Beware of Systems
Why creating your own systems is often a good idea
“Human beliefs, like all other natural growths, elude the barrier of systems.” Miguel de Unamuno
Everyone is out to sell you a system. Diet experts sell countless weight loss systems. Fitness experts sell an endless array of exercise systems. Spiritual gurus sell systems to develop your relationship with the divine. Business experts sell moneymaking and management systems. Cosmetic companies sell beauty systems. There’s no end to the systems you can buy. Much of modern capitalism is dependent on selling systems.
What these folks don’t want you to know is that most of their systems are based on the same few principles. The systems may vary, but the principles remain the same. It’s the principles behind the systems that are ultimately what’s important, and what we should focus on.
A simple example might help to illustrate this. Let’s say someone is trying to sell you an exercise system to build muscle strength and size. Maybe it’s a machine or device. Or maybe it’s a series of predefined movements. Regardless of the system, you can probably break down the system into its basic principles. A muscle building system might look something like this when dissected to its essential underlying principles:
- Apply resistance (weight) to your muscles using good form.
