Akimbo: A Podcast from Seth Godin False Merit, Appearing Real
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Mar 20, 2019 Explore the fascinating topic of merit and how it shapes our choices in life. Seth Godin dives into the flaws of traditional selection methods, questioning how institutions define and use merit to their advantage. He also highlights the impact of college choices on career outcomes and examines the biases in admissions processes. Discover how metrics can be manipulated and the importance of personal contributions over standardized measures. Finally, Seth emphasizes the value of community and accountability in creating genuine impact.
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The Spruce Goose Failure
- Howard Hughes built the Spruce Goose out of birch wood during WWII because metal was scarce.
- The plane only flew once, showing that substituting materials without true merit fails.
Merit Is A Defined Gate
- Deciding who gets into elite institutions forces a definition of merit.
- People then optimize for that definition to gain the comfort of being picked.
Ivy League As A Finishing School
- Early Ivy League schools acted as finishing schools for a narrow social class.
- New intellectual applicants disrupted that culture, revealing the schools' true selection criteria.
