Work worries are just like 'apartment hunting.' Three tips to lighten your heart a little from the pain of being caught in the middle.

Hello, this is Iguchi.
As a sole proprietor, I am learning about marketing and writing while repeating daily practice and verification.

"I want to do my work carefully, but I don't have the time..."
"I want to accept jobs at a low price, but I can't make a living like this..."

When you start a business as a freelancer or individual, don't you ever worry about being caught in this kind of "if you do one thing, you can't do the other" dilemma?

"Both are important, so I can't choose!" You try so hard that you end up doing neither well and feel self-loathing...

But actually, that might not be due to a lack of ability, but simply because you are trapped in a structural pitfall called "Antinomy".

It's a four-character kanji term that sounds difficult, but don't worry.
Once you know what it means, it's very simple and something that fills our daily lives.

In this article, I will unravel the true nature of this term using familiar examples that everyone experiences, such as "apartment hunting" and "work quality vs. speed."

Furthermore, I will introduce "3 tips for solving" the state of being caught in the middle.

By the time you finish reading, the weight on your shoulders should lift, and you should have a clear idea of how to move forward.

When I looked it up, it was surprisingly simple

First, I looked up the meaning of the word. Breaking down dictionary and philosophical explanations, it essentially means this.

• Two things that contradict each other and cannot coexist

• A state where pursuing one causes the other to be sacrificed

In the business world, it is often called a "trade-off." It is the state of "if you do one thing, you can't do the other."

Doesn't it feel more relatable when put that way?
Since it is written as "two disciplines opposing and rebelling against each other," it essentially points to a state of being caught in the middle where "you can't have the best of both worlds!".

Thinking about it through familiar "apartment hunting"

To understand it more intuitively, let's use "apartment hunting," which everyone has likely experienced, as an example.

When looking for a new apartment, what do you prioritize?
I think many people care about "proximity to the station (convenience)" and "low rent."

But you notice it when looking at real estate websites, don't you?

• 3 minutes walk from the station! → High rent

• Very low rent! → 20 minutes walk from the station

That's right.
When you seek "proximity to the station," "low rent" is sacrificed, and when you seek "low rent," "convenience" is sacrificed.

This is exactly antinomy.

The moment we are usually worrying about "which one should I choose...", we are actually facing a philosophical theme (lol).

Freelance common occurrence: "Quality" and "Speed"

Now, let's replace this with the work of us sole proprietors and freelancers.
The easiest to understand is the relationship between "work quality" and "speed (deadline/time)."

For example, suppose you receive a request from a client for design work.

[Path A] Thoroughly focus on quality
Crafting every detail, revising multiple times to create the best work.
→ It takes too much time, and the deadline is missed. Or, when converted to hourly wage, it results in a huge deficit.

[Path B] Focus on speed above all
Finish and deliver at lightning speed.
→ It tends to be sloppy, and there is a risk of quality dropping and losing trust.

Especially in the beginning, you tend to get impatient, thinking "I have to provide good things, quickly and cheaply!"

But since these are structurally in an "antinomy" relationship, it is physically impossible to get 100 points on both.

So, what should I do? 3 solution tips

"I understand they can't coexist. But it's work, so I have to do something...!" I'm sure you think that.

So, I have summarized 3 tips to escape this state of being caught in the middle.

1. Decide on priorities (making a choice)

First, decide "which is more important this time?"

"This project has a tight deadline, so prioritize speed even if it's 80 points!"
"I want to use this for my portfolio, so take time and prioritize quality!"

Have the courage to change where you step on the gas according to the situation.

2. Find a "good balance" (compromise)

Instead of thinking in terms of A or B, or 0 or 100, look for a 'middle ground' that both sides can agree on.
For example, if 'quality is important, but deadlines are also important,' the sense of balance is to 'do your best within the scope of meeting the deadline (= don't aim for perfection too much).'

This might actually be the most important thing for continuing long-term.

3. Look for a third way (innovation)

This might be where you can really show your skills.
For example, 'using AI tools to cut work time in half without sacrificing quality' or 'creating templates to improve efficiency.'

It is an approach that attempts to achieve both contradictory things at a high level by incorporating ingenuity and new technology.They say that if you want to say this in a cool way, it's called 'Aufheben' (there's that difficult word again! Haha).

Summary: Worries are a chance for growth

Learning the term 'antinomy' made me feel a little more at ease.

I realized that the reason I feel distressed at work thinking 'I have to pursue both quality and quantity!' isn't because my ability is low, but because 'I am in a difficult structure to begin with.'

When you can't find a solution, instead of trying to force both to coexist, it might be good to switch your perspective and think, 'Is now the time to balance things?' or 'Is this a chance to try a new tool?'

If you find a clue to solving the 'antinomy' worries around you, please let me know!

Let's move forward one step at a time together.

Thank you for reading until the end.

I would be happy if this article led to a small realization like 'I see, that's what it was!' or a hint for your own ideas.

Following me would be a great encouragement.
I will follow you back as well ^^