Lucky vs. Good

Is it better to be lucky or good?

The answer is: Lucky!

What is a 2 by 2?

A 2 by 2, also called a 2x2, is a graphical picture that shows how similar items are related. The reason it is called a 2 by 2 is because there are 2 primary factors being compared against each other. For example, you might have seen a 2 x 2 at the doctor’s office that charts height versus weight.

In this chart, the vertical axis is labeled “Height”, and the horizontal axis is labeled “Weight”. For any combination of height and weight, you can put an exact point on the chart:

Where do you fit in this picture?

Another example of a 2 by 2 could compare different professions by how much money each makes versus how much free time they have. Here things can start to get interesting. Unless you are one of those who “lives to work”, one of your goals might be to work less and get paid more. Or at least make more money for an equivalent amount of work.

The funny thing about making a 2 by 2 is that the results are usually pretty obvious, but usually you need to actually see the picture before you can really appreciate how things relate to each other.

Each 2 by 2 can be divided into 4 quadrants. This allows you to organize the different points on the picture into like groups. For example, you could name the group of careers that are high in salary and high in free time as the “Stars”, while you could name the group that is low in salary and high in free time as the “Slackers”. I might name the other quadrants as the “Movers & Shakers” and the “Worker Bees”.

At the center of each 2 by 2 is a unique spot called the “control point”. This is where the 4 quadrants all intersect. The control point is special because of its complete averageness. In the work vs. free time chart, the control point is represented by the Teacher.

Taken together, you can understand the simplicity and power of looking at life from a 2 by 2 perspective. In most cases, the goal is “up and to the right”!

Tastes Good vs. Good for You: A Thanksgiving 2 by 2

What are you doing for Turkey Day? The usual Turkey fare? Something more exotic? Screw it, lets eat out? Like everything else, your Thanksgiving Meal can been seen as a 2X2: Remember, you are what you eat. Enjoy!

Salary vs. Enjoyment

Are you a true winner in life, or just a company man? Does you work promote enjoyment in life, or are you a slave to wages? Looking about your job in a 2x2 might make you stop and think...


In one corner, we have the "Winners". Those who make a great salary AND are fulfilled by their jobs. They generally have broad respect, control their destiny, could move from company to company, and get to pick and choose their activities.

The "Creatives" have similar traits to the winners -- they get enjoyment from their job, and generally get to pick their projects -- but the similarities certainly don't extend to their salaries.

The "Company Men" make up the vast majority of the middle class. They make a decent living, but frequently find that they are not fulfilled by their jobs. Company men can become Winners, but usually they just want to get drunk.

Sorry to be harsh, but if you have a low paying job that has no redeeming qualities, you may be a loser. Think about how you can get more creative, or at least a bigger salary. Wherever you are, the goal is - as always - Up and To the Right!

Do You 2 by 2?

Do you have an idea for a 2x2 chart that you would like to see featured on 2x2guide.com? "Deeds vs. Words"? "Lives Fast vs. Dies Young"? "Good Looking vs. Good For You"? Send your 2x2 ideas to jonas@lamis.org. We will build and publish the best.

Smartness vs. Right Choice

Why is it that the smartest kid in the class rarely becomes the millionaire? Perhaps because intelligence alone is not a determinant of success. Rather, it is a factor that has to be matched with others -- like making the right choice:


Sure, the people who created Enron and the Segway were smart, but they made some poor choices along the way. These people fall into the quadrant we call "unlucky". They had the raw materials for success (brains), but couldn't close the deal.

On the other hand, everyone knows that buying a lottery ticket is like throwing your money out the window (Losers), but for the lucky chump who actually wins, he made the right choice (we'd call him blessed).

Lastly, and most importantly are those in the upper right quadrant. Those are the titans of fame and fortune who were able to apply their brains at the right time with the right idea to be in the winner's circle.

Up and to the right!

2 by 2 - A Strategic Guide to Life

Up and To the Right!
The 2 by 2 Manifesto

Life is not black and white: Your place in the world should be observed relative to others. You might consider yourself as "smart" or "rich" or "ugly" or "pious", but you are not -- at least not compared to someone else.

Actions and words speak equally loud: You can no longer get ahead on merit alone. Where you stand in life is now determined as much by what you say as what you accomplish.

Life is a 2x2: Each facet of life can be viewed as a 2x2 (2 by 2) chart. To improve your lot in life, you must understand what the terms of competition are, and where you stand.

With a goal of constant improvement, you must embark today on a strategy to move “up and to the right”!