From 17d0e7fa0f46eae4ef284af4593e33ad24da3bef Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Christian Cleberg Date: Sun, 1 Sep 2024 21:54:51 -0500 Subject: format 2018 to 2020 blog posts --- content/blog/2020-10-12-mediocrity.org | 179 ++++++++++++++++----------------- 1 file changed, 84 insertions(+), 95 deletions(-) (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 index ae7ed51..6ff5da8 100644 --- a/content/blog/2020-10-12-mediocrity.org +++ b/content/blog/2020-10-12-mediocrity.org @@ -5,120 +5,109 @@ * 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. +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: +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. +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?" +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. +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. +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: +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? +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