Midwit Meme Simplicity

The Midwit Meme Principle explains why the best ideas are often the simplest ones that might sound dumb at first but end up being incredibly successful.

Core Concept

• Best ideas are simple to the point of sounding dumb
• Avoid over-intellectualizing or over-analyzing
• Focus on obvious answers that get clouded by trying to be too smart
• Success often comes from executing simple ideas well rather than complex theories

Real World Examples

• Snapchat

  • Simple idea: Pictures that disappear in 10 seconds
  • Initially seemed pointless/dumb
  • People later over-intellectualized its success
  • Became massive by keeping core concept simple

• Pal World (Video Game)

  • Basic premise: "Pokemon with guns"
  • Made on $10,000 budget
  • No complex planning or strategy
  • Generated $200M revenue in 7 days
  • Currently #1 game on Steam with 1M+ concurrent players

Why Over-thinking Fails

• People try to sound intelligent instead of executing
• Analysis paralysis prevents action
• Complex solutions often miss obvious answers
• Too much focus on potential problems rather than just trying

Key Lessons

• Keep ideas simple enough to explain in a few words
• Don't let perfect planning prevent execution
• Sometimes "stupid simple" ideas work best
• Focus on doing rather than over-analyzing
• Trust basic instincts over complex rationalizations

Implementation

• Start with the obvious solution
• Avoid adding unnecessary complexity
• Execute quickly rather than planning extensively
• Don't worry if idea sounds too simple
• Let results validate approach rather than theory