When I do just about anything in life, whether it’s for work or for pleasure, I relish opportunities when I can do something simply but well. There are many opportunities to do this in the field of programming. A program, well-written, can be a beautiful thing. Perhaps only other programmers can understand that statement, but I think the truth is comprehensible to just about anyone when they think of what a program is: it’s a set of directions for getting from one place to another.

If I can give those directions very clearly and accurately, the program will work as it should. If I can be succinct and pithy in my “wording”, the program will work quickly and run efficiently. Accomplishing those things is perfect simplicity. (Unfortunately, I am not usually able to do things that way in a typical work environment, but sometimes it happens.)

A great arena in which perfect simplicity can be seen is music. There are a few bands I never grow tired of listening to, but they’re not all “great” musicians. Steve Vai is great guitarist. Buckethead is a great guitarist. But those aren’t the musicians I listen to over and over again. However, I can throw in the Ramones and enjoy their music fairly consistently. Why is that? Part of the reason is that the songs are so simple, and so perfectly executed. The songs are almost all extremely catchy. Because of that, the Ramones are a best-selling band to this day. Technical musicians like Vai don’t sell many CDs, however, in comparison.

So what does this all mean, to you and I? It means we need to demonstrate perfect simplicity in what we do, if we hope to be successful. A way to do that is to specialize in one aspect of your interests, and become good (really good) at something. I personally enjoy a great deal of things: playing guitar, writing, gardening, building things, drawing, programming, playing drums, working out, etc. However, I can’t ever hope to do all or most of those things at an expert level. So I pick one thing (web programming) and do it as best I can.

We can all do that, and I think we’ll see greater success as we maintain focus on one thing in our lives. This perfect simplicity is what we gain from focus and practice, and it breeds success.

- I don’t debate with people. If someone wishes to know something, they’ll ask me and I’ll tell them. It doesn’t offend me if they then choose to not accept what I tell them, or if they wish to research it further. However, if someone asks me something because they only wish to argue, they’re small-minded and foolish – and are merely wasting my time. When someone wastes my time in this manner, it does offend me.

- I must enjoy my work. A person’s life is actually quite a short event. That being the case, I intend to live as much of it as possible. Since I must make a living by working, it makes the most sense for me to do something I find challenging as well as enjoyable.

- When I say I will do something, I must follow through on my word. I’ve broken this a few times, and I can’t think of a time when I didn’t regret it. It’s always best to keep one’s word – and I aim to live this way.

- The things I do should help others, not hurt others. I believe our lives are meant to be lived this way. This is not a religious belief, but it should be a part of any good belief (religious or otherwise).

- I should do my best. When I have to work at any task, I simply should put forth my best effort. There are many reasons to do this, and no reason not to do this. Anything less is either lazy, irresponsible, or inconsiderate.

- My happiness is not more important than the happiness of others. While I do wish to be happy, and will make efforts to be as happy as I can be, I am not “more important” than other people and have no right to deny them happiness if my wishes conflict with the state of their lives.

- Humility is better than a proud attitude.

- Be kind to others. People are never won over by negative actions (anger, debate, war, etc), but often are won over with kindness.

- Learning is the most valuable use of spare time and should be done on a normal basis. I like to do mindless things from time to time (watch a movie, or play a video game for instance) but I try to always have an interesting book on hand as well, so I can keep growing mentally.

- I can be the best in my field (and should be). No matter what “the other guy’s” supposed ability, level of intelligence, personality type, or level of education is – it doesn’t stop me from being just as good if not better.

- Nothing is impossible. I mean this for good things as well as bad things. It’s simply a way to remember that anything can happen in life, sometimes when we never imagined it was coming our way.