Rules of Engagement | Principles to improve relationships, become decisive & achieve more goals

2 min readMay 9, 2023

Thank you for reading this publication. It means a lot to me.

Rules of Engagement is a framework I have developed over the last 10+ years. It has helped me to feel like I have more direction, purpose and clarity.

I’m now publishing these Rules via a free newsletter, which you can subscribe to below.

Rules of Engagement is designed to help with:

Making Fast, Effective Decisions
Improving and Managing Relationships
Setting and Achieving Goals

It can also help with reducing stress, improving mental clarity and consistency.

Every few weeks, I will send you an email with a Rule and an explanation of it. The email will include a fast, practical writeup with some action points to put the rule into place in real life.

I hope you enjoy Rule 1 below and please subscribe for more!

Rules of Engagement — Rule 1

“Unnecessary complexity is the enemy of progress”

Rule Emphasis

Unnecessary, enemy

Rule Meaning & Why

In order to move faster and achieve more, you have to simplify.

Adding or allowing complexity does not only slow or halt your progress, it works directly against it.

Complexity isn’t just a roadblock, it’s the enemy.

Mentally, considering complexity as an “enemy” will prevent it more effectively.

Rule Application

Fixing a problem

In a complex situation, ask yourself what the most simply way would have been to achieve the objective if complexity had never existed.

Take action based on the result of this prompt, cutting complexity where possibly and simplifying the goal and process where possible.

Preventing a problem

In a simple situation, adding complexity that does not most probably positively impact the object will, at best, delay and distract you. At worst it will derail and reverse you.

Question anything that doesn’t immediately take you closer to the objective. Block unnecessary complexity before it impacts the process.

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