Work Simplification

At Level 1, you're focused on solving problems as they come, often using the patterns and tools you've seen before. You might not yet recognize when a task is more complex than it needs to be, or how to break it down into smaller steps. That's okay. This level is about learning to see the work clearly. You're gaining experience, trying solutions, and slowly building your mental toolbox. You're learning to spot when something feels harder than it should—even if you don't yet know how to fix it.

Key Behaviors

  • Completes tasks as scoped, even if complex or confusing
  • Asks clarifying questions about what needs to be done
  • Follows existing patterns or examples closely
  • May struggle to identify or name unnecessary complexity
  • Implements solutions that work, even if they're more involved than necessary

Common Struggles

  • Accepts scope as-is without questioning or simplifying
  • Tries to solve the entire problem at once
  • Writes more code than needed
  • Has difficulty knowing where to start
  • May be unsure how to refactor or remove code safely

Success Indicators

You know you're successful when you:

  • Can implement solutions with help or examples
  • Are learning to ask questions that make the work clearer
  • Start to recognize when something feels overly complicated
  • Complete tasks even when the path forward isn't totally clear

Mindset Shift

From:

"How do I do this?"

To:

"How could this be simpler or smaller?"

Questions to Ask Yourself

  • Can I split this task into smaller parts?
  • What's the minimal version of this feature?
  • Is there a simpler way to solve this that still works?

Build These Habits

  • 1
    Break tasks into smaller steps before starting
  • 2
    Sketch out ideas before coding
  • 3
    Ask for help simplifying a complex solution
  • 4
    Practice naming and removing parts that aren't needed

Seek Feedback

  • "Did I overcomplicate this?"
  • "How could I make this smaller or clearer?"
  • "Would you have approached this differently?"

Signals You're Ready to Level Up

  • You ask questions that reduce scope or complexity
  • You propose ways to simplify without being prompted
  • You start breaking down your own tasks more naturally

Focus Summary

  • Solve what you can
  • Question what you can't
  • Learn to see the shape of the work

At Level 1, your job isn't to have all the answers. It's to notice what's hard, ask why, and get curious about simpler paths.