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Are You Familiar with the KISS Principle?
Keep It Simple Stupid is frequently useful advice.
In college, I get involved in a medieval reenactment society. My primary focus began with rapier combat (fencing). While much of this is one-on-one, we also do melee combat. That can be bouts between anywhere from two-on-two to 100-on-100 or more (and not always even sides).
Some of this combat is on an open field. Sometimes we fight in the woods. And other scenarios come into play like bridge battles, town battles, ship-boarding battles, and more. Goals vary from capture the flag to free the prisoners to kill ’em all — and everything in between.
Such campaigns begin to need a strategy. “Get ’em Ray!” is (almost) never a good plan.
However, when it comes to strategy, the simplest plan you can create is frequently the best.
This is how I was introduced to the KISS Principle in my early 20s.
What is the KISS Principle?
KISS = Keep It Simple Stupid
Some have interpreted this statement as insulting — keep it simple, stupid! But that’s not my take. I see it as stupidly simple. Keep it simple stupid.
But the point of this principle is that the simple plan, simple solution, and simplest idea is best.
However, people still seek new and better ways to do things that have been done before. Frequently, the new way adds layers of complexity.
Unnecessary complexity.
One reason why the KISS Principle is so spot-on and applicable is this: No plan survives contact with the enemy.
The “enemy” is the unexpected, the unplanned for, and the things you have ZERO control over. An over-complicated plan tends to come apart in the face of the enemy far easier than the simple plan does.
Also, the simple leaves room for improvisation, alteration, and change. Complicated plans tend to have…
