Better, Not Perfect

1. Strive for Better, Not Perfect: Embrace Incremental Improvement

"We'll explore the latest theories and research findings on what we now know works when it comes to helping people, including ourselves, reach what I call their 'maximum sustainable level of goodness.'"

Ethical progress, not perfection. The book advocates for a pragmatic approach to ethics, encouraging readers to focus on incremental improvements rather than unattainable perfection. This philosophy acknowledges human limitations while still pushing for positive change.

Practical ethics in action:

• Recognize that small improvements compound over time
• Set realistic goals for ethical behavior
• Celebrate progress rather than lamenting imperfection
• Apply ethical principles in everyday decision-making

By adopting this mindset, individuals can make consistent progress in their ethical behavior without becoming discouraged by unrealistic standards.

2. Engage Your Active Intelligence: Move Beyond Intuition

"We have the power to actively engage the best of our intellectual capabilities to make wise decisions and increase the value we can create in our lives."

Harness System 2 thinking. The book emphasizes the importance of moving beyond intuitive, emotional responses (System 1 thinking) to more deliberate, rational decision-making (System 2 thinking) when faced with ethical dilemmas.

Strategies for engaging active intelligence:

• Recognize situations that require deeper analysis
• Take time to consider multiple perspectives
• Seek out additional information before making decisions
• Practice metacognition – thinking about your own thought processes

By consciously engaging our active intelligence, we can overcome cognitive biases and make more ethical choices that create greater value for ourselves and others.

3. Make Wise Trade-offs: Create Value Through Negotiation

"Any time there are two or more issues in a negotiation (dinner/movie or price/financing terms/timing of delivery), it is critical to learn how important the various issues are to all parties involved so that you can seek trade-offs."

Expand the pie. The book introduces negotiation strategies that focus on creating value rather than simply claiming it. By understanding the interests of all parties involved, negotiators can find creative solutions that benefit everyone.

Key principles of value creation in negotiation:

• Move beyond the "fixed pie" mentality
• Identify and prioritize interests, not just positions
• Look for opportunities to make trade-offs across multiple issues
• Focus on long-term relationships rather than short-term gains

Applying these principles allows individuals to approach negotiations as opportunities for mutual benefit rather than zero-sum competitions.

4. Disrupt Corruption: Preserve Moral Authority

"Corruption within government, particularly at the highest levels, does more than move money from the innocent to the corrupt; it destroys value and weakens the fabric of society."

Uphold integrity. The book emphasizes the far-reaching consequences of corruption and the importance of maintaining moral authority in leadership positions. It argues that seemingly small ethical compromises can have significant societal impacts.

Strategies to combat corruption:

• Recognize and report unethical behavior
• Support transparency and accountability measures
• Advocate for strong anti-corruption policies
• Lead by example in personal and professional life

By actively working to disrupt corruption, individuals and organizations can help preserve the moral fabric of society and create more value for all.

5. Notice Opportunities to Create Value: Be a First-Class Noticer

"First-class noticers see opportunities that others miss, are less likely to be blinded by how they want the data to be, and are more open to what the data actually suggests."

Cultivate awareness. The book introduces the concept of being a "first-class noticer" – someone who actively looks for opportunities to create value and address ethical issues that others might overlook.

Developing noticing skills:

• Practice mindfulness and present-moment awareness
• Regularly question assumptions and seek out new perspectives
• Pay attention to subtle cues and patterns in your environment
• Cultivate curiosity about how systems and processes work

By becoming more attuned to our surroundings and potential ethical implications, we can identify more opportunities to create positive change and prevent harm.

6. Reduce Tribalism and Increase Equality: Challenge In-Group Favoritism

"When we give limited funds to people who are like ourselves (based on religion, school, nation, etc.), there are less funds available for those who are different from them, including minority groups, women, and the powerless."

Expand your circle of concern. The book highlights how tribalism and in-group favoritism can lead to unintended discrimination and inequality. It challenges readers to examine their own biases and broaden their perspective.

Strategies to combat tribalism:

• Actively seek out diverse perspectives and experiences
• Question policies and practices that favor in-group members
• Practice perspective-taking to build empathy for out-group members
• Support initiatives that promote inclusivity and equal opportunity

By consciously working to expand our circle of moral concern, we can create a more equitable and just society for all.

7. Eliminate Waste: Optimize Resource Allocation

"When we see economic systems that don't seem to be maximizing value for society, you will find the corrupting influence of special-interest-group politics nearby."

Maximize efficiency. The book emphasizes the ethical imperative of eliminating waste, arguing that inefficient use of resources deprives others of potential benefits and creates unnecessary harm.

Areas to target for waste reduction:

• Personal consumption habits
• Organizational processes and policies
• Government spending and subsidies
• Environmental resources and energy use

By identifying and eliminating waste in various aspects of life, individuals and organizations can free up resources to create greater value for society as a whole.

8. Allocate Your Most Precious Asset - Time: Maximize Impact

"People tend to spend a lot of time thinking about how to use their limited money but fail to undertake the same type of examination of how they spend their time."

Invest time wisely. The book encourages readers to view time as their most valuable resource and to allocate it with the same care and consideration given to financial decisions.

Strategies for effective time allocation:

• Regularly audit how you spend your time
• Identify activities where you have a comparative advantage
• Outsource or eliminate low-value tasks
• Focus on high-impact activities that align with your values and goals

By treating time as a precious resource and consciously allocating it to create maximum value, individuals can significantly increase their positive impact on the world.

9. Optimize Philanthropic Impact: Apply Effective Altruism Principles

"Effective altruism pushes us to consider all the consequences of our actions and then make our charitable contributions in the way that is expected to make the greatest positive impact on the world."

Maximize charitable impact. The book introduces the principles of effective altruism, encouraging readers to approach philanthropy with a focus on evidence-based interventions and measurable outcomes.

Key principles of effective altruism:

• Focus on causes with high potential for impact
• Use evidence and reason to evaluate interventions
• Consider scale, neglectedness, and tractability of problems
• Be willing to support unconventional or unpopular causes if evidence supports their effectiveness

By applying these principles, donors can dramatically increase the positive impact of their charitable giving and create more value for those in need.

10. Multiply Value Creation Through Others: Influence and Teach

"By working with them, my life became better. That's in large part why I spent so much time mentoring: The more I did, the more I received, and the world was better as a result."

Leverage your influence. The book emphasizes the power of teaching, mentoring, and influencing others as a way to multiply one's positive impact on the world.

Strategies for multiplying impact:

• Share knowledge and skills generously
• Mentor others in ethical decision-making
• Lead by example in personal and professional life
• Create systems and cultures that promote ethical behavior

By focusing on influencing and teaching others, individuals can create a ripple effect of positive change that extends far beyond their own direct actions.

11. Achieve Maximum Sustainable Goodness: Find Your Ethical Equilibrium

"We can try to think about how much value we can create so that we can continue to lead a purposeful and enjoyable life, with the hope of further increasing our capacity to create even more goodness in the future."

Sustainable ethics. The book concludes by introducing the concept of "maximum sustainable goodness" – finding a level of ethical behavior that can be maintained and potentially increased over time without burning out.

Principles for achieving maximum sustainable goodness:

• Set realistic and incrementally challenging ethical goals
• Balance personal well-being with ethical commitments
• Regularly reassess and adjust ethical practices
• Celebrate progress and learn from setbacks

By striving for maximum sustainable goodness, individuals can create lasting positive change while maintaining their own well-being and capacity for future growth.

Last updated: August 9, 2024