Sterling Terrell

recovering economist

Blaming Generations

Blaming Generations

Maybe we should refrain from blaming generations that come after us (or before us) for the ills we encounter.

Because the truth of it is that every generation has large spots of shallowness and virtue.

Oh, whatever: The baby boomers were still a train-wreck.

Prosperity brings delusion as to how wealth is created in the first place. Prove me wrong.

Since Cato the Elder, a certain type of maturity has shown up when one starts blaming the new generation for shallowness and praising the previous one for its values.

-Nassim Taleb, The Bed Of Procrustes

Inner Responsibility

Inner Responsibility

Inner responsibility is a funny thing.

It’s true though. The behaviors that we choose, outside their external consequences, are the ones we stick to.

I mean, I can’t imagine blogging – or not blogging – based on my reception. Honestly, I would have quit a long time ago.

Feedback is nice and all, but it should not determine what we find important.

Understand: People want to live up to their inner voice.

If you want to begin something, you have to decide WHY first. And if you know of no other way – you just might be on to some thing.

Social scientists have determined that we accept inner responsibility for a behavior when we think we have chosen to perform it in the absence of strong outside pressures. A large reward is one such external pressure. It may get us to perform a certain action, but it won’t get us to accept inner responsibility for the act. Consequently, we won’t feel committed to it. The same is true of a strong threat; it may motivate immediate compliance, but it is unlikely to produce long-term commitment.

-Robert Cialdini, Influence

Sterling Terrell