What the Louvre’s heist reminds of

With the investigation into the Louvre heist still ongoing, just three of the four suspects arrested and none of the stolen jewels recovered, a few things jump at me: Chief among them are the sheer simplicity and obviousness of the theft. 

This shows to the world at large, and far beyond crime, but also into the wide world of creativity how there is always a simpler and much more obvious way to accomplish things, which should be a huge encouragement to would be inventors. It’s not just a lesson about audacity motivated by greed, but a broader parable about creativity itself. 

Time and again, we’re reminded that the most elegant solutions are often hiding in plain sight. This should be a powerful encouragement to would-be inventors and problem-solvers: the path forward may not be the most complex, but the most direct. 

Inventing, at its core, is about solving a problem. But the brilliance lies not just in solving it, it lies in how. From Velcro to the toilet paper roll, from Post-it Notes to suitcases on wheels, some of the most transformative inventions are those that seem almost embarrassingly obvious — in hindsight. What’s in short supply isn’t complexity, but imagination. 

The courage to see the simple thing that no one else has noticed. The difference between a clever solution and a revolutionary one often comes down to simplicity. So whether you're designing a product, writing a story, or plotting a heist (metaphorically, of course), always look for the straighter line between points A and B.