There is a major problem that I’ve witnessed and even experienced in several places in life. It’s the over complication of life. We make things way harder than they really have to be! And it’s killing our ability to really thrive in life.

I’ve had the chance to work in so many different fields in life. I’ve done landscaping, bartending, restaurant cook, car sales, landscape consulting, manufacturing, church work, life coaching, and the list goes on from there. In each of these areas I’ve learned a little more about systems, job functions, leadership and the overall complications associated with getting jobs done.

One thing that is so striking is that we make things so hard that people have a hard time following our systems. We make the process so complicated and complex that it’s hard to connect the dots from start to finish.

Take my days in the car sales world as a good example. When I was taught how to sell cars there were more steps than I could remember. I think when I started I had to remember something like 30 steps on what needed to happen from start to finish in a car deal. I was so focused on the next step that I often didn’t give the customer the time or focus they needed or deserved.

Over time we were able to narrow that list down to 13 steps. Still more than probably needed to be there but it made the job way easier. We often approach something thinking that more steps makes it more manageable. But in reality when we have to communicate the process to someone else, it’s nearly impossible to do so in a way that can be retained.

Life in the church is no different. We have so complicated life and ministry that it’s become nearly impossible for people to actually focus on following Jesus because of all the rules we’ve added to the system. I highly recommend looking closely at the systems you have in place to see if they are easily teachable and replicable.

Once you honestly evaluate the process you have in place, it’s time to lose the parts of the system that are not 100% essential. Look I’m all for tradition and comfort in knowing how things function. But if we’re honestly trying to reach new people or create the best way for people to onboard our system, then we need to look at things from the perspective of those we’re trying to reach not our own comfort.

So simply put make it simple and watch how things grow and people thrive, because simple is clear.