We are born to act.
We are dying for attention.
They should call us attention suckers instead of humans.
Our acting gets better while we are growing up. We watch/listen,/learn from others. Then we start to act like everybody.
We turn into a full-time actors.
Living others’ lives.
All predicted scenarios. Same cliches.
If we are actors by birth, at least we should act our own movies directed and written by ourselves.
This is a typical founder & inventor dilemma. Why my team doesn’t see what I see?
Because
You see things the rest of them don’t see, which is why you are a founder.
I didn’t say this Dan Pink said that. I agree with him. He is the author of the book ‘The Power of Regret”. A couple of days ago, I shared that book on the list that I’m reading. When I read a book, during that time I also try to listen to a podcast about that book especially if I can find an author of that book is talking. Youtube videos are fine too.
While he was talking with Derek Thompson’s Plain English podcast. (32:30) He was talking about why Americans can’t handle negative emotions that are the reason they don’t want to talk about their regrets or past negative experiences. This is something I have been thinking a pretty a long time. All my friends and family in the USA let’s say most of them somehow remind me of Disney movies. Either they are all in good circumstances and only expecting good things in their life or never heard/experienced bad things in their lives.
Bad experiences and regrets are great teachers. They scream to us to tell don’t do these things in the near future. If we say “No Regret” or don’t want to talk/think about them, there is no chance we can get better.
Yes, it is hard to make a big decision if you are not making those “big” decisions every day.
Let’s start what’s a big decision?
It’s hard to conclude a final and ultimate definition for everyone. Because your big is not everyone’s big.
Buying a house is a big decision?
-Yes, It is a big decision for someone who saved up money for a pretty long time and finally thinking of time to move on to his/her “dream house” after living so many years leasing places all over the place. That person is considering every single detail of that “dream house” and can’t settle for “a” house.
-In the same context, buying a house is not a big decision for someone who is just looking for a place to park his savings and be alright any “a” house that fits his budget. For him, just like swiping up on Robinhood and executing a stock buying order.
So, your big decision can be small for you in a couple of years or might even stay bigger. Who knows?
Focus on your work.
Your contribution to your future self.
Keep shipping. Keep adding value.
Hypes are temporary. Don’t let them distract you.
I often meet people who ask how to study a topic, what school should they go to, and I say aren’t you old enough to just go learn stuff by yourself? Most researchers are terrible at explaining why their projects offer the world the best progress bang for their effort buck, but I have no problem offering such explanations.
Robin Hanson explained so well after figuring out “the liberty” of learning anything you want, you don’t need any “an” institution to teach you.
Learn at own your pace.
Read-Another great book from Seth Godin Mafia*- Ignore Everybody by Hugh Macleod. Hugh is a cartoonist and copywriter. He is sharing how he started his hobby project became a global one. The key is to stick to your original ideas without asking anybody’s approval and keep it a small and fun project. And run continuously without expectation if it turns a good one, that’s amazing.
Reading- Amp It Up by Frank Slootman. I like an operator business book writer who built a company or helped them to scale instead of business professors. Frank is sharing his last 25+ years very candidly + he is currently CEO/President of SnowFlake (Market Cap 80B+ today- last month $100B:)
Reading-The Power of Regret by Daniel H. Pink– I am more like no regret what happened to past that was necessary. But, hoping in this book can show me the power of regret. Overall its easy to read.
Read- Marriage, a History by Stephanie Coontz– History of marriage. Why people married back in time? what was the reason? Today how “love” replaced other reasons and turn to be the only reason to get married. Women’s role in the marriage from past to today.
Reading- Becoming Trader Joe by Joe Coulombe- Trader Joe’s My favorite place to go shop groceries. I like it more than Whole Foods. It’s super easy to find anything. Very organized and of good quality with reasonable prices. Also, you can find so many exotic products thanks to Trader Joe’s buying & curation team. The book is sharing a lot about the mission/culture of a company and most interestingly after the acquisition by Aldi Group what happened to TJ.
Read- I rarely read cover-to-cover books. But if I have enough highlights and got the idea book, I selected it as a read. I go back maybe from time to time my highlights and still interesting in that book, I might revisit again.
*Seth Godin Mafia- People who got help from Seth for publishing or editing their books. Or might even be inspired by him. Never heard anyone use this term. I created:)
Everything for us. Life itself challenges us all the time and comes with bad and good things. There is no way we can escape from the inevitable end: death.
So, why are we still wasting our time with sorrow and regrets?
Stand up and defend yourselves
Less equipment gives you a better chance to start fast and stick longer. Most of the time, we don’t need expensive equipment & a studio to create excellent results.
You will never do “your best work” with your first try. Things take time. Instead of delaying, start with your current equipment.
The best equipment is your smartphone. So what can do you do with your phone?
Listen to podcasts, Create a Youtube Channel, Read thousands of free ebooks, Meditate, etc
Millions of apps are designed for your needs. All you need to start a small project just only require your phone.
Mindsets are divided by fixed or growth. And growth mindset comes with an intellectually flexible attitude.
It’s hard to accept when we are wrong. Because we don’t want to accept our knowledge is outdated or no longer serving for the right purposes. Being intellectually flexible is a great relief to live & learn without the burden of being right all the time.
