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diff --git a/content/blog/2020-10-12-mediocrity.org b/content/blog/2020-10-12-mediocrity.org deleted file mode 100644 index a653f80..0000000 --- a/content/blog/2020-10-12-mediocrity.org +++ /dev/null @@ -1,122 +0,0 @@ -#+title: On the Pursuit of Mediocrity -#+date: 2020-10-12 -#+description: Musings on mediocrity. -#+filetags: :personal: - -* 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 -[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_mean_(philosophy)][golden mean]], -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 -[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pareto_principle][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 -[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diminishing_returns][diminishing -returns]]. - -Even further, Harold Demsetz is noted as coining the term -[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nirvana_fallacy][the 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: - -#+begin_quote -All you can do is show up and do your best. Worrying about the outcomes -won't affect the outcome itself. -#+end_quote - -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 [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satisficing][satisficing]] as their -primary decision-making strategy around user data. - -#+begin_quote -Satisficing is a decision-making strategy or cognitive heuristic that -entails searching through the available alternatives until an -acceptability threshold is met. -#+end_quote - -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. |