From 41bd0ad58e44244fe67cb36e066d4bb68738516f Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Christian Cleberg Date: Fri, 29 Mar 2024 01:30:23 -0500 Subject: massive re-write from org-publish to weblorg --- content/blog/2020-10-12-mediocrity.org | 122 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 122 insertions(+) create mode 100644 content/blog/2020-10-12-mediocrity.org (limited to 'content/blog/2020-10-12-mediocrity.org') diff --git a/content/blog/2020-10-12-mediocrity.org b/content/blog/2020-10-12-mediocrity.org new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a653f80 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/2020-10-12-mediocrity.org @@ -0,0 +1,122 @@ +#+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. -- cgit v1.2.3-70-g09d2