This morning I was reading a book titled The CEO Next Door.  I am only two chapters in to the book, but I already have a couple of pages of notes.  This book includes research from over 17,000 assessments and over 2,600 real interviews of CEO candidates that were ultimately placed in to CEO positions.  This book provides what they call the CEO Genome, the characteristics of successful CEO’s.

One of the key characteristics of successful CEO’s that they shared already in the book, that I think is more important today than ever before.  Great CEO’s and great CEO candidates have the ability to make complex things seem simple.  They communicate complex things in terms that people can understand and buy in to.  They do this by making sure all stakeholders understand how something applies to them and then uses simple terms that are easily understood.

The ability to make things simple and communicate it in a way that is easily understood is really an art and is necessary for all areas of life.  Everything seems more complex than ever before.  So anyone who can communicate and make things seem simple is someone who can carve out a niche for themselves.

A few areas that I believe that too many people over complicate, that aren’t really that complicated. Losing weight and becoming more financially healthy. My mentor told me that there are about a half of dozen things that we can all do to have success in whatever it is that we seek to have success in.

Becoming healthier and losing weight:  What are the things you can do that lead could lead you to success when applied. 

• Exercise for 30 minutes a day
• Eat less
• Eat better foods
• drink more water
• Cut out the bad thing you know you need to cut out. (alcohol, sweets, etc.)

What if you want to become better financially? What would you need to do?

• Make more money
• Cut out unnecessary expenses
• Invest
• Get rid of your debt.
• Dont buy things you can’t afford.

What if you want to be a better employee? 

• Show up early
• Be willing to put in extra hours as needed.
• Be coachable
• Get a long with others.
• Learn how your position contributes to profitability and then do whatever that is repeatedly.

The blueprint is easy.  It isn’t complicated.  Quit over complicating things in your life and boil it down to the simplest of terms and the simplest of activities.  Because the more simple the better.  I understand the hard part is the execution of each of these things.  But too many people get ahead of themselves and start over thinking the execution way before they even know what it is they need to do.

Make a calendar.  Put on the calendar the 15 times this month you will exercise for 30 minutes a day.  Secondly, figure out how you can cut out some of the bad foods you are eating and what you could replace them with.

If it is better financial health you want.  The first question I ask is always, “How can you make more money?”  That is easy.  You can figure that out.  The second question is “Are there things I should cut out?  What are they?

And if you want to be a better employee.  Ask yourself or others in your organization: “Where could I be better team-mate?”  “Where else could I contribute to help our company or department be more successful?”

I know some of this seems like common sense.  And guess what?  It is.  Common sense is common knowledge, but unfortunately it is not common practice. Where do you need to implement more practice and less talk?

Remember you are the CEO of your life. You have to take control of it.  By making things simple for yourself, it will give you the motivation and path to make it happen.

To your success and your future.