What you're seeing
Two systems running side by side. Left (orange) is optimized for maximum output — lean, fast, no slack. Right (blue) has built-in redundancy — slower but with reserves. Random shocks hit both. Watch which one survives.
How to read the graph
The bars show each system's health, reserve buffer, and current output. The bottom chart tracks health over time. Red vertical lines mark shock events. When a system's health hits zero, it fails permanently.
The key lesson
The system that looks 'inefficient' often survives what kills the 'optimized' one. Redundancy, reserves, and slack aren't waste — they're insurance against the shocks that always come. This applies to supply chains, personal savings, startups, and ecosystems.