Razors Beat Rules

Your employee handbook has 87 pages. And it's growing.

Every new scenario gets a new rule. Every edge case gets documented. Every complaint gets a policy.

But here's what actually happens:

Employees still ask, "Is this okay?" They look up the rule. It doesn't quite fit. So they ask anyway.

Rules try to cover everything. Razors cut through anything.

Warren Buffett decides what to buy with one question: "Would I own this if I couldn't sell it for 10 years?"

That's a razor. It cuts through everything else.

"Would this delight the customer?"

"Is this making things simpler or more complex?"

One question. Instant clarity.

You can memorize one razor. You can't memorize 87 pages.

We cling to rules because they feel safe. Clarity comes from judgment. And judgment feels dangerous.

But watch what people actually use when decisions matter.

Not the document. The principle.

The best companies don't have the longest handbooks. They have the clearest razors.

Your team probably has both.

Notice which one they reach for first.