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Addition by Subtraction
Addition by Subtraction
Addition by Subtraction
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Overview

Commonly used in art and sport, but just as relevant for product design, UX, architecture, entrepreneurship, personal development, and al ...

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Levatio igitur vitiorum magna fit in iis, qui habent ad virtutem progressionis aliquantum. Haec et tu ita posuisti, et verba vestra sunt. Semper enim ita adsumit aliquid, ut ea, quae prima dederit, non deserat. Sed quid attinet de rebus tam apertis plura requirere? Ab his oratores, ab his imperatores ac rerum publicarum principes extiterunt. Sit hoc ultimum bonorum, quod nunc a me defenditur; Nam, ut sint illa vendibiliora, haec uberiora certe sunt. Duo Reges: constructio interrete.

Sed quia studebat laudi et dignitati, multum in virtute processerat. Est enim effectrix multarum et magnarum voluptatum. Quid enim me prohiberet Epicureum esse, si probarem, quae ille diceret? Verum esto: verbum ipsum voluptatis non habet dignitatem, nec nos fortasse intellegimus.

Bork Iam in altera philosophiae parte. Bestiarum vero nullum iudicium puto. Quid ergo attinet gloriose loqui, nisi constanter loquare? Omnes enim iucundum motum, quo sensus hilaretur.

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Actionable Takeaways
  • Pause before you add. 

Whether you’re facing a pro ...

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Universa enim illorum ratione cum tota vestra confligendum puto. Incommoda autem et commoda-ita enim estmata et dustmata appello-communia esse voluerunt, paria noluerunt. Tum Quintus: Est plane, Piso, ut dicis, inquit. Huius, Lyco, oratione locuples, rebus ipsis ielunior. Quid enim de amicitia statueris utilitatis causa expetenda vides. Odium autem et invidiam facile vitabis. Et non ex maxima parte de tota iudicabis? Duo Reges: constructio interrete.

Sed ut iis bonis erigimur, quae expectamus, sic laetamur iis, quae recordamur. Paulum, cum regem Persem captum adduceret, eodem flumine invectio? Cum autem in quo sapienter dicimus, id a primo rectissime dicitur. Quid enim ab antiquis ex eo genere, quod ad disserendum valet, praetermissum est? Mihi enim erit isdem istis fortasse iam utendum. Nam illud vehementer repugnat, eundem beatum esse et multis malis oppressum. Quid enim de amicitia statueris utilitatis causa expetenda vides.

Et nunc quidem quod eam tuetur, ut de vite potissimum loquar, est id extrinsecus; In parvis enim saepe, qui nihil eorum cogitant, si quando iis ludentes minamur praecipitaturos alicunde, extimescunt. Quid autem habent admirationis, cum prope accesseris? Respondent extrema primis, media utrisque, omnia omnibus. Quod si ita sit, cur opera philosophiae sit danda nescio. Non est ista, inquam, Piso, magna dissensio. Omnia contraria, quos etiam insanos esse vultis.

Limitations

Addition by Subtraction is a useful concept but obviously will not always apply. Some things are simply complicated and will require greater investment or inputs. Some things can not just be reduced to create more value. Sometimes more, might actually be the answer. 

For example, in this cost-cutting environment for business, it's tempting to assume that this concept just means cutting back on staff. However, another option might involve investing more in sales and marketing or investing to change a product line to better engage with a shifting market. 

In Practice

iPhone.

Apple’s removal of the iPhone’s physical keyboard can be seen as an example of delivering new value with less apparent product.  

Atlassian’s no-jerk policy. 

When software company Atlassian wanted to improve the output of their developers, one of the initiatives they took was to apply a ‘no jerk’ policy. This involved exiting talented but arrogant developers who they believed were holding their respective teams back. 

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Origins & Resources

As noted in the main summary, Addition by Subtraction has been around in many forms, for many years, and we could not attribute it to one prime thinker. 

Some notable advocates include artist Donald Judd, a leader of the minimalist art movement; the architect Mies Van der Rohe who argued that ‘less is more’ as a key proponent of modernist architecture; Warren Buffett who applies it in his approach to investing, and even Steve Jobs whose focus on a streamlined Apple business model is sometimes cited as his clear prioritisation approach. 

 

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