Positive and negative asymmetries
Seeing things in geometrics has changed my life. Not in seeing shapes or forms, but in seeing asymmetries and symmetries.
To start off, something with symmetry in this context is something that has equal input and output. If I’m paid by the hour, I get a higher salary if I work more. If I work less, I get a lower one.
An asymmetry is something where the input and output doesn’t correlate. It can be a slight offset, but it can just as well be a big one.
A brilliant example is how much JK Rowling is earning from having written the Harry Potter books. The input was limited, she spent X hours writing the books. The output is grand, she’s earned a lot of money. And the most important aspect, she won’t earn more from the books if she starts meddling with small grammatical things in the books.
That to me is a positive asymmetry, with the parameters of time and money. But there are negative asymmetries as well. An example being having a regular job if you’re a high energy person. Even though your effort and working hours are increased, you’re not getting a higher salary. Input increases, output stays the same.
Finding the words for these asymmetries has been revolutionary for me. I’ve struggled with a negative asymmetry for a very long time, being school.
I’ve had a natural talent for the type of school I’ve been in. I’ve always gotten high grades even at times where I haven’t really made an effort (positive asymmetry).
But when I started caring about the school work I was doing, I realised that no matter what the input in time, energy and effort was, I was getting a high grade. I could write an essay for 5 hours and get a top grade, and I could write on it for 15 hours and still get a top grade.
At that point, I realised that the school system that we have isn’t really designed in a way to reward effort from high achieving students. And it isn’t really designed to reward low achieving students either, but that’s another discussion.
The problem for me was that I could spend my time in other places where I found symmetries or even places where there were positive asymmetries. That didn’t really increase my motivation for school work.
Starting to find those positive asymmetries has lead me to where I am today, I just haven’t had words for it now. When I payed a little more attention to my customers in my first job, they were happier and so was the store manager. That’s been the recipe for me ever since.
It’s also why I enjoy being a freelancer/entrepreneur more than having a regular job. If I’m in charge of the input, I know that I’m in charge of the output as well.
