#2: What are you optimizing for?

It looks like you’re trying to achieve X here. Is X really the thing you want?

Hallo Hallo,

It's been a while. So much for my commitment to a monthly schedule. Interestingly, for the first two weeks of February, I had it on my mind, but I kept thinking, "Oh, it's still too early. I'll write when the month-end comes." When it eventually did, other distractions and priorities took over. Ouch. Well, never again – or at least the plan is to write in batches now and at any time in the month. No point tying that to month-end.

Now that I've somewhat justified that, how are you doing? How were the first two months of the year? Also, Ramadan starts in a couple of days. How are the preparations going? If you haven't started, now is a good time to spend some moments thinking about how you'd like your Ramadan to go and plan accordingly. Better late than never, right?

So, what do we have for today? Something exciting, I think.

Before diving deep, a bit of context: As I mentioned in the last year's review, I had planned to resume my deep reading sessions, but that didn't quite go well. Instead, I found a number of really really good articles that I would describe as gems. I intend to have a second read at them and make highlights about sections I held on to – perhaps this may be beneficial for you too.

**Takes a break to re-read the first on the list.

Snapshot of my articles collection.

**I'm back!

Adding some addtional context: Sometime last year, I remember vividly going online to search for "What are you optimizing for?" Unfortunately, I am not quite sure what led to me doing that. I imagine it was the outcome of a conversation. I must have been curious about how the subject of optimizing for something was being viewed (or to be understood). I got a really good resource from 8000hours.

In summary, the concept of optimizing for something can simply be understood as putting in a lot of effort and focus to achieve a specific thing that matters to you.

Interestingly enough, as I read through the article, I was reminded of Sahil's post about knowing the game you are playing and if you really want the prize at the end of the game. That, in some way, captures the entire message of the article, but let's go deeper.

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#1: Consider Optimizing for Something

You are allowed to try really hard to achieve a thing you care about, even (and especially) when it’s a thing not that many people try hard to achieve. The idea of putting in a lot of effort may come naturally to some individuals, but for many others, it might feel uncomfortable, unnatural, or somehow perceived as 'not allowed'—some even use the term 'tryhard' as an insult.

You don't have to settle for less or conform to the norm. If there's something you deeply care about, go all in, and worry less about what others may have to say about it.

#2: Know What You're Optimizing For

This concept revolves around being intentional about what you're putting effort into achieving. It's about making sure that the primary focus of your efforts aligns with the most crucial thing for you. In a way, similar to the act of optimizing itself, it involves giving yourself permission: acknowledging that you have the freedom to recognize one thing as significantly more important for you to attain than all others, and actively work towards it, even if (and especially when) it deviates from the typical desires of people.

#3: Optimizing for the Wrong Thing

There’s a difference between doing things that are somewhat related with things you want (or even doing things that you expect to lead to things you want), and trying really unusually hard to actually get what you want. Sometimes working out what you actually want can be really hard — for many, working out what one ultimately values can be a lifetime’s work.

The mistake of optimising for not quite the thing you want can be particularly easy to miss if the thing is useful in general, but in this instance is not useful for you. For one thing, it’s hard to internally notice without specifically looking for it. But you’re also less likely to have others point out this mistake, because things that are useful in general seem more ‘normal’ to have as a goal.

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Imagine someone, Abdullah, who is pursuing a career in medicine because it's generally seen as a prestigious and socially respected profession. Abdullah is putting in a tremendous amount of effort, studying diligently, and working towards becoming a doctor. However, deep down, Abdullah's true passion lies in arts, and have always dreamed of pursuing a career as a artist.

In this scenario, Abdullah is optimizing for something (a medical career) that is widely perceived as valuable and respected in society. However, it's not aligned with his true passion and what he genuinely want (a career in art). The mistake here is optimizing for a goal that might be useful in a general sense (societal respect, financial stability) but doesn't bring personal fulfillment to Abdullah.

Others might not (be able to) point out this mistake to Abdullah because a career in medicine is generally considered a commendable and "normal" goal. The societal perception of the medical profession as a valuable pursuit may overshadow the fact that Abdullah's true desires and values are centered around arts.

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#4: Optimizing for Too Many Things

This is a common pitfall for individuals attempting to pursue numerous goals simultaneously. It usually unfolds in one of two scenarios:

1. Over-optimization for Multiple Goals: People may try to optimize their efforts across so many objectives that they end up making minimal progress in any of them.

2. Lack of Optimization: Alternatively, when faced with a multitude of seemingly important goals, some individuals may struggle to initiate optimization efforts altogether. The challenge lies in deciding where to start when numerous objectives appear equally significant.

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Let's go back to Abdullah, who has set various New Year's resolutions for self-improvement. These resolutions include losing weight, learning a new language, getting good grades in Med school, and starting a side business.

1. Over-optimization: Abdullah, in an attempt to excel in all areas, dedicates a small amount of time each day to each resolution. Consequently, progress is slow, and substantial achievements in any specific area are challenging.

2. Lack of Optimization: Faced with the multitude of goals, Abdullah feels overwhelmed and finds it difficult to initiate any meaningful actions. The sheer number of objectives creates a sense of paralysis, leading to inaction.

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#5: When Faced with Multiple Options:

When confronted with various potential sources of value, consider the possibility of achieving significant gains by dedicating intense effort (focus) to one specific option. It's not just about finding something that "looks good for many different reasons." This means putting intense effort into that one important area where you can make a big difference. It's like realizing that doing really well in something specific can bring you much more success than making small gains in multiple things at the same time

The emphasis is on recognizing that exceptional performance in a single area can lead to outsized gains that more than compensate for any losses in other areas.

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A practical illustration to understand this principle? Let’s consider Aisha.

Aisha is faced with multiple job (Internship) opportunities, each presenting various factors she needs to consider.

1. Location: She has options in different cities, each offering a unique lifestyle.

2. Role: There are diverse roles in marketing, finance, and technology, each with its own set of responsibilities.

3. Salary: Compensation packages vary, with some jobs offering higher salaries and others not.

Recognizing the complexity of optimizing for multiple factors (I used 3 here but in reality, it could be more than that, for example; Family, Type of team etc.) simultaneously, Aisha decides to focus her efforts on optimizing for the role. She understands (believes) that gaining excellence in her chosen field during the internship will contribute significantly to her long-term career satisfaction.

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#6: Questions to get started

People who know what they are optimising for might ask themselves things like:

• Am I trying to achieve multiple things at once? Is that the best strategy?

• Does the thing I’m trying to achieve actually lead to something I want?

• What would it look like if I focused on the most important thing and dropped the others?

Take a moment to reflect on these questions and how they apply in your life—be it your professional journey, personal growth, or relationships.

Whew! That was a lengthy post. Kudos for making it all the way to the end! If you'd like to read through the original article that inspired this post yourself, here is the article link: Read More

Inserts Plug:

This Ramadan, a couple of friends and I at Halaal Harvest will be hosting various activities, including "Save Your Lunch Money," daily reminders from the charity series, and the "Trivia for a Cause" program. They all promise to be worth your time. If this sounds interesting to you, kindly consider joining the WhatsApp community here.

Until the next time (hopefully not too long), kindly stay safe. Allahuma Balighna Ramadan.