The Fallacy Of Bigger Better Faster

Society has drilled into us that Bigger Better Faster is the winning way. The holy grail to get ahead in life, be it at personal, organisational or country level.

Countries measure their success by chasing ever-higher GDP, a productivity measure by output per worker per hour. Companies become behemoths through mega mergers to dominate their industry and squash competitors. We build speed trains that travel in excess of 400 km/hr, and bigger aircrafts to shuttle people around the globe. And there is no shortage of life hacks to help us get in shape, score faster promotions or how to ace speed dating.

Is Bigger Better Faster the be-all and end-all?

Different Route

There seems now an awareness and willingness to explore alternate, more sustainable and less destructive routes. People are starting to realise that growth and constant improvement is not viable in the long run. Countries are starting to moderate growth targets just as organisations begin to realise that bigger isn’t always better.

At a personal level, while the idea of Bigger Better Faster appeals to our instincts for success and improvement, it can backfire and be counter-productive. An example of such push-backs is the emergence of Never Retire, a concept totally opposite of the Fire movement of early retirement. This about-turn comes from the realisation that running faster towards someone else’s goals, despite the hype, may not be what one is looking for. 

And there are plenty of other examples in different areas of life.

Financial

• Investments

Not too long ago, my goal was to grow my investment portfolio every year. Expanding 5-10% annually, driven by a sense of challenge. But the constant preoccupation took away from other aspects of life. While reviewing my will, reality hit: for whom was I so preoccupied for? And doubly so when I realised the irony of property ownership. The motivation to keep growing my portfolio subsided.

Many investors who seek alpha get stressed in the process and expose themselves to high risk. Better returns = bigger worries, bigger anxiety yet not always bigger returns. Why not take a back seat and invest with the market while enjoying more of life? A broad market index fund tracking the S&P 500 can easily return in excess of 8% per annum.

• Income Streams 

Multiple income streams are what many advocate to build wealth and to secure retirement. But guess what? Speaking from experience, it takes different skills set to master each income stream. Stocks are very different from real estate which is night and day from running an online business or writing a blog. These skills are not complementary so the more you take on, the more your bandwidth is taxed.

Better to select a couple of income streams that fit your personality, interest and bandwidth. Stay with these and keep repeating them for repeatability is the most unappreciated aspect of wealth creation. By repeating, you keep perfecting the skills, increasing the likelihood of success the next endeavour. Sometimes, less is indeed more.

• Spending
  To seek immediate gratification is to steal from your future self. Is the upgrade to the latest SUV model really necessary when the 3-year-old station wagon does the same trick, and with room to spare? This latest and greatest fetish hurts your pocket and stunts your future. 

Health 

• Physical
  Doing faster, more intense physical activities or following the latest fads that promise quick-fixes can be harmful. They may increase the risk of injury or cause health damage like liver poisoning or imbalanced diet.

Who decides what is the ideal weight, size or beauty standard anyway? We are all unique in our own way. It’s futile to go against our genetics. Magic bullets do not offer permanent solutions to long-term issues.

• Mental Health
  Mental health has become a huge topic nowadays. Incessant pursue of Bigger Better Faster can affect mental health with the constant struggle to do better even when diminishing returns has set in. Pouring more time, money and effort into something that yields disproportion outcomes lead to frustration and dissatisfaction. Being constantly unhappy with the current situation is not a nice way to live. 

Lifestyle Choices

• Housing
  The practicalities and long-term implications of housing choices deserve thorough consideration. Upgrading to bigger or more luxurious accommodations, even if you can afford it, is not sensible if the home does not align with your lifestyle. 

A well-to-do friend is dying to downgrade from her 4-bedroom villa to a 2-bedroom apartment once her daughter leaves for university overseas. Her husband travels a lot for work and she finds the space alienating, sometimes she and her daughter go for days without seeing each other. There is non-stop maintenance, dealing with a gardener, a cleaner plus worry over break-ins whenever they travel. She looks forward to the day when she can just lock the front door and travel without care. Instead of serving her accommodation, it will serve her needs for a change. 

• Digital Devices

I used to be 1 of those who fervently upgrade to a new iPhone model whenever 1 was launched. Living in Singapore then was heavenly as it is 1 of the first locations for iPhones launches. That was until I watched a documentary about discarded handphones and learnt of e-waste yards in Asia. Children and women scoured mountains of e- waste to recover precious components for recycling. Besides an eyesore, they are worrisome hazards.

It made me realise our callous use-and-discard consumer habit is not sustainable. So now I hold on to a model until there’s a real need to change. Besides, how much faster computing speed do I need or an even sharper camera with godzillion zoom power?

• Social Life

Fluttering from 1 social event to another pumps up one’s sense of importance and popularity. Busyness is a weird way to show being ‘in demand’. Really? On the contrary, it’s spreading yourself thin and denying yourself of genuine interactions. Show respect for yourself and those you care by prioritising quality over quantity. After all, time is the greatest gift we can give to those we care.

A Good Life

Modern obsession with rapidly accumulating possessions, experiences and achievements do not necessarily lead to fulfilment or happiness. The constant pursue of Bigger Better Faster can take a toll on our physical, mental and emotional health.

True fulfilment in life comes from finding meaning and purpose beyond material success or external achievements. By constantly comparing yourself against external yardsticks, you’re living your life according to someone else’s ideals. If you would like clarity on your life and purpose, write your will and you will get your answer.

While Bigger Better Faster can be motivating in some contexts, it should not be a universal mantra across all aspects in life. Be conscious about striking a balance between ambition and well-being, choosing quality over quantity and seeking fulfilment and meaning in every pursuit. Ultimately, living a good life involves finding harmony, purpose and balance. 

Nameste,

Savvy Maverick

(Main image: Savvy Maverick)

 

Disclaimer: The views expressed are drawn from personal experiences and do not constitute financial advice in any way whatsoever. Nothing published here constitutes an investment recommendation, nor should any data or content be relied upon for investment activities. Please seek independent and thorough research before making any financial decisions, including consulting a qualified professional. Data and information cited from sources will not be updated after publication.