A classic parable of quantity vs quality.

· Bits and Bobs 1/21/25
    • Which will give you more high quality output over some time horizon: optimizing for quantity or quality?
    • In practice, if you optimize for quality, you spend more time planning, debating and trying to produce a theory to then execute.
      • But then you try to execute it and realize the real world doesn't comply with your clean model.
      • In a theoretical vacuum it can take huge amounts of time to coordinate with collaborators on what the good idea is.
    • Whereas if you go for quantity you spend more time doing.[ahz]
      • As you do, you see how the real world responds in unexpected ways, and update your intuition and knowhow.
      • As you better absorb how the real world works, you get better and better at producing according to the model in your head.
      • This requires you to have a sufficient feedback loop from action to result.
      • This happens naturally for human-scale, hand-made things where you get your hands dirty.
      • It takes considerable effort if the production requires multiple people operating in sequence; you have to actively create a feedback loop that passes through multiple people.
    • So quantity can often lead to better quality, too… if you have a sufficient feedback loop.[aia][aib]

More on this topic

From other episodes