Plus versus Minus:

Shane Parrish:

"Complexity increases because adding is easy and removing is dangerous.

Whenever there's a problem, we add: a new person, requirement, or process. We never subtract.

Why?

Because everything that already exists has a champion. That clause in the tax code, that step in the process, that feature in the product ... someone fought for it, and they'll fight you if you try to remove it.

So we become professional complexity managers. Entire careers are built managing unnecessary mass. But this is the opportunity. While everyone else adds mass to the system, removing it creates an unfair advantage. The lighter you are, the faster you move.

Removing what shouldn't exist creates more value than any addition could."