Imperfection as motivator

Imperfection is always not ideal. However, once you reach the perfection, that is the end and you will start to fall and decline. Ancient Chinese scholars who studied Yi-Jing or Dao De Jing believed in imperfection. They believed the most beautiful moment was when the moon was approaching full moon and the flower was approaching full bloom. Full moon or full bloom, although perfect, will lead to a down fall.

In surface, this explanation may not be logical, especially for business looking for maximum profit. However, if you analyze it further, you will realize the significance. Look at Microsoft, when they launch their Window version in the market, they are already working on the next version of Window. The just launched version has yet to reach its full market potential. However, Microsoft has already worked on the next version. If Microsoft waits till its full potential, it will be too late to R&D the new version.

Let’s refer to Laozi’s Dao De Jing Chapter 15 (part):

孰能濁以靜之徐清？孰能安以動之徐生？

Who by quieting can gradually render muddy waters clear? Who by stirring can gradually quicken the still? Source: Susuki’s translation, YellowBridge

We can clarify troubled waters by slowly quieting them. We can bring the unconscious to life by slowly moving them. Source: Goddard’s translation, YellowBridge

Here, I provide 2 translations from YellowBridge as 1 translation may not be sufficient to explain the work of Laozi. There are time periods that waters become clear and at the same moment, still waters begin to move again.

Perhaps, we can use the biological activities of cells to explain these changes a little bit. There are passive and active transport in cells. In Wikipedia, we can find the meanings of cell transportation as follows:

Passive transport means moving biochemicals and atomic or molecular substances across the cell membrane. Unlike active transport, this process does not involve chemical energy.
Active transport is the movement of a substance against its concentration gradient using energy. In cells this is usually concerned with accumulating high concentrations of molecules that the cell needs, such as ions, glucose, amino acids

Passive transport does not need energy. However, active transport requires the cell’s energy to generate movements. From muddy waters to clear waters, it is like passive transport and from still waters to moving waters it is like active transport.

Because of passive and active transport or muddy/clear waters and still/moving waters, the situation or environment is always not complete and imperfect. Due to this imperfection, there are rooms for improvement and hence, the activities become motivators for improvement or generators for changes.