This Website Revolutionized My Approach to Simplicity in Business and Life
I hope this post gave you a few lightbulb moments or at least a good laugh. If you want me to handle your operations so you can focus on the fun stuff, click here.
Author: Frane Cvitanic | Founder of Avensys, Fractional COO & Business Operations Consultant and Advisor Published: October 25, 2024
Welcome to my digital home! If you're reading this, you're probably someone who, like me, is on a mission to make life and business simpler, more efficient, and just a bit more fun.
This website has been a game-changer for me, revolutionizing how I approach both my personal and professional life. Itâs not just about pretty pages or slick designâthis space represents years of fine-tuning what truly works in streamlining business operations while still making time for what matters most.
I built this site with one goal in mind: to share how simplicity can transform your life and business without sacrificing quality or ambition. Whether you're here to get insights, find actionable tips, or simply connect with someone who gets it, you're in the right place.
Ready to dive in? Letâs take this journey to simplicity togetherâbecause lifeâs complicated enough already!
The Simplicity Mindset: Where It All Began
My journey toward simplicity didnât start in the boardroomâit started way back in elementary school, when I discovered my love for writing. I was constantly scribbling down stories, poems, and ideas, eager to express myself through words.
This passion followed me into high school, where I kept writingâuntil I met my Croatian teacher. Her outdated, rigid views on education and the world stifled my creativity. Sometimes, she would insult me on a personal level, guided only by her prejudices, even going as far as to quarrel with a 15-year-old out of pure spite.
By the end of high school, at 18 years old, I lost my mojo to write. My love for storytelling, poetry, and even songwritingâthings that once gave me so much joyâfaded under the weight of her negativity.
But those early experiences stuck with me. They taught me how complex, outdated systems can crush creativity and growth. Thatâs when I promised myself that life and work didnât need to be that way. And thatâs where my pursuit of simplicity began.
My love for writing may have dimmed by the end of high school, but creativity never fully dies, does it? During my economics study program, those flashes of inspiration started to creep back in. It was a completely different environmentâone where I was encouraged to think for myself, challenge the status quo, and evolve.
For the first time in years, I felt empowered again. I questioned everything: Why does this process exist? How can we make it better? I started to see the power of creating new paths where none existed before.
I even found myself writing again, this time for a student association. We were more than just a group of studentsâwe were a force of energy, constantly brainstorming new ideas, organizing events, hosting workshops, and even putting together conferences.
We didnât just learn; we laughed, we hung out, and we pushed each other to grow. Those moments of collaboration reignited my passion for simplifying complex ideas and creating systems that just worked. The seeds of simplicity were planted there.
Through all those experiences, from the struggles in high school to the empowerment during my studies, I realized that simplicity wasnât just a buzzwordâit was a mindset that could transform how we approach both life and business.
Thatâs why I built this website: to help others discover how to cut through the noise and focus on what truly matters.
This website is a reflection of that promiseâof creating space where ideas, creativity, and efficient business strategies can thrive without unnecessary complexity.
Business Operations Shouldnât Be Complicated: My Framework for Streamlining Success
Letâs be real for a momentâbusiness operations can feel like a jumbled mess sometimes, like trying to juggle flaming torches while balancing on a tightrope. Sound dramatic? Maybe. But if you've ever spent hours untangling processes that should be straightforward, you know the struggle. The truth is, business operations shouldn't be this complicated.
Over the years, Iâve developed a framework that cuts through the chaos, transforming that circus act into something more like a well-choreographed dance. And the best part? You donât need to be a seasoned business guru to make it work. You just need a mindset that values clarity, a bit of patience, and a sense of humor when things inevitably go off track (because they will, trust me).
Hereâs how I approach simplifying business operations in three core steps:
Step 1: Clarify the Core (a.k.a. The âLetâs Not Overcomplicate Thisâ Rule)
The first thing I tell my clients is that you canât optimize what you canât understand. If your business operations feel like trying to read hieroglyphs, itâs time to strip things back. I like to start by asking, âWhat are the 3 to 5 key things this business really needs to do to function?â Thatâs itâjust three to five. Once we zero in on the essentials, everything else becomes noise. We push the noise aside and focus on what moves the needle.
For example, if you run a cleaning service, you need cleaners, schedules, clients, and quality control. Boomâthose are your essentials. If your business is spending more time chasing down duplicate invoices or figuring out how to âadd valueâ through 27 unnecessary spreadsheets, we have a problem. Iâll help you take a machete to all those extra tasks that have crept in over time. Simplicity is about subtraction, not addition.
Step 2: Systematize the Essentials (a.k.a. âAutomation Is Your Best Friendâ)
Once we know what matters, we create systems. But hereâs the trick: systems donât have to be rigid, soul-sucking processes that feel like theyâve been ripped straight from a corporate dystopia. Nope! A good system is like a smooth playlistâonce you press play, it should just flow. The goal is to make your day-to-day operations so smooth that you barely have to think about them.
