Luca Dellanna, a successful author of nine books and consultant specializing in risk and behavioral psychology, dives deep into the concept of ergodicity and its significance in decision-making. He explains how understanding ergodicity can impact investment strategies and personal health. The discussion covers the challenges consultants face in aligning pay with results and the implications of fat tails in risk assessment. Luca also highlights the importance of serendipity in achieving success and the need for a long-term perspective in business and creativity.
Ergodicity highlights how differing time horizons significantly affect decision-making and strategy across contexts such as investing and gambling.
Understanding the concept of ergodicity encourages individuals to adopt sustainable practices prioritizing long-term health over immediate gains.
Focusing on achieving a top 1% position rather than striving for the absolute best can promote steadier success and personal well-being.
Deep dives
Understanding Ergodicity
Ergodicity is described as the study of how different time horizons affect decision-making and strategy. The distinction between acting once versus numerous times is crucial, as it reveals that outcomes can vary significantly with repeated actions. For example, while a gamble may appear favorable when played just once, repeated attempts might lead to a total loss, challenging common intuitive investment assumptions. Ultimately, ergodicity emphasizes the importance of understanding how actions compound over time to avoid potential pitfalls.
Applications in Investing and Gambling
Ergodicity has practical implications in areas like investing and gambling, where different strategies yield different results based on repetition. In poker, for instance, the approach to a single hand differs from the strategy needed to win a tournament, as long-term survival becomes paramount. Likewise, in investing, what may be a good gamble in one year can lead to bankruptcy when considered over a decade. Acknowledging this allows individuals to align their strategies with their long-term goals, optimizing their chances of success.
Long-Term Health and Well-Being
The concept of ergodicity also applies to personal health, illustrating how immediate behaviors may conflict with long-term outcomes. A workplace employee may initially benefit from working intensely, but sustaining that level of effort will likely lead to burnout and negatively affect their personal life over the years. Similarly, in fitness, maximizing gains in a single workout can lead to injuries that hinder progress in the long term. Ergodicity encourages individuals to adopt sustainable practices that prioritize health without sacrificing goals.
Ambition and the Top 1% Mindset
Pursuing a top 1% position rather than aiming for the number one spot fosters a healthier balance between ambition and practical outcomes. The pressure of being the best often leads to high-risk behaviors that can jeopardize personal well-being, whereas aiming for a strong, competitive standing emphasizes consistent effort over time. Successful individuals often find that striving for the top 1% is more attainable and sustainable than chasing extreme success at all costs. This perspective shifts the focus from high-risk strategies to reproducible actions that yield steady progress.
The Role of Serendipity
Serendipity plays a significant role in achieving success, particularly when individuals allow room for unexpected opportunities. The link between serendipity and ergodicity lies in creating a strategic environment that enables repeated attempts and exploratory ventures. By exposing oneself to various experiences without specific outcomes in mind, individuals can encounter beneficial surprises that may impact their long-term trajectory. Emphasizing the long game while remaining open to chance encounters enhances one’s potential for success, illustrating the connection between planned efforts and spontaneous opportunities.
#151 - The following is with the debut Italian on this podcast, the one and only Luca Dellanna.
Luca is the extremely successful author of 9 books, and he writes these alongside his day job, as an independent consultant advising businesses across the world at the intersection of risk and behavioural psychology
This makes him the best communicator of the subject of todays conversation, which funnily enough is the very same title of most recent book... Ergodicity.
Time Stamps For Luca Dellanna
00:00 – Introduction
01:23 – What Is Ergodicity?
05:53 - Why Does Ergodicity Matter?
15:23 - Fat Tails & Power Laws
22:43 - Consultants & Skin In The Game
29:50 - Ole Peters & Ergodicity In Insurance
39:58 - The Perfect Example To Explain Ergodicity + My Attempt At Applying Ergodicity To Cricket
48:31 - Behavioural Change Is Non Ergodic
51:35 - Kelly Criterion In Nature + Survivorship Bias & Lindy