken. What separates the winners from the losers are those who quit just before they reach the finish line.
Thom
You're really getting me to look at what I'm doing online in another perspective. Maybe I'm not getting the results I'm hoping for because of the way I do things. I'll spend some time reviewing my methods and hopefully find ways to work more efficiently.
Luc
Thanks for the invitation to your sites.The problems face for newbies like me,is too many ebook and software to buy and tested and from startingpoint whether it works or not,sometimes we saw lots of same stuff and being compelled to read it,and time consuming.I believe others have same problems,if somebody out there can share the secret success in Internet Marketing using one path,it will be appreciated though Im sceptical.Back to the issue make it simple and time saving,I thing there is no time saving,everyday getting updated and test new things,its a lot of work.Thats my opinion.
I really appreciated your article. It kind of sets your boggle (mind) straight on how to get there.
Thanks
Thanks for sharing this very inspirational article! And you are right, if you want to become successful, you don't have to quit. Just keep on trying until you reach your goals.
Hi Jonathan,
Awesome post. It gives me lots of food for thought. I like how you brought out the value of regular process review for improvement on "what ain't broke". Interesting to note the number of things that would simply not exist today if everyone refused to "fix" what's still working.
Awesome ! Thanks for sharing this very inspirational article! Looking forward to your next
Always enjoy stopping by your place Jon!
Would love to have you post your articles with us!
All The Best!
I live my life by this mantra:
"If it ain't broke, fix it until it is"
Seems to work for me…
Hi Jonathan,
My first comment on any of your posts, which I read with great interest.
So here is my provocation. You argue in favour of keeping things simple, I totally agree on that. But why then speculate that much in linkbuilding, ranking, trafic, tricking the search engines etc.?
If everybody was concentrating on building great sites with interesting content for selected target-groups - everything would be quite simple, wouldn't it?
The internet would be without millions of useless sites, search engines algorithms would be simple, users would be happy, and the money would follow the traffic and reward true internet-thinkers.
Kind of naive thinking, i know, but its true simplicity.
Take a quiz:
It would be great if it were that simple, but unfortunately none of the search engines are "smart" enough to reward that kind of "great content only" approach — not unless you have the startup funds to really get the word out yourself through massive PR campaigns and TV spots.
Remember when Amazon first got started? I don't think I could watch television for more than 10 minutes without seeing one of their commercials. They really implanted themselves in the public's mind, and so they will remain viable even if their search traffic disappeared. Ebay did the same thing.
But it takes boatloads of cash to get started that way, and most small business owners simply can't afford to take that route.
Excellent content is a requirement for long-term success, to be sure, but unfortunately it's simply not enough at this time.
Jonathan,
Excellent post! Many thing sin it I found to be beneficial. I enjoyed you object lesson about the inventors. I firmly believe that nearly every single product -or system- can be improved upon. Again, great post, something to think about.
Terrific post!
I have long been a fan of Occam's Razor, however, I only invoke it as a problem-solving method in rare circumstances.
The reason for this is the part about "all other things being equal". This statement infers that the decision-maker or analyst has an acute understanding of the situation at hand, along with the corresponding variables. All too often, the situation itself and/or the underlying details, context and technicalities are not properly understood, leaving the individual attempting to determine the simplest explanation with an inadequate knowledge of the context involved and the relative simplicity of the various alternatives.
My advice is to be sure you know what you're doing if you plan to invoke this principle.
Article is right on. Those that decide to quit had no intentions to be an internet business. person.
Thank you,
You speak a lot of truth here. I have a website in the 3way network, it is a .org.uk, it hits the front page in google.co.uk, but is no where in google.com. Which was not the intended plan.
The method is flawed in that I used the wrong domain name. Had I used a .com things will have been different. I could either spend a lot of time gathering more links, in the vain hope things will change. Or start again this time with a .com domain.
It's worth periodically standing back and re evaluating things.