FEMI TAIWO ON MONDAY: NATURE VS NURTURE – NURTURING NATURE
STRATEGY WITH FEMI TAIWO ON MONDAY
Michael is a first class chemical engineering graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria, and a PhD holder in same discipline from the University of Arkansas, United States. He works in a multinational energy giant in the United States.
Part 4: Nurturing Nature
We started this series discussing whether achievers are born or made. We acknowledged it is a timeless debate and stated the difficulties of siding with either. Nonetheless, we made a case for nurture, resting our argument on the fact that enterprise can turn a sour life into a sweet one. We then made a case for nature by reflecting on Nature itself. We conclude with this article by proposing a theory and considering its implications. But first, let’s clear the air.
Nature wins over Nurture
The starting point of any honest discussion has to recognize the overpowering role of nature. A leopard will always outrun a tortoise; an eagle will always fly higher than a turkey; nature determines who does what. Some are tall and some are short. Some are introverts and some are extroverts. Some are bright and some are not. Genetics determine these traits and each trait has a number of calling it is naturally suited for.
Those who hate to admit that nature predominates do so for good reason. They fear that saying nature determines outcomes discourages enterprise (why try if I’m fated not to do well) and provides a ready defense for the wayward (don’t punish him, he was born a thief). We address these later.
Good Enough theory
Why is the debate between what rules, nature or nurture, often academic? Why does it not matter most of the time? The reason is because of what I call the good enough theory. Simply put, the theory states “the vast majority of us are good enough to succeed at a lot of things.” I realize this theory has vague terms like “vast majority”, “good enough” and “a lot”, well, I still think the theory is good enough!
The theory simply says if you apply yourself, as a rule, you will succeed. Nature has already endowed many with genes that are good enough to carry out a wide range of activities reasonably well, what is left is application of effort to turn potential into profit. Most of us live and die within the spectrum of the good-enough theory, most of us just want to be good at something and be rewarded for it. And this is why it doesn’t matter what you believe, nature or nurture, because most of the time you are already good enough. Nurture nature and you will be just fine.
The exception to the rule or, put another way, where we run into problems is when we leave the realm of good enough and want to be the best. Nurture cannot help. You have to be by nature, absolutely brilliant, to win a Nobel Prize. Good enough theory explains why anyone with enough determination and enough smarts can graduate college and even go on to be a professor; but to be a Nobel Prize winning professor, you have to have been born one. Make no mistake: even if you are born one, you still need hardwork to realize your promise but first, you need to be born one. The same goes for those who reside at the very top of their game. The Leo Messis, Usain Bolts, Serena Williams, Albert Einsteins, Pablo Picassos of this world are born. Once born, they made themselves but first, they were born with the seed to reach the zenith of their field. Hardwork defeats talent if talent does not work hard. But what if talent works hard?
Implications for Justice
Nature influencing behavior more than nurture cannot be a defense for criminals because of the good-enough theory. Everyone can be good enough to not steal, rape or murder. This is why it is just and fair that those who perpetrate crimes are locked away. They are unfit for the society. Someone may have the predilection to violence because of genetic coding, but there’s enough environmental influence (nurture) everywhere to prevent that potential from becoming an actuality.
Also, most vices are self-destructive: a society of murderers will soon be extinct. As such, nature rarely gifts people with genes that will destroy them or others because the first law of nature is self-preservation. A criminal therefore, is never born, but made.
Implications for Parents, Coaches, etc
Knowing that nature rules over nurture and using the good-enough theory, we can have frank productive discussions with ourselves and the people we lead. Are you training to be the world’s best or are you ok with good enough? There is no wrong answer! But the question must be asked. If training for the former, then greater attention must be paid to whether or not nature agrees. Most of us just want the latter and, luckily, our genes already agree that we can be good enough in many things.
Final Words
I have written four articles to discuss this subject. If I were asked to summarize all I have said, it would be this:
Nature pre-selects those who reside at the zenith. It’s true. A more complete statement though, is that nature pre-selects those who can reside at the zenith of a particular field but once selected, nurture is needed to get there. While nature is selective – you can only truly excel at a small number of fields; nurture is not – you can apply the principles of success to succeed at any field. The good-enough theory makes the debate irrelevant in most cases because, as a rule, if you apply yourself in most fields, you will be good enough.
