Blueprint #56: Stop Reinventing the Wheel - Accelerate Your Success Today

Lesson: Simplify to Succeed

A while back, I faced a bottleneck in one of my companies (Blue Ocean Pool Service). We needed a better way to schedule and route our technicians to customer homes. My first instinct was to build a custom routing system from scratch—something that accounted for traffic patterns, job durations, and individual skill sets. I spent hours mapping out what felt like a thousand “what if” scenarios, adding layer upon layer of complexity to ensure it covered every possible edge case. Halfway through this process, I paused and realized: I was making it far more complicated than it needed to be.

Instead of continuing down that path, I looked at existing route optimization tools that were already proven and easy to implement. Within a day, I had installed one, integrated it with our scheduling software, and watched as our team’s efficiency shot up almost immediately. I didn’t need to build a perfect solution from the ground up—just a workable, simple one that already existed.

Insight: The Power of Simplicity

We often assume our problems are so unique they demand tailor-made solutions. But here’s the truth: most operational challenges have been tackled before. By tapping into existing solutions—tools, frameworks, or best practices—you save time, reduce stress, and get results faster. Complexity tends to snowball, making it harder to pivot later. Start with what’s simple and effective. If you need to refine it later, you can. In the meantime, you’ll have already gained momentum, boosting your confidence and driving tangible progress.

Action Item: Leverage Existing Solutions Today

Identify one problem you’re wrestling with right now. Before crafting a custom fix, research how others have solved similar issues. Could a commonly available platform, template, or strategy solve 80% of your problem right away? Pick the simplest workable option and implement it. You’ll likely find that starting with a proven tool gets you moving forward far faster than building from scratch.