Recently, I was listening to one of my favourite podcasts, Rework by the founders of 37signals, the software company behind Basecamp. I’ve always admired their philosophy on business and life. Back when I worked in tech, they stood out to me as the most sane voices in the industry—and I still find myself following their work years later.
On one of their episodes, they shared a concept they used in the early days of Basecamp called “Fisher-Price simplicity.”
What Is Fisher-Price Simplicity?
Every time they designed a new feature, they asked themselves: “Is it Fisher-Price simple?”
The metaphor comes from Fisher-Price toys. These toys are incredibly simple, durable, and intuitive. You don’t need a manual to use them. They’re so well made that you can still find them in thrift stores decades later, and they work just as well as they did when they were new.
I bought a Fisher-Price piano from the 1970s for my daughter. It still works perfectly. No batteries, no unnecessary buttons, no frills—just simple, timeless design.
That’s the level of simplicity Basecamp aimed for, and I immediately understood what they meant.
Complexity Disguised as Sophistication
Reflecting on my own life, I realized how much unnecessary complexity I’ve introduced in the pursuit of elegance, taste, and sophistication. Somewhere along the way, I confused “more refined” with “better.”
But in reality, over-optimization often leads to paralysis. I see this with many of my clients as well. The desire to have everything automated, optimized, and maximized creates second-, third-, and even fourth-order problems to solve. Soon, the system you built to make life easier becomes the very thing that slows you down.
Yes, there is a time and place for elegance and sophistication. But when it comes to foundations—whether it’s the structure of your life, your business, or your personal systems—what we actually need is something solid, simple, and easy to use.
Think of it like building a house: the foundation doesn’t need frills. It just needs to be strong, high quality, and straightforward.
My New Theme: Fisher-Price Simplicity
I’ve heard about the Fisher-Price simplicity a week before my birthday, and I decided to adopt it as a guiding theme for my next year of life.
In every area, I want to ask myself:
“Is it Fisher-Price simple?”
If the answer is no, I’ll look for ways to strip away the excess, reduce complexity, and build a more solid, durable foundation.
I’ll be sharing my journey and the changes I make along the way. If you’ve also been feeling weighed down by over-optimization and complexity, maybe this idea will resonate with you too.
How You Can Work With Me
If the idea of Fisher-Price simplicity resonates with you and you’d like support in simplifying your own systems and making steady progress, here are three ways we can work together:
- Start with my free course
Learn how to apply Agile principles to your personal projects and goals in a straightforward, no-fluff way. It’s a great first step if you want to experience how simple tools can make a big difference. - Join the Focus Room
This is my membership community where we work in 3-week sprints, share daily stand-ups, and keep each other accountable. It’s about building progress layer by layer—without over-optimization or overwhelm. - Work with me one-on-one
If you’re looking for personalized guidance, I also offer individual coaching. Together, we’ll strip away the unnecessary complexity, create a foundation that’s Fisher-Price simple, and help you move forward with clarity.
