Supply-Side Ethics (S-SE)

“Now is no time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with what there is.”

— Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea

What is Supply-Side Ethics?

Supply-Side Ethics (S-SE) is a way of approaching life, work, and problem-solving with two guiding questions:

1. What have I got?
2. What can I do with it?

This contrasts sharply with Demand-Side Ethics (DSE), which asks:

1. What do I want?
2. How can I get it?

S-SE begins with available resources, current constraints, and immediate possibilities, focusing on agency and creativity, rather than lack or desire.

Why S-SE?

The Problem with Demand-Side Ethics (DSE)

• DSE encourages chasing idealized outcomes: “I want to write a bestselling novel,” or “I want to make a million dollars.”
• These are outcome goals—distant, desire-driven, and less actionable.

The Power of Output Goals

S-SE emphasizes output goals—concrete, repeatable actions within your control:

• Write 500 words today.
• Do 25 push-ups.