I’ve been thinking about how to weigh the direct impact of one’s career (e.g., donations) against the impact of being a model for others. For example, imagine option A is a conventional, high-paying salaried job, and option B is something less conventional (e.g., a startup) with a higher expected (direct) impact value. It’s not obvious to me that option B has a higher expected impact value when one takes into account the potential to be a model for others. In other words, I think there might be a unique kind of value in doing good in a way that others can emulate. I’m curious whether you agree with this, and if so, how one might factor it into the analysis.
I agree that thinking about your advocacy efforts is important, but I’m not sure with this example there’s an obvious way to call it one way or the other. It would depend on the extent to which you’re actually influencing other people. Also, there’s effects in the opposite direction e.g. doing more remarkable, drastic actions makes you stand out more, which gives you greater reach. (e.g. giving 5% of your income is good, but giving 50% means you get international press coverage). Doing what you sincerely believe is best can also be powerful.
I’ve been thinking about how to weigh the direct impact of one’s career (e.g., donations) against the impact of being a model for others. For example, imagine option A is a conventional, high-paying salaried job, and option B is something less conventional (e.g., a startup) with a higher expected (direct) impact value. It’s not obvious to me that option B has a higher expected impact value when one takes into account the potential to be a model for others. In other words, I think there might be a unique kind of value in doing good in a way that others can emulate. I’m curious whether you agree with this, and if so, how one might factor it into the analysis.
I agree that thinking about your advocacy efforts is important, but I’m not sure with this example there’s an obvious way to call it one way or the other. It would depend on the extent to which you’re actually influencing other people. Also, there’s effects in the opposite direction e.g. doing more remarkable, drastic actions makes you stand out more, which gives you greater reach. (e.g. giving 5% of your income is good, but giving 50% means you get international press coverage). Doing what you sincerely believe is best can also be powerful.
Some more relevant reading:
http://www.jefftk.com/p/optimizing-looks-weird
https://meteuphoric.wordpress.com/2015/03/08/the-economy-of-weirdness/