“SHIT” ANALOGY 
28th November 2024
How the “SHIT” Analogy Applies to Every Aspect of Life, Not Just the Toilet
A) The Rationale: Why Use "Shit" as a Metaphor?
Since the birth of my daughter, "shit" has become a regular part of my life—both literally and figuratively. Almost every day, I'm thinking about it in one form or another, except when I'm on business trips, where the only "shit" I need to manage is my own.
I create parody songs for my daughter by tweaking the lyrics of the song “SHOUT” by Tears for Fears. By replacing the word "Shout" with "Shart" and singing along to the rhythm, you'll get the idea!
Shart, Shart
Let it all out!
Shart is the thing I cannot do without
Come on
I am Sharting at you
Come on
B) "Shit" is Inevitable in Life
If we take a moment to reflect, "shit" is nearly unavoidable in life. While we strive to be smooth, efficient, and aim for the ideal "no shit" scenario, there’s always some form of shit involved.
Having spent the last 18 years working in international business across multiple continents, I can confidently say that the Japanese excel at implementing "no shit." However, they represent an extreme case: they either do something perfectly or don’t attempt it at all. In their mindset, no action or decision equals no risk.
But in today’s fast-paced, rapidly changing world, this isn’t truly "no risk." In fact, the risk simply reappears later, often more significant, as the consequences of indecision and inaction catch up with you. This extreme risk-aversion may help explain why Japan’s economy has been stagnant for decades.
C) Choose Your "Shit" – Just Make Sure It's Not Fatal
Anything that doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. As long as you don’t drown in the “shit” you’ve chosen, everything will eventually work out.
Thus, I developed this philosophy using "SHIT" as a metaphor. Of course, life is far more complex, but let me simplify it for clarity’s sake.
In most, if not all, aspects of life, we encounter three kinds of “shit”:
- No Shit – the ideal situation
- Good Shit – there’s still some shit, but it can be cleaned up and improved upon
- Bad Shit – this is the kind of shit that hits the fan, requiring massive effort to clean up, or deep shit, like quicksand, where escape seems impossible
Most of us are simply trying to avoid stepping into "Bad Shit." The "No Shit" scenario—where everything is spotless and perfect—is rare. It’s like strolling through a flawless field, free of worries. But realistically, what are the odds? Have you ever met a baby who doesn’t shit? Or a dog who doesn’t poop? Just ask any parent or dog owner.
Then there's the "Good Shit." It's not ideal, but it's manageable. There’s some mess, but it's not overwhelming. With effort, you can clean it up and make progress. It's like dealing with a few scattered piles of shit that you can scoop up and move on from.
But the "Bad Shit"? That’s when everything goes wrong and you’re knee-deep in it. It’s when the shit hits the fan, and you’re scrambling to clean up a mess that’s hard to fix. It’s overwhelming, and the work seems endless. Even worse, it can be fatal.
So, while "No Shit" is a dream, it’s the "Good Shit" we should aim for. As long as we’re not stuck in "Bad Shit," we can clean up, keep moving, and work our way toward something better.
D) Know Your “SHIT” Cleaning Capacity
You may make great decisions and choose "Good Shit" most of the time, but it's important to recognize that there are limits to how much you can handle at once. You're not a superhero, so don’t feel obligated to save the world every time. Even "Good Shit" can become overwhelming if it all hits at once. Just imagine having triplets, and all three of them sharting at the same time.
E) The “SHITTY” Conclusion
In conclusion, no matter how much due diligence and planning we put in, unforeseen challenges — or "new shit" — will always arise along the way as we execute our plans. The key is to stay flexible and adaptable.
Also, learn to embrace the shit. Cleaning it up offers valuable life lessons and helps develop your character. Just make sure you’re learning from it and not repeating the same mistakes. After all, even a baby’s shit changes as they grow.
If you find yourself constantly cleaning up the same kind of shit, it’s time for some self-reflection. Something’s not right, and it’s worth examining why.
AREZZO FOUNDER
HUMPHERY CHEN