Bulgarian weightlifters shocked the world in the 1980s. Under Coach Ivan Abadjiev’s system, they dominated Olympic competitions with a radical approach – they eliminated most exercises. While others performed 20+ different movements, Bulgarian athletes did just three: the snatch, clean and jerk, and front squat.
The results? They won multiple Olympic medals and set world records.
We chase complexity, thinking it equals sophistication. We want more email folders, productivity apps, exercise variations, menu items, and metrics.
But peak performers know differently. Warren Buffett’s investment criteria fit on one page. Apple launches fewer products than its competitors. Toyota built an empire on standardized processes.
Excellence doesn’t come from doing more things. It comes from doing the right things more often.
When we add complexity, we dilute our focus. We scatter our energy across too many targets, hitting none of them well.
Simple isn’t easy – it’s more complex. It requires the courage to eliminate good options in favor of great ones. To say no to the shiny new thing. To trust that mastery comes from depth, not breadth.
The next time you’re tempted to add another layer, remember those Bulgarian lifters. They didn’t need twenty exercises to be the best in the world. They just needed the right ones.
