The Power of Obvious and Counterintuitive Advice

The Power of Obvious and Counterintuitive Advice

In the quest for self-improvement and success, we often seek out advice from experts, gurus, and successful individuals. We hope that they will reveal some secret or provide a groundbreaking insight that will propel us forward. However, what if I told you that good advice is often "obvious"?

Scott H Young, a well-known personal development blogger, argues that good advice is typically something that we already know deep down. It's not about discovering secrets or hidden techniques. Instead, it's about recognizing the basics and understanding how they apply to our lives.

When we hear advice that seems obvious, we might dismiss it as common knowledge. But Young suggests that even if something is obvious, it can still be useful to hear it. The key is to judge the obviousness not by whether the information is new, but by whether it challenges our intuitions.

Our intuitions can be fuzzy and often lead us astray. We might have a vague sense of how things work, but it's the obvious advice that can help us clarify and solidify our understanding. By revisiting the basics, we can uncover insights that we may have overlooked or forgotten.

For example, James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits, shared his experience of promoting his book. He revealed that he had been on over 200 podcasts in the first six months of the book's launch. This strategy may seem obvious to many, as podcast appearances are a common way to reach a wider audience. However, Clear's success lies in actually executing this strategy, while many others overlook it.

Similarly, in the story of Instagram's founding, we can see the power of obviousness. Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, the co-founders of Instagram, understood the importance of simplicity and ease of use. They refined the app to require as few actions as possible, removing the need for users to add tags or additional information to their photos.

This approach went against the grain of what others were doing at the time. Path, a competing social networking app, required users to add tags about people or places to their photos. But Systrom and Krieger's decision to keep things simple resonated with users. Instagram gained 25,000 users on its very first day, showcasing the power of obviousness in design and user experience.

Furthermore, Systrom and Krieger's decision to keep the company lean with only a small team of employees proved to be a wise move. When Facebook offered to purchase Instagram for $1 billion, they agreed to the acquisition but with the condition that the company would remain independently managed. This decision allowed Instagram to maintain its unique identity and continue to grow under the guidance of its founders.

The success of Instagram highlights the importance of real connections. In a world saturated with words and information, people crave genuine interactions and meaningful experiences. Instagram's focus on visual storytelling resonated with users, proving that simplicity and authenticity can trump complexity and verbosity.

So, what actionable advice can we take away from these stories?

1. Embrace the obvious: Don't dismiss advice just because it seems obvious. Take the time to reflect on how it applies to your life and how you can implement it effectively.

2. Focus on the basics: Revisit the fundamentals of your goals and aspirations. Sometimes, the key to success lies in mastering the basics rather than searching for complex strategies.

3. Keep it simple: Whether in design, communication, or decision-making, simplicity often leads to greater impact and resonance. Cut out the unnecessary and focus on what truly matters.

In conclusion, good advice is often "obvious" because it aligns with our intuitions and challenges our fuzzy understanding of the world. By embracing the basics, we can uncover insights and strategies that may have been hiding in plain sight. So, don't overlook the power of the obvious and counterintuitive. Embrace the simplicity, authenticity, and real connections that can lead to true success.