“What Would This Look Like if It Were Easy?” – Quote by Tim Ferriss
This is a simple question from Tim Ferriss that has changed the way I’ve approached side hustles and various other aspects of my life.
And it revolves around 2 fundamental productivity principles:
- simplification
- elimination
As entrepreneurs and perfectionists, we tend to overcomplicate things. You think you need to do more, or you think you need to extend your deadline, but what you really need to do is ask yourself:
“ What would this look like if it were easy?” — Tim Ferriss
Here are three ways you can apply it to your side hustle:
Start with a simple version
What would your side hustle look like if you sold one service, offered one product, and used only one marketing platform for consistent promotions?
Simplify tasks
Need a logo? Create it fast with Canva, or pay someone $20 on Fiverr.
Building a website? Use the single-page website builder “Carrd”, and not a clunky, excessive, expensive website builder.
Eliminate anything that’s not necessary for getting started. And delegate to freelancers if you can.
Make it exceptionally easy to launch and grow. You can iterate later.
Use tools to improve speed
Use TinyWow instead of other file conversion or AI platforms.
Use Canva instead of other graphics design platforms.
Use Google Sheets instead of complex project management tools.
You get the point: use tools that make it easy to deliver your idea to the masses through the elimination of learning curves, cost, and other forms of friction.
That’s what easy looks like
Making your version look “easy” will cause you to take action. And action will give you motivation, momentum, and results.
Ask this question whenever you’re stuck, starting a new project, or tempted to quit.
It might be the most powerful question on your path to success.