%% [[Time]] tags: #on/performance | #on/time | #on/training | #on/systems people: #people/naseemtaleb | #note/statement # the hidden power of compounding Lon Setnik dates:: 2022-04-30 %% *The massive divergence of 1% over time.* This reminds me of [[Deliberate Practice]], that it is the continuous effort towards an end that is important. The key to deliberate practice is to identify solutions to challenges by trying alternative approaches with active coaching. In the same way, there is no staying the same, there is only improvement or decline, growth or shrinking. These are inflections that can vary from growth to reduction. It's kind of like [[Design my life to live]] how I want! I come to every moment with a set of [[Cognitive Entry Behaviors]] and by [[focus attention]] on improvement and applying a [[Growth Mindset]], [[Future Lon]] is not relegated to fate. This is the magic that occurs, or the terror that occurs depending on the slope of the curve, with compounding effects. Compounding is the idea that a 1% improvement on day 1 gets you 101, but by day 100 you do not have 200, you have something like 360. [[Antifragility]] describes the effect of this on various things like strength building, ecologic effects, money, etc. This reminds me also of [[Time]] and the growth over time. This reminds me of [[Kaizen]], continuos improvement. Neil Degrass Tyson says (not a quote but the basic idea) our brains think linearly but we live in a world that is exponential, so over the long-term it always feels like the last 30 years are have more growth than before, but that's just how exponential curves work. This is like [[modern ancient mismatch]] in our brains. ![[600px-Exponential.svg.png]] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exponential_growth This is the curve for compounding interest, for 1% better, for population growth, for technology changes, etc. ### What would the opposite argument be? You can't fight time, the 1% garbage is a myth. Improvements actually happen in steps. There are plateaus, and you have to [[love the plateau]] if you're going to do any real improvement. ## Sources: [[Antifragile Book]] https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/302-science-civilization