Hey Friends,
We can not anticipate all the circumstances and moral dilemmas in our lives all the time. It is possible that yours may differ from everyone else. The good news is that we can apply the idea of marginal thinking to find integrity in our personal lives.
The ethical decisions in our lives are never delivered with a blinking red neon sign:- ‘Caution important decision ahead’.
In reality, they come with no warning signs, instead, most of us will face a series of small, everyday decisions that rarely seem like they have high stakes attached. But over time, they can play out far more dramatically. And yet, unconsciously, we naturally employ the marginal-cost doctrine in our personal lives.
The marginal cost of doing something ‘just this once’ always seems negligible, but the full cost will typically be much higher. It sucks you in, and you don’t see where that path is ultimately headed or the full cost that the choice entails. We get caught in this trap of “ just once or just this time”, or “ occasional small white lies, for better projections, or promotions” Or “just one drink,” and many such ‘just once’ scenarios … Being aware of this marginal thinking is the first step to being critical of it, and avoiding it, when you catch yourself thinking about marginal costs. The marginal cost doctrine can address this moot question for us, which we can apply in our personal lives too.
The marginal cost of doing something ‘just this once‘ always seems to be negligible, but the total cost will typically be much higher.
There are plenty of examples when people who were extremely well respected by their colleagues & peers have fallen from grace. From inside traders to Olympians and corporate leaders to political masters, the world is littered with examples. You may recall people who were known for their impeccable integrity but became victims of marginal thinking. I believe that all these people who have fallen from grace did begin their careers with true passion, honesty and professional integrity for what they were doing but somewhere down the line their marginal thinking where they applied ‘just this once’ doomed their career forever.
Even impeccable integrity can be worn away over time by making choices that don’t seem to cost much. In aggregate, if you are not conscious, marginal thinking can get to you in no time.
Although, in our minds, we can justify these choices because initially, marginal cost is always low. But each of those decisions can roll into a much bigger picture, turning you into the person you never wanted to be. People ask me why I write my newsletter every Sunday or why I do gratitude journaling every day etc. etc. The simple answer has always been that doing it all the time is much easier than doing it some of the time. it is easier to hold onto your principles 100 per cent of the time than it is to keep them 98 per cent of the time. Decide what you stand for and then stand for it all the time.
The only way to avoid the consequences of uncomfortable moral concessions in your life is to never start making them in the first place. When the first step down the path presents itself, turn around and walk the other way. Beware of the trap of marginal thinking.
Take good care & enjoy reading your dose of mindful productivity!
JOE
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