Entropy and Impedance

All of this uncertainty and resistance we’re experiencing is normal. In fact, they are a necessary.

In physics they are called entropy and impedance, but are known by many names. 

Entropy manifests as uncertainty, disorder, or randomness in our environment. Impedance is the resistance, friction, or drag that slows us down. They’re both universal and not new. Prussian general Carl von Clausewitz called them the fog of war, which led to his famous line, “Everything is very simple in war, but the simplest thing is difficult.”

Remember the early days of COVID? The fog of conflicting guidelines, fake news, and opaque algorithms made it nearly impossible just to buy toilet paper.

But entropy and impedance aren’t enemies to be destroyed. They’re signals. Clues. Their accumulation tells us when something’s about to break—and where to look for leverage.

As John Boyd made clear in Destruction and Creation, when our mental models fail to match reality, that’s entropy telling us that something isn’t right. Why is everyone fighting over Charmin? Last I checked, COVID doesn’t cause dingleberries!

So we break the models down. We take in more data and try to make sense of it all. My Facebook feed is full of people losing their minds over a vaccine. What am I missing?

We keep the pieces that still work, toss what doesn’t, and rebuild. I have to work remote AND homeschool my kids? Looks like we’re moving to Florida!

But that takes effort. We exert our brains and bodies against the obstacles, the impedance in our way. We adapt and overcome. We evolve. Survived Florida. Even the heat. And alligators. And Florida Man.

And it’s never a one-and-done thing. Boyd’s OODA Loop shows us that real learning is iterative: observe, orient, decide, act. Do it again. And again. It’s 2025, Donald Trump is President again, Disneyworld raised its prices again, and the Florida housing market is crashing. Looks like we’re moving to Tennessee!

The point?

If we recognize entropy and impedance as signals and maneuver through them effectively, we’re not just surviving change, but creating it.

p.s. how did you navigate the fog and friction of COVID? 

p.p.s. have you pre-ordered your copy of Anthroponautics, yet? or are you distracted by Florida Man?