For me, that means automating everything that can be automated. Your time is valuable, so why waste it on things that can run on autopilot? From scheduling software to client communication templates, I look for every opportunity to make your business run itself, while you do the stuff you actually enjoy (like getting back to your customers or, you know, taking a vacation).
Step 3: Iterate, Donât Agonize (a.k.a. âPerfection Is Boring Anywayâ)
Finally, the most important step: nothing is set in stone. Systems evolve, businesses grow, and complexity sneaks in when you least expect it. But instead of getting stressed about it, I believe in a mindset of continuous improvement. As I like to say, âProgress over perfection, every time.â
When things donât go according to plan, laugh it off, fix what needs fixing, and keep moving forward. Some of the best ideas come from moments where things went sideways. The goal isnât to create a perfect system on the first try, but to keep refining until your operations are running smoothly and you can sleep peacefully at night.
Business operations shouldnât make you want to tear your hair out. They should empower you to grow, adapt, and enjoy what you do. With the right framework, simplifying your workflow can feel less like a chore and more like a transformationâone that brings freedom, time, and clarity into your life. And who doesnât want that?
Lifeâs Too Short for Overcomplication: How I Applied These Principles to My Daily Routine
Lifeâs already busy enough, right? Between managing a business, raising a 2.5-year-old, and trying to squeeze in time for hobbies like insanity workout, basketball and creative writing, I realized I needed to simplify thingsâjust like I do with business operations. Thatâs when I decided to apply my simplicity framework to my everyday routine. And trust me, it was a game changer.
I donât believe in overcomplicating life (or business, for that matter). So I took the best lessons Iâve learned from streamlining operations and built them into my daily routine. Itâs not about rigid schedules or a military-grade regimen. Itâs about balance, priorities, and making time for what truly matters. Hereâs how I did it:
Step 1: Focus on the Essentials (a.k.a. âThe Big Rocksâ)
Just like in business, I focus on the non-negotiables. What are the few things I must do each day to feel good and stay productive? For me, itâs spending time with my family, staying physically active, and making progress on my work. These are my âbig rocksââthe things I make time for no matter what.
Everything else? Well, it can wait. If the dishes pile up or I miss a few emails, thatâs fine. The important stuff gets done, and the rest will fall into place.
Step 2: Streamline the Routine (a.k.a. âAutomation Isnât Just for Workâ)
Hereâs where I bring in my business expertise. I looked for ways to automate the little tasks in life. I set up automatic grocery deliveries, bill payments, and reminders. My favorite? I use voice assistants to keep track of random things like appointments or shopping lists. Itâs like having a personal assistant, minus the cost!
This means I spend less time on the boring, repetitive tasks and more time on things that actually make me happy, like playing soccer or jamming on my guitar.
Step 3: Keep It Fun (a.k.a. âLifeâs Too Short to Take Seriouslyâ)
This is a big one. Iâve learned that the key to keeping things simple is to leave room for fun. Every day, I make sure thereâs time for something I enjoy, whether itâs goofing around with my son or picking up my guitar. It keeps me grounded and reminds me why Iâm simplifying things in the first place.
Sure, I still have work deadlines, parenting duties, and a million things to juggle, but when you build fun into your day, it doesnât feel so overwhelming.
Step 4: Embrace Flexibility (a.k.a âPerfection Is Overratedâ)
Life happens, and sometimes things donât go according to plan. Thatâs okay. Iâve embraced the idea that âgood enoughâ is often exactly what we need. Whether itâs a quick workout instead of a full session or 15 minutes of creativity instead of an hour, it still counts.
Perfection is overrated, and flexibility lets me stay productive without getting frustrated when things donât go perfectly. After all, progress beats perfection any day.
Conclusion
I know this blog post is on the longer sideâtrust me, it took a while for me to actually sit down, gather my thoughts, and focus long enough to get it all out. Think of it as my version of simplifying the chaos in my head! But, hey, sometimes a little extra detail is necessary to really dive into what matters.
In both life and business, simplicity has been my secret weapon. Itâs helped me cut through the chaos, focus on what truly matters, and create systems that workâwithout burning out.
Whether it's streamlining my business operations or just making my daily routine less hectic, the principles of simplicity keep everything flowing smoothly.
Now itâs your turn. Take a moment to reflect on your own routinesâboth personal and professional.
Where can you simplify?
Whatâs distracting you from what really matters?
Start small, focus on the essentials, and see how much clarity and freedom you can gain.
P.S. This is just the beginning! In upcoming posts, Iâll dive deeper into the specific tools and strategies I use to keep things running efficientlyâboth at work and at home. From automating daily tasks to mastering productivity with less stress, weâll cover it all. Stay tuned! đ§đ»âđŠČ
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