The Weekly Spark #6: “Stay hungry, stay foolish” Steve Jobs

The average, annual per-capita consumption of pasta in Italy is 23.5 kg – nearly 3 times that of the USA. Around 80% of Italians consume pasta on a daily basis. Is it a lot? Depends on who you’re asking. For the majority of Italians it’s “normal”; it’s part of our culture and we don’t tend to challenge it.

Human beings are social animals. To survive, we have evolved to work together in tribes and communities, an adaptation that has shaped us and allowed us to be where we are today. Sticking together like this meant aiming for a common vision, a common language, and a common understanding. In other words, a shared story. This dependence on a common story still lies deep in our foundations today, helping us define what is right and what is wrong, what is “normal” and what isn’t. Let’s call this story culture.?

Throughout human evolution, also culture has evolved, but it’s never been an easy path. Communities evolved to protect a stable status quo: historically, challenging that status quo could mean death, prison or being labelled as crazy (rejection). In fact, still today it’s far easier to accept the norm than try to change it.

And so we’re left with this story.

In the Western world, our culture today centers around the creation of value and wealth. We tend to measure ourselves against this KPI with a simple dichotomy: success or failure. Have you been able to generate more value, to create more wealth? If you have, you’ll most likely be seen positively by the people around you, as a successful person. This is why the decisions you make, or have made, will most often take this reality into account.

However, the rising rates of depression and anxiety in western countries is an indicator that this story needs to evolve. The current model has been proven to work, but most people agree that it can be improved. We need to find a better story, one in which success depends not only on money or status, but on meaning and emotion. The meaning you give to a certain thing produces emotion, which determines the quality of your life. Maybe we could change the narrative of “more” to “better”.?????

How big would you dream if you know you couldn’t fail?

The idea of failure sometimes blocks us from doing what we would love to do. Instead we pursue a safer, more “successful” path. But what if the magic you’re looking for is in the stuff you’re avoiding?

I just want to leave you with 2 key concepts to reflect on: the first is that culture is about the collective story we tell ourselves about ourselves, but if the story doesn’t make you happy, it is possible to tell yourself a better story. The second is that “more” doesn’t always lead to satisfaction: “better” might be a valid alternative. Quality vs quantity.

So next time you’re making a decision, take a moment of reflection to understand if you’re seeking for the collective narrative and safety OR if you’re looking for your own truth.