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diff --git a/content/blog/2020-10-12-mediocrity.md b/content/blog/2020-10-12-mediocrity.md index c13a5ea..f919900 100644 --- a/content/blog/2020-10-12-mediocrity.md +++ b/content/blog/2020-10-12-mediocrity.md @@ -7,115 +7,110 @@ draft = false # Perfect is the Enemy of Good -As the saying goes, \"the best is the enemy of the good.\" As we strive -for perfection, we often fail to realize the implications of such an -undertaking. Attempting to reach perfection is often unrealistic. Even -worse, it can get in the way of achieving a good outcome. In certain -situations, we try so hard to achieve the ideal solution that we have -burned the bridges that would have allowed us to reach a lesser yet -still superb solution. - -Philosophers throughout history have inspected this plight from many -viewpoints. Greek mythology speaks of the [golden -mean](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_mean_(philosophy)), which -uses the story of Icarus to illustrate that sometimes \"the middle -course\" is the best solution. In this story, Daedalus, a famous artist -of his time, built feathered wings for himself and his son so that they -might escape the clutches of King Minos. Daedalus warns his beloved son -whom he loved so much to \"fly the middle course\", between the sea -spray and the sun\'s heat. Icarus did not heed his father; he flew up -and up until the sun melted the wax off his wings. For not heeding the -middle course, he fell into the sea and drowned. +As the saying goes, "the best is the enemy of the good." As we strive for +perfection, we often fail to realize the implications of such an undertaking. +Attempting to reach perfection is often unrealistic. Even worse, it can get in +the way of achieving a good outcome. In certain situations, we try so hard to +achieve the ideal solution that we have burned the bridges that would have +allowed us to reach a lesser yet still superb solution. + +Philosophers throughout history have inspected this plight from many viewpoints. +Greek mythology speaks of the [golden +mean](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_mean_(philosophy)), which uses the +story of Icarus to illustrate that sometimes "the middle course" is the best +solution. In this story, Daedalus, a famous artist of his time, built feathered +wings for himself and his son so that they might escape the clutches of King +Minos. Daedalus warns his beloved son whom he loved so much to "fly the middle +course", between the sea spray and the sun's heat. Icarus did not heed his +father; he flew up and up until the sun melted the wax off his wings. For not +heeding the middle course, he fell into the sea and drowned. More recently, management scholars have explored the [Pareto -principle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pareto_principle) and found -that as we increase the frequency of something, or strive to perform -actions to achieve some form of perfection, we run into [diminishing +principle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pareto_principle) and found that as we +increase the frequency of something, or strive to perform actions to achieve +some form of perfection, we run into [diminishing returns](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diminishing_returns). Even further, Harold Demsetz is noted as coining the term [the Nirvana -fallacy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nirvana_fallacy) in 1969, which -shows the fallacy of comparing actual things with unrealistic, idealized -alternatives. This is another trap that we may fall into, where we are -constantly thinking of the ultimate solutions to problems, when -something more realistic needs to be considered. - -Over and over throughout history, we\'ve found that perfection is often -unrealistic and unachievable. However, we push ourselves and our peers -to \"give 100%\" or \"go the extra mile,\" while it may be that the -better course is to give a valuable level of effort while considering -the effects of further effort on the outcome. Working harder does not -always help us achieve loftier goals. - -This has presented itself to me most recently during my time studying at -my university. I was anxious and feeling the stresses of my courses, -career, and personal life for quite a while, which was greatly affecting -how well I was doing at school and my level of effort at work. One day, -I happened to be talking to my father when he said something simple that -hit home: - -> All you can do is show up and do your best. Worrying about the -> outcomes won\'t affect the outcome itself. +fallacy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nirvana_fallacy) in 1969, which shows the +fallacy of comparing actual things with unrealistic, idealized alternatives. +This is another trap that we may fall into, where we are constantly thinking of +the ultimate solutions to problems, when something more realistic needs to be +considered. + +Over and over throughout history, we've found that perfection is often +unrealistic and unachievable. However, we push ourselves and our peers to "give +100%" or "go the extra mile," while it may be that the better course is to +give a valuable level of effort while considering the effects of further effort +on the outcome. Working harder does not always help us achieve loftier goals. + +This has presented itself to me most recently during my time studying at my +university. I was anxious and feeling the stresses of my courses, career, and +personal life for quite a while, which was greatly affecting how well I was +doing at school and my level of effort at work. One day, I happened to be +talking to my father when he said something simple that hit home: + +> All you can do is show up and do your best. Worrying about the outcomes won't +> affect the outcome itself. The thought was extremely straightforward and uncomplicated, yet it was -something that I had lost sight of during my stress-filled years at -school. Ever since then, I\'ve found myself pausing and remembering that -quote every time I get anxious or stressed. It helps to stop and think -\"Can I do anything to affect the outcome, or am I simply worrying over -something I can\'t change?