So, what do you do for a living? (your answer here).

What are the most important two things about your job?

Today’s Family First site is one of those that will make you stop and think. It’s called The Two Things. Here’s its mission:

A few years ago, I was chatting with a stranger in a bar. When I told him I was an economist, he said, “Ah. So, what are the Two Things about economics?” “Huh?” I cleverly replied. “You know, the Two Things. For every subject, there are really only two things you really need to know. Everything else is the application of those two things, or just not important. “Oh,” I said. “Okay, here are the Two Things about economics. One: Incentives matter. Two: There’s no such thing as a free lunch.”

The idea is that EVERY subject has just two important things to know about it, and everything else simply applies those two things! That’s pretty amazing, as well as provocative.

Does the theory hold water?

Well, it certainly does in some cases. For instance, trading: Buy low. Sell high. Simple enough.

But what about your line of work? Can you reduce it to the two things?

Here’s my shot at Web programming:

1. If it’s not user friendly, users won’t use it.
2. The simpler your code, the better.

So read up on various Two Things statements at the site, visit the blog to post your own, and start thinking!

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Tags: web design, family first, economics, the two things, buy low, sell high, two important things every subject