signal-to-noise

Our Brain and Sensors

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Our brains are just like sensors.

Characteristics of a good sensor:

  • Drift: good sensors do not drift and maintain a baseline. This is analogous to brain maintaining focus.
  • Signal-to-Noise Sensitivity: ability to detect a signal in the background of noise. Analogous to the brain being able to pick out a sensory signal such as someone calling your name in a crowd.
  • Resolution: the ability of a good sensor to differentiate between two close lying signals, like a brain being able to distinguish between two similar things.

The concepts of Sensitivity and Resolution are contrary: you can’t have both of them. The idea is to know what it is you want and find a balance between the two.

So how do you calibrate this brain sensor?

Meditation.

Signal-to-Noise

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SN

In science we have this important concept of “signal-to-noise”. It is quite straight forward to understand: signal-to-noise is a ratio to compare the level of desired signal to level of background noise.

The concept of “noise” is also quite important. This noise is the signals coming from factors that are present in the environment – also called the matrix.

The objective of fine tuning the signal-to-noise is to get a better separation of the desired outcome (signal) from the background noise.

Desired Outcome

Applying this simple concept into the daily life, we can do things that will boost our “signal”. It is a well-established practice of most entrepreneurs to work with lists. These lists are for daily to-do tasks, or for key long-term goals. Now why are they so effective?

It comes down to focus. When we make these lists, we are tuning our signal-to-noise detectors on a sub-conscious level. The act of creating these lists – on paper or electronically – sharpens our senses in such a way as to boost these otherwise noise signals. There is no magic here; these signals were already around us, but now because we have fine tuned our sensors, they will “pop-out” of the background noise once we encounter them again.

Let me give you a practical example: say you are looking to buy a new car. You have done your homework and have come up with a “wish list” of SUVs: BMW X5, Audi Q7, Ford Explorer, etc. You suddenly start to notice that there are more SUV cars on the road than before you made your list! You know this is not possible. The only reason you are noticing more SUVs suddenly is that your brain is now sensitized to these cars which were previously just noise.

You want to improve your daily routine and be more productive? Accomplish more at work in the same amount of time? Live a healthier lifestyle? Explore business opportunities for passive income?

Start by making a list. This will tune your detectors which will be more effective at boosting the signal-to-noise and before you know it, the opportunity you are looking for will be staring you in your face.