What would this look like if it were easy? This single question can completely reframe your biggest challenges. It cuts through complexity and forces you to find a simpler path forward.
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Meaning
The core message is about bypassing self-imposed complexity. It’s a mental model that forces you to strip away the drama and friction we often add to our own goals.
Explanation
Look, here’s the thing I’ve found after using this for years. We’re all wired to make things harder than they need to be. We add unnecessary steps, overcomplicate processes, and create mental barriers that just… aren’t there. This question is a circuit breaker. It stops the overthinking dead in its tracks. When you’re stuck, instead of asking “How do I solve this impossible problem?”, you ask, “What would the easy version look like?” The answers are almost always simpler, more elegant, and frankly, more effective. It’s about finding the path of least resistance that still gets you to the destination.
Quote Summary
Reading Level71
Aesthetic Score81
Origin & Factcheck
This quote was popularized by Tim Ferriss in his 2016 book, Tools of Titans. While the phrase feels timeless, its specific framing and widespread adoption in the modern productivity and business world can be directly credited to Ferriss. You won’t find it misattributed to someone like Einstein; this one is firmly his.
Attribution Summary
Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | What would this look like if it were easy? |
| Book Details | Publication Year: 2016; ISBN: 9781328683786; Last edition: 2017 Paperback; Number of pages: 707 |
| Where is it? | Part II: Wealthy, Section: Simplify Decisions, Approximate page from 2016 edition: 440 |
Context
In Tools of Titans, this isn’t just a throwaway line. It’s presented as a core operating principle Ferriss uses when he feels overwhelmed or when a project seems to be stalling. He uses it as a forcing function for simplicity, a way to cut through the noise and identify the 20% of actions that will yield 80% of the results.
Usage Examples
So how do you actually use this? Let me give you a couple of real-world ways I’ve applied it.
- For an Entrepreneur: Stressed about a complex product launch? Ask: “What would an easy launch look like?” Maybe it’s just an email to your top 100 customers instead of a massive, multi-channel campaign. See? Simpler.
- For a Writer with Writer’s Block: Staring at a blank page? Ask: “What would easy writing look like?” Maybe it’s just dictating a messy first draft into your phone while walking, instead of demanding perfect prose from the first keystroke.
- For Anyone in a Meeting: When a discussion is going in circles, just pose the question: “Team, just for a moment, let’s pretend this was easy. What would we be doing?” It instantly refocuses the conversation on solutions, not problems.
This is for anyone who ever feels stuck, overwhelmed, or like they’re forcing a solution.
To whom it appeals?
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FAQ
Question: Isn’t this just about being lazy?
Answer: Not at all. It’s about being strategic and effective. Laziness is avoiding work. This is about doing the right work, the most impactful work, without unnecessary struggle. It’s the opposite of lazy—it’s about being smart.
Question: What if the task is genuinely complex and can’t be made easy?
Answer: The goal isn’t always to make the entire task easy. Often, it’s about identifying just one part of it that can be simplified. That one simple step can create momentum and make the rest of the complex task feel more manageable.
Question: How often should I use this question?
Answer: Use it as a trigger. Any time you feel a sense of dread, friction, or confusion around a project, that’s your cue to ask it. It’s a tool for moments of high resistance.
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