The Elegance of Smallness

In an era marked by the relentless pursuit of growth and expansion fueled by technology, it's essential to pause and reflect on the virtues and elegance of smallness. In thoughts, actions, and desires.

As humans, our abilities are finite. This fundamental fact often gets distorted every time advanced technologies break cover. It has been for many decades now. Not without consequences though.

Technology continues to push the boundaries, promising more significant and better achievements. However, at the great human cost of material, physiological, psychological, and spiritual depravities. The inherent rush often camouflages underlying human conditions, until it comes to a head. It has now.

The journey of human progress, catalyzed by the Industrial Revolution, has been synonymous with efficiency enhancement and scaling up aided by technology. However, the dark side of the industrial age brought with it the shadow of overconsumption as a philosophy. Greed became the impetus for innovations. Create a need and sell is taught with fanfare in schools/colleges. Selling wool to a sheep became a mark of success. Think big, and fake it until you make it, are celebrated leadership and management catchphrases. Technology has become the dope that fuels unbridled greed and ambition.

My case isn’t against technology per se. However, the lever it provides for the explosion and exploitation of human greed.

In our propensity to always think big, grow larger and more substantial, we may have overlooked the subtle elegance of smallness. Smallness embodies limitations, a concept often at odds with a society fixated on the relentless pursuit of grandeur and greatness.

The post-WW-2 era witnessed a global ambition to expand and conquer, with "thinking big" becoming the reigning mantra. In every aspect of life. Smallness, with its emphasis on moderation and prudence, found itself dwarfed by the insatiable hunger for more.

For almost three-quarters of a century, as the turbulent river of relentless human greed and ambition gushed toward an ambiguous destination, humanity seems to have reached a fork. A critical juncture. The unbridled pursuit of growth and conquest in an intensely competitive world has left countless individuals struggling to catch their breath.

The benefits of this mad race disproportionately favor a privileged few, raising a fundamental question: why this frantic race to feather someone else's nest? Thinking big and the consequent rush seems to favor a disproportionate few. Newer generations are taking note, and resisting. The burgeoning global societal stress, truant prosperity, and wealth gap et al stand as testimony to this stark reality.

The business world too isn’t immune to this disparity. Dignity, pay, equity, and equality continue to reverberate within many corporate corridors.

The repercussions of this pervasive resentment are increasingly evident in societies worldwide. News media are over-competing to break news of a new protest or riot. The average person on the street feels alienated. They are convinced that the fruits of their toil consistently slip through their grasp. Paltry crumbs of prosperity fail to cut ice with their growing discontent. Consequently, societies grapple with a surge in conflicts, both overt and covert – from wars and riots to pillaging, strikes, mistrust, and pervasive disenchantment.

The signs of an impending societal collapse loom ominously on the global horizon, casting a shadow on the very foundations of our shared existence.

So, where do we go from here?

It's time to reconsider our relentless pursuit of bigness in life and embrace the merits of smallness as a philosophy. In life and work. History proves, that thinking big isn’t the panacea we need as a society.

Smallness is not synonymous with mediocrity. Rather, it signifies a return to balance and prudence. Enhancing human dignity, sustainability, and equity. Embracing smallness allows us to focus on sustainable growth that doesn't come at the expense of the environment, society, or individual well-being. It's about quality over quantity. Smallness fosters close-knit communities and meaningful connections. In contrast to the impersonal vastness of large, smallness encourages a sense of belonging and trust.

Managing small creates opportunities for a more equitable distribution of resources and opportunities. It has the potential to bridge the gap between the privileged few and the struggling many. Smallness enhances the quality of life. It allows individuals to savor the finer aspects of existence without succumbing to the relentless pursuit of more.

The idea of small doesn't signify complacency. Instead, it heralds a return to values that prioritize sustainable success, community, inclusivity, resilience, and improved quality of life. It's a call to action for individuals and societies alike to rediscover the beauty of smallness in a world intoxicated with the allure of grandiosity.

Author Profile:?Writes about life. Consults on human potential and workplace HR. A keen observer of emerging trends and technologies that enhance workplace productivity. AI/People Analytics and its effective and ethical usage at the workplace is the current preoccupation. Over 25 years of broad experience developing Leadership/Human Resources in large global organizations and start-ups. Enjoy analyzing and going beyond the hype. Admire the word ‘holism’.