What's it Mean to be Antifragile

The concept of antifragility has helped me a lot over the past two weeks.

Nassim Taleb is a former options trader and risk analyst turned modern philosopher. His work focuses on randomness, probability and uncertainty. He created this idea of antifragility.

When something is fragile, it can easily break. In Taleb’s words, it's victim to volatility. If something is not fragile, it is robust. It can withstand forces, won’t easily break. For example, a glass vase is fragile, it’ll break when you throw it down the stairs. A robust vase, will handle the blow. It’s a resilient vase, it handles the fall but stays the same.

This is important to remember. Antifragile isn’t just the opposite of fragile, robust is. Antifragile takes it a step further. Not only does it not break, it gets stronger with adversity. Each time that vase is tested, whether knocked over by a dog’s tail or an earthquake, it comes back stronger than before. 

That’s what it means to be antifragile. Getting stronger, more capable every time you’re tested. It means having options, the ability change course and using adversity as a chance to get better, to improve. Keep that in mind during these times. How can you make it so you’re antifragile?

Justin Miner

@justinminergain