Why Paradox Is One of Endor’s Values

Many of the things that appear contradictory at first turn out to be complementary. They belong together. Like yin and yang. 

“The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.” F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Communication Requires Precision and Playfulness

Take communication as an example.

I deeply believe in being impeccable with our words. Words matter. Precision matters. Following through matters. Clear communication creates trust. Closed loops create trust. It is worth slowing down to say what we mean and to mean what we say.

At the same time, I have great respect for beginner’s mind. Curiosity. Playfulness. Exploration. A child does not wait until everything is perfectly formulated before speaking. Children experiment. They try. They discover. Sometimes they use the wrong word, and yet somehow they communicate exactly what they mean.

Sometimes the intention matters more than the description. And sometimes the description itself becomes limiting.

Words help us understand the world. They also shape the world. They create categories and boxes. A label can be useful, but it can also make something smaller than it really is.

There are moments where mystery deserves to remain mystery.

Building a Startup Requires Both Speed and Precision

I see the same paradox in the way we work together at Endor.

We are a startup. We move quickly. We make decisions with incomplete information. We push things into the world. We learn from reality. We iterate. Momentum matters. «Speed beats perfection.»

Messages are immediate and short. We choose action over endless discussion. We trust that moving forward creates clarity.

At the same time, speed places even greater demands on communication. To avoid misunderstandings, to reduce the need for assumptions, to cultivate a ground for trust and safety.

A short message can still be thoughtful. A fast decision can still be precise. Good communication does not disappear when things move quickly. It becomes even more important.

I believe speed and precision strengthen each other.

Momentum without clarity creates noise.

Precision without momentum creates stagnation.

Somewhere between the two, things begin to flow.

“The union of opposites is the essence of life.” Carl Jung. 

Perhaps Maturity Means Becoming More Spacious

Psychologists sometimes speak about dialectical thinking. Research suggests that wisdom is closely related to our capacity to tolerate ambiguity and integrate opposing perspectives.

Young minds often seek certainty. Mature minds gradually become more comfortable with complexity.

Perhaps this is why so many deep truths arrive in pairs.

Strength and softness.

Discipline and freedom.

Stillness and action.

Acceptance and growth.

Individuality and belonging.

Science and mystery.

Speed and precision.

Maybe life is not asking us to choose but inviting us to become spacious enough to hold both.

That, to me, is paradox.

And that is part of who we are at Endor.