Make it Efficient. Make it Beautiful.
Our brains are wired to be attracted to beauty in the world. From buildings to nature to beautiful people, we instinctively react favourably to aesthetically pleasing things. There are two kinds of beauty: the grand and the subtle. Both have the same effect on usāthey inspire and elevate us to higher standards in life.
This is why ancient temples and churches were grandiose and beautiful, filled with subtle nuances that outlined the stories of the Gods. We yearn to visit these places repeatedly because they inspire us with their colossal achievements. Similarly, we love the universe because there is beauty in confronting the vast, ever-expanding vacuum.
What is considered beautiful? It is often something that reflects a perfect ratio. Ancient Indians derived a mathematical formula for this perfect ratio, echoed later by Fibonacci. Nature and the universe emphasise this same golden ratio. Biologically, a beautiful face signifies symmetry and balance. In life, when your health, wealth, and relationships work harmoniously, you achieve a kind of perfect ratio, making your life appear beautiful to you.
Beauty is equivalent to the highest underlying quality. A beautiful building is the product of exceptional engineering and craftsmanship. A beautiful face reflects high-quality genetics. A beautifully designed application demonstrates outstanding development and design skills. A beautiful writing is the product of exceptional thinking and observation.
Beauty represents the pinnacle of qualityāthe best and highest standards. Reaching those high standards requires an equally significant amount of effort. When our efforts meet this highest quality, we call it perfection. In other words, perfection is the highest level of efficiency.
What is efficiency? It is the ratio of effort to completion. How much energy is required to achieve a certain level of quality, one that we consider sufficient to stop further efforts? For instance, when making coffee, at what point do you decide it is ādoneā? That standard reflects your perception of quality and, in turn, your definition of beauty. The process required to achieve that standard of quality determines your efficiency.
When we take too long to finish a project compared to someone who completes it in half the time, we are seen as inefficient. This often leads to a tendency to sacrifice quality just to āget it doneā rather than completing the task with finesse.
However, you should take as long as necessary to achieve the desired quality. Remember, the quality at which you stop reflects your standard of beauty. The next step is to focus on the effort required to achieve that quality. Can the process be made shorter? Where can improvements be made? If you think thereās no room for improvement, you are likely mistakenāthere is always room for growth, whether through refining your effort or leveraging technology.
Systematically improve every part of the process while maintaining consistent quality. Your desired quality should remain constant, but the effort to achieve it canāand shouldābe optimised. Apply this principle to everything you do. Want to make coffee? Make it the best coffee you can, and then refine the process. Sharing a spreadsheet? Format it to make it the most readable and user-friendly, then optimise the steps if itās a recurring task.
Do this even when no one is there to acknowledge your work, even when no one notices. You are doing it to elevate your standards and your perception of the world. You must not compromise on quality. Set higher standards for yourself.
This principle extends beyond work and relationships. In life, quality equates to your moral values, while the process to achieve that quality reflects your discipline and habits.
From tomorrow, pick a task and ask yourself:
- How can I make it beautiful?
- How can I elevate it to the highest quality?
- What process is required to achieve this?
- How can I improve that process to make it more efficient?