What an irony

by Thomas Sim, 21 July, 2002

In this article, I try to describe scenarios in which our choices of decisions in life usually go against the benefit that they yield. In short, we are no good at decision making. In fact we usually choose to make the wrong decision.

Poverty results in increase in fertility and prosperity causes fertility problem. This can be seen in villages compared to cities. The cause: human's greediness to have more of what they already have. In poverty, there is not much to do, and therefore we have more time to make babies. During prosperity, we have so much to do and no time to have babies. No matter if poverty is the result of external factor (such as war or famine), or the cause of further poverty (such as own laziness), the above rule applies.

Poor discipline is the root cause of poverty and failure. On one hand we want happiness, on the others we want to run wild and explore the dangerous frontier. Is there anything that gives you both at the same time? The answer is pretty clear that there is none. In management and finance, you call it risk!

One of the most valuable things in our society is knowledge. Knowledge is what makes one different from the other, and at crucial moments, it could even save lives. However, the perception to knowledge is different when you come to husband-wife, boss-subordinate and men-women relationships. Many a time, less knowledge or no knowledge is better than having any. The point is "How can you teach me?"

Is it icing or Cake? In many business encounters, words are like icing and deals are like sour cakes. Sweet words rings in the ears, and that oils the joints to sign the order. Do we look at the icing or are we more to the cakes? Customers are sometimes concerned with icings more - that is why advertisement sells! Some second best medicines sell better than award winning inventions. That is what marketing is for. The dilemma is we (average person on the street) are willing to pay a premium for an ordinary cake with beautiful icing on it. That is life.

Is it hypocrite, marketer or opportunist? Economically, they are all the same. Hypocrites are those who say the words that suit the environment, which in fact isn't what they actually are. Marketers are people who study what people want and provide satisfactions accordingly. Opportunists are those come across or happen to be there and discover what people needs and thus fulfil it. For them all, what is perceived with the environment is more important than what is right or wrong.

We don't want disagreement. We want agreement and reassurance, although it may not be genuine. Human is by nature like a puddle after rain. The harder you hit on it, the dirtier you would get with the mud. The way is to let the sun dries it up. It might take longer, but certainly you won't get dirty.

What an irony in life - we want changes to our life, and yet we resist changes.