Are We Assessed By What We Do Or What We Achieved?

The truth is all of us are mostly judged in binary terms. We’re either right or wrong. We get that certainty is rare. We get that the best we can do is to put the odds in our favour. But, it is so much easier to see in black and white as opposed to seeing things with nuance, gradation and probability. As a result, we’re being pushed towards maximizing efficiency in a way that leaves no room for error, even though room for error is by far the most important factor for long-term success.

This puts us on a hook. It is scary. Pick a date that you’re gonna bring in result. Pick the client that will work. Pick the change that you seek to improve. Put your name on it. It is akin to “Are you happy?” in comparison with “Do you feel happier?”