That’s how we’re conditioned isn’t it. When numbers are ‘up and to the right’ then things are good. But when they're going down, well that's not good, in fact that's bad.
Or if we say it differently. Growth is the goal, more is better, efficiency is good and more productivity is the aim. At what point did we apply a level of morality to a direction?
Certainly, on occasions these can be aspirational and even healthy goals, but I wonder if it’s healthier to think more critically about numbers than simply apply a moral lens to an upwards trend?
I’ve found it interesting to read the housing headlines in NZ recently. ‘Property market recovering’, ‘Market on the Rebound’, ‘House values strengthen’.
The underlying message is clear. When the number are down it’s bad, and when they go back up, things are good.
But are they really? Isn’t that a matter of perspective? Personally, I’m not convinced that growth is always the goal. Or that goodness should be applied to a upward direction.
I suspect it’s healthier to think a little more critically about numbers before we jump to the assumption that up is good, and down is bad.