A friend once asked me why I’m obsessed with efficiency and learning (thanks Joe). And while I replied to him with some rambling, slightly incoherent response (but it was from my deepest self), I’m still pondering that question, for my true answer differs slightly from that presented in the previous module. Where does this desire come from? I suppose you can say my desire to learn comes from my desire to create a meaningful impact on the world. I firmly believe that the more I learn — cold hard facts, the mechanisms that run the world, or about other people and their perspectives — the more it empowers me to make a difference in the future.
And what exactly does a meaningful impact mean? I’ll refer you to US Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart and his famous quote: “I know it when I see it.” That is what a meaningful impact to me is, where people can instantly recognize it. Too many have tried to create complex formulas and definitions to encompass or quantify impact; I’d much rather stick with this “definition,” which is tidy, simple, and — most importantly — efficient.