Learn From The Past

I am grateful for the knowledge, and effort, to be able to review what has worked, learn, and therefore change behaviour.  I think it’s fair to call it insanity to do something, and expect different results from the last time you did that thing.

However, where the real gap is is in the not-learning.  Doing something, getting a result, wanting to change that result, and doing something again wanting a different result, but getting that same first result.

That’s not insanity, that’s not learning from the past.

That’s not understanding that this particular result will happen from this particular input.  This input results in that output.  And if that output is not what you want, then you have to change what you do.

The interesting thing is things change over time.  You might learn a particular outcome, you might get rewarded or punished for a particular outcome, and that becomes the ‘that’s the way it is’ lesson you learn.  However, things change.  Tech changes.  People’s preferences change.  Things are rarely that binary.  They are on a scale.

For example cold calling used to work.  People would answer the phone.  They would answer the knock on their door.  They were open to receiving calls and offers.  Then, someone figured that out, and optimized for it.  Maximized it.  Sent crappy representatives who destroyed the opportunity for everyone.

Then, a generation later, the kids in the house grew up knowing not to answer the phone.  Not to answer the door.  And so that opportunity faded.  However, it still works, just not as well.  Some people still need that thing, and the best way to reach them is still that way.

So don’t think you’re crazy, because what didn’t work, might work in the future.  What worked before, might not work again.  It’s amazing how this goes.