Fortune magazine asked influential leaders to share wise words that changed their lives forever. Here is what Tiger shared with reported Jessica Shambora from their July 2009 issue.

When I was young, maybe 6 or 7 years old, I'd play on the Navy golf course with my pop. My dad would say, "Okay, where do you want to hit the ball?" I'd pick a spot and say I want to hit it there. He'd shrug and say, "Fine, then figure out how to do it."

He didn't position my arm, adjust my feet, or change my thinking. He just said go ahead and hit the darn ball.

My dad's advice to me was to simplify. He knew that at my age I couldn't digest all of golf's intricacies. He kept it simple: If you want to hit the ball to a particular spot, figure out a way to do it.

Even today, when I'm struggling with my game, I can still hear him say, "Pick a spot and just hit it." When I'm making adjustments during a round, I know some of the television commentators theorize that I'm changing this or moving that, but really what I'm doing is listening to Pop.

NOTES FROM CARL:  I call this Brilliant Simplicity. A principle you can apply again and again. Remarkable.

I see way too many plans, strategies, and corporate initiatives that are too complex from beginning to end to be understood and put into action. My recommendation:  create a clear, visually-based front-end that captures the essential parts of the plan and makes it simple to understand. Make sure they get the big picture and the basics first. Keep it simple and let them get to the complexities and details later.