The more attributes you care about, the less replaceable a person is.

On Chelsea's agberos, humans as data points, and why we're not as special as we think.

Hello guys,

Hope you are doing well. I’m okay, Alhamdulillah.

Well, apart from the fact that Chelsea won the Champions League. They just don’t deserve to win it lol. Before you think I’m a hater, it has absolutely nothing to do with Chelsea as a club. I have nothing but respect for the players, administration, and everyone that contributed to their success.

But the fans?

Na agbero full there.

It’s only to be making noise and painting cows blue they know.

Case in point. Image from Twitter

Before you Chelsea fans come into my dm to make noise, just know that:

1. The last time I even remotely cared about football was in 2018. I don’t think I’ve watched a complete match since then.

2. I will air you.

Anyhoo,

One thing I’ve had to think about in the last few days is just how replaceable we all are. For some reason, we like to think we are special. Everyone else fits into some category or the other, but not us. We’re the unique ones.

Imagine the following fictional conversation between me and Tolu.

Tolu: Bro check out this proposal. There’s a huge opportunity here and I think it’s something we can work.

Me: Bro it looks amazinggg, I’ve looked at the numbers and I think it’s worth a shot.

Tolu: So are you down? Make we discuss how we go run am?

Me: Nah mehn, it’s crazy times for me. I wish I could join but I really can’t.

Tolu: I understand man, thanks for letting me know.

Me: Yeah Bless up my G.

…5 minutes later…

Tolu: Hameed can you recommend someone? Someone just like you that I can run this with?

Me: Someone just like me? Ah.

Tolu: Yeah I figured you might know someone.

Me: Tbh I no sabi. If I think of someone I’ll let you know.

Tolu: Alright thanks bro.

Me: Cheers.

In this scenario, my bias would be to think I am one in 7 billion, and any attempt to find a near-perfect replacement would be impossible.

But if this conversation were just a little different, we might have contrasting results.

Tolu: Bro check out this proposal. There’s a huge opportunity here and I think it’s something that can work.

Me: Bro it looks amazinggg, I’ve looked at the numbers and I think it’s worth a shot.

Tolu: I know this is terrible timing for you, but do you think Oghena will be down? Make we start to dey discuss how we go run am.

Me: *checks with Oghena

Me: Nah bro, Oghena is swamped too. He can’t commit to anything atm.

Tolu: Kai. Who do you think might be down that is similar to Oghena?

Me: Erm let me see…Talk to Dayo or Omowabs, those guys can get things done. Or Kola or Omogbai, though I don’t know if they’re free.

Tolu: Ah thanks, I’ll let you know how it goes.

Me: Sounds good.

You see the difference?

By making it non-personal, it becomes much easier to ‘categorize’ someone and narrow down which attributes are most relevant that other mutual friends will have.

Whether we like it or not, we are all just a handful of data points. That’s why the Twitter or IG team does not write a separate algorithm for you, me, and all the millions or billions of monthly active users. They know that along a few key attributes, we are all the same and will likely bend to the algorithm’s will.

It is also why a scary movie is a scary movie for most people who watch it. An emotional movie is an emotional movie for most people who watch it. A comedy is a comedy to most people who watch it. We’re not as different as we think.

Remember the caveat - along a few key attributes.

My hypothesis is that the more attributes you care about, the less replaceable a person is.

What does this mean?

Back to Tolu’s fictional problem. Let’s say he was trying to find a co-founder for this project and he cared about four main things. The person must be smart, trustworthy, good with numbers, and good with people.

Let’s say Tolu decided to evaluate three of the people he was considering and represented them by three different colors - red, blue, and brown. Sticking with those four attributes, he would come up with something like this.

What can you tell from the diagram?

Along a few key attributes, these candidates are basically the same. There are slight differences of course, but nothing significant.

But then what if Tolu decided he needed more attributes in a co-founder?

After some more thought, he figures he needs someone who would be in Lagos for the long term. He would also like someone that is financially stable, so they can both invest in the project. An excellent writer will be nice as well since Tolu sucks at writing and needs help with the investor proposals. Finally, Tolu is quite extroverted and thinks an introvert would be nice to have balance in the team.

With those eight attributes, he gets to work.

What do you see?

These three people who appeared very similar initially now seem to be very different. And if he decides he cares about even more and more attributes, then any single person becomes virtually irreplaceable.

The more attributes you care about, the less replaceable a person is.

As you and I go through life, we will inevitably need to evaluate people (just as others will evaluate us as well). We may have to choose co-founders, bosses, work buddies, housemates, spouses, employees, and many more.

If you want to make your life easy, focus on a few key attributes and you will likely be spoilt for choice. But as you increase the required attributes for your ‘spec’ (and this is not a bad thing), you will quickly find that filling a spot becomes near impossible.

—————

Another week of not subscribing or sharing?

Really?

Ah well.

Hameed

** Jara content:

In the biblical (and Quranic) story of Moses (Musa AS) in Midian (Madyan), one of the two women he had helped at the well took him to their father, Jethro (Shuaib AS). She said,

قَالَتْ إِحْدَىٰهُمَا يَـٰٓأَبَتِ ٱسْتَـْٔجِرْهُ ۖ إِنَّ خَيْرَ مَنِ ٱسْتَـْٔجَرْتَ ٱلْقَوِىُّ ٱلْأَمِينُ 

“O my father, hire him. Indeed, the best one you can hire is the strong and the trustworthy.” - 28: 26

I would argue that these (competence and trustworthiness) are the two most important criteria in Tolu’s search.

Have a great week. 💫