Problem Finding/Reassessing comparisons

—Compared to what?

We often want to become smarter, richer, braver, bolder, thinner, fitter, healthier, cooler, sexier, or funnier. Pause to ask “-er than what?” Carefully choose the standard or reference model used as basis for comparison. Before investing in such a goal, it is useful to ask, “Compared to what?”

There are many possible reference models we can chose as a basis for comparison or goal setting. A list is provided below. In any case it can be helpful to ask:

1. What standard or reference model was chosen?
2. How was that selected?
3. Why is that a pertinent reference standard?
4. What other standards were considered?
5. Why choose this reference model?
6. How much -er will be enough?

Candidate Reference Models

• Historic performance,
• Peer, exemplar, or benchmark performance,
• Planning goals, stretch goals, aspirations, forecasts,
• Deadlines,
• Externally originating requests or imposed goals,
• Improvement goals,
• (Industry) standards, regulations, contracts, agreements, legal requirements,
• Imposed by use of power (the boss wants this),
• Following orders, respect for authority, demonstrating loyalty,
• Pleasing others, social or cultural norms, tradition, habit, fitting in, impressing others, prestige,
• Should (What standard is implied? Whose standard is implied?),
• Fun,
• Keeping promises, meeting obligations, meeting expectations (whose?),
• Scientific models, reality, scientific findings,
• Ideological models, dogma,
• Worldviews, values (purity, patriotism, honesty, personal responsibility, piety…),
• Beliefs, Misconceptions,
• Moral reasoning,
• Revenge, justice, fairness, caring, regret, shame, guilt,
• Prevention, repair, remediation, reparations,
• Hopes, dreams, aspirations, and fantasies,
• Stories, the dominant narrative,
• Survival constraints,
• Safety,
• Deception, chicanery,
• Demonstrating team loyalty,
• Comfort, convenience, stasis, egocentrism, pride, fear, hate, spite,
• Aesthetics,
• Whim