This resonated deeply, Hari. Back when I was a practicing CFP, I used to half-jokingly tell people my primary job title was Entropy Fighter. Financial plans are closed systems, and without a constant infusion of fresh energy and reorganization, they succumb to that gradual decline into disorder you described so well.
Loved your approach to keeping entropy at bay. I’ve also found that the best defense is a multi-modal approach: using redundancy like an engineer to buffer against the unknown, and maintaining biological-style adaptation so the plan can evolve as the environment shifts.
Excellent piece! It’s a reminder that the work of preservation is never truly done.
Hahaha, Entropy Fighter! We should make a superhero shirt. 🦸
I do think many people cling to old ideas or do not think through their financial plans. Always learning and thinking is essential, especially in a closed system.
Honestly, Hari, some days really did feel like I was suiting up for battle against the second law of thermodynamics. I actually kept a coffee mug on my desk that just said 'Entropy Fighter'. It was the one way to honor the daily grind of keeping those systems from drifting into chaos!
And you're spot on: the moment we stop learning and adapting is the moment the system starts closing in on us. Constant evolution is the only real antidote.
After spending a very long time pondering the nature of consciousness, I came to the conclusion that life itself is that which fights entropy. In fact, one way to define life is the force that reverses entropy. Microbes, plants, and animals process chaotic raw materials into organized, self-reproducing, growing systems that support other living systems. Higher levels of intelligence marshal more entropy-fighting force. Fighting entropy is one way to view the meaning of life. That's why I like your subtitle: "Entropy is inevitable. Surrendering to it isn't."
This resonated deeply, Hari. Back when I was a practicing CFP, I used to half-jokingly tell people my primary job title was Entropy Fighter. Financial plans are closed systems, and without a constant infusion of fresh energy and reorganization, they succumb to that gradual decline into disorder you described so well.
Loved your approach to keeping entropy at bay. I’ve also found that the best defense is a multi-modal approach: using redundancy like an engineer to buffer against the unknown, and maintaining biological-style adaptation so the plan can evolve as the environment shifts.
Excellent piece! It’s a reminder that the work of preservation is never truly done.
Hahaha, Entropy Fighter! We should make a superhero shirt. 🦸
I do think many people cling to old ideas or do not think through their financial plans. Always learning and thinking is essential, especially in a closed system.
Honestly, Hari, some days really did feel like I was suiting up for battle against the second law of thermodynamics. I actually kept a coffee mug on my desk that just said 'Entropy Fighter'. It was the one way to honor the daily grind of keeping those systems from drifting into chaos!
And you're spot on: the moment we stop learning and adapting is the moment the system starts closing in on us. Constant evolution is the only real antidote.
Thanks for the restacks, everyone!
After spending a very long time pondering the nature of consciousness, I came to the conclusion that life itself is that which fights entropy. In fact, one way to define life is the force that reverses entropy. Microbes, plants, and animals process chaotic raw materials into organized, self-reproducing, growing systems that support other living systems. Higher levels of intelligence marshal more entropy-fighting force. Fighting entropy is one way to view the meaning of life. That's why I like your subtitle: "Entropy is inevitable. Surrendering to it isn't."