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KISS - Keep It Simple, Stupid



I have been elected to the post of treasurer of the Residents’ Council at Luther Acres. It will be my job to keep track of the receipts and disbursements of the council’s funds. Each month I will also be expected to report to the council on the financial activities for the prior period.
I have already received some feedback on the format of the monthly report; the gist of it is that it is too complicated. The residents say they are old people, inexperienced in financial terminology, and as a result I need to keep it simple.
What complicates matters is that the Executive Committee of the Council needs to see where they are in relation to the budget which is set up at the beginning of the year. And it seems to be the budget that is confusing the main council.
I have some ideas about what to do, and I shall try them out, first at the Executive Committee meeting, and if approved there, at the general council meeting.
As so many things seem to do lately, this situation appears, at least to me, to be a metaphor and a prescription for a productive life. Although we need to be aware of the underlying detail of a given situation, we need to try to simplify it. Use only the tools you need for the job at hand.
I direct this conclusion to those, and I know several, who can take any situation and reduce it to its most complicated form. It’s a waste of time and resources, and can lead to frustration, disappointment, and a host of other psychological effects that are extremely unpleasant.
There is no need to buy a Cadillac if you are only driving around the block.

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