Invisible Outliers

Often-times, the graphs we use to make decisions have these alien things on them called outliers that don’t fit in with the rest of things.

These outliers stick out like a sore thumb for us decision-makers because they change the nature and shape of patterns. They follow the yellow paths.
And yet, outliers, I would argue, are the most invisible (unless of course, one is specifically studying them). We choose to ignore the new possibilities and probabilities that they generate.

Here’s why:

• Because we’re path-dependent.

• Catering to the status-quo gives the biggest bang for the buck or is the most effective way to deal with things

• We don’t know how to problem-solve without contorting the shapes of things.

So, we choose to steamroll against the nature of the graph instead!

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Think of outliers as the pull of the rising tide. Prepare for it.