\" - -# When Mediocrity Isn\'t Enough - -One problem with the philosophies presented in this post is that they -are implemented far too often in situations where mediocrity simply -isn\'t adequate. For example, let\'s take a look at digital user data, -specifically personally-identifiable information (PII). As a -cybersecurity auditor in the United States, I have found that most -companies are concerned more with compliance than any actual safeguards -over the privacy or protection of user data. Other than companies who -have built their reputation on privacy and security, most companies will -use [satisficing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satisficing) as their -primary decision-making strategy around user data. - -> Satisficing is a decision-making strategy or cognitive heuristic that -> entails searching through the available alternatives until an -> acceptability threshold is met. - -This means that each decision will be met with certain possible -solutions until one of the solutions meets their minimum acceptable -standards. For companies that deal with user data, the -minimum-acceptable standards come from three areas: - -1. Laws and regulations -2. Competitive pressure -3. Risk of monetary or reputation loss - -Working with project management or auditing, the primary concern here is -the risk of legal ramifications. Since the primary risk comes from laws -and regulations, companies will require that any project that involves -user data must follow all the rules of those laws so that the company -can protect itself from fines or other penalties. - -Following this, companies will consider best practices in order to place -itself in a competitive position (e.g. Google vs. Apple) and review any -recent or ongoing litigation against companies regarding user data. In a -perfect company, management would then consider the ethical -responsibilities of their organization and discuss their -responsibilities over things like personally-identifiable information. - -However, as we mentioned above, most companies follow the idea of -satisficing, which states that they have met the minimum acceptable -standards and can now move on to other decisions. Modern business -culture in the United States dictates that profits are the golden -measure of how well a company or manager is performing, so we often -don\'t think about our responsibilities beyond these basic standards. - -Not all situations demand excellence, but I believe that applying any -philosophy as a broad stroke across one\'s life can be a mistake. We -must be able to think critically about what we are doing as we do it and -ask ourselves a few questions. Have I done everything I can in this -situation? Is mediocrity an acceptable outcome, or should we strive for -perfection, even if we can\'t attain it? +something that I had lost sight of during my stress-filled years at school. Ever +since then, I've found myself pausing and remembering that quote every time I +get anxious or stressed. It helps to stop and think "Can I do anything to +affect the outcome, or am I simply worrying over something I can't change?" + +# When Mediocrity Isn't Enough + +One problem with the philosophies presented in this post is that they are +implemented far too often in situations where mediocrity simply isn't adequate. +For example, let's take a look at digital user data, specifically +personally-identifiable information (PII). As a cybersecurity auditor in the +United States, I have found that most companies are concerned more with +compliance than any actual safeguards over the privacy or protection of user +data. Other than companies who have built their reputation on privacy and +security, most companies will use +[satisficing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satisficing) as their primary +decision-making strategy around user data. + +> Satisficing is a decision-making strategy or cognitive heuristic that entails +> searching through the available alternatives until an acceptability threshold +> is met. + +This means that each decision will be met with certain possible solutions until +one of the solutions meets their minimum acceptable standards. For companies +that deal with user data, the minimum-acceptable standards come from three +areas: + +1. Laws and regulations +2. Competitive pressure +3. Risk of monetary or reputation loss + +Working with project management or auditing, the primary concern here is the +risk of legal ramifications. Since the primary risk comes from laws and +regulations, companies will require that any project that involves user data +must follow all the rules of those laws so that the company can protect itself +from fines or other penalties. + +Following this, companies will consider best practices in order to place itself +in a competitive position (e.g. Google vs. Apple) and review any recent or +ongoing litigation against companies regarding user data. In a perfect company, +management would then consider the ethical responsibilities of their +organization and discuss their responsibilities over things like +personally-identifiable information. + +However, as we mentioned above, most companies follow the idea of satisficing, +which states that they have met the minimum acceptable standards and can now +move on to other decisions. Modern business culture in the United States +dictates that profits are the golden measure of how well a company or manager is +performing, so we often don't think about our responsibilities beyond these +basic standards. + +Not all situations demand excellence, but I believe that applying any philosophy +as a broad stroke across one's life can be a mistake. We must be able to think +critically about what we are doing as we do it and ask ourselves a few +questions. Have I done everything I can in this situation? Is mediocrity an +acceptable outcome, or should we strive for perfection, even if we can't attain +it? Taking a few moments to think critically throughout our day, as we make decisions, can have a tremendous effect on the outcomes we create. |