You are weird. That’s not an insult - it’s the best compliment! Because you have something strange and exciting to offer the world. You just have to embrace your strangeness and use it to fuel your creativity. The last thing we need is more of the same. We don’t need more sequels, reboots, and repetitive sludge. We need you to lean into your “strange” and create whatever it is that keeps you up at night. Embrace what’s weird about you. The world needs it.
Read MoreAlmost all “jobs” are hierarchal. Each person answers to the person with a higher rank. This is a terrible way to organize people. First, hierarchies reinforce the principal / agent problem - a critical issue in business. Second, hierarchal relationships don’t compound over time because of the leader / follower dynamic. You need an equal partnership where both people bring value to compound trust and align incentives. Work in partnerships, not hierarchies.
Read MoreWhen was the last time you focused on a single activity for sixty minutes straight? Success in any endeavor depends on a singular focus in the same direction. The best entrepreneurs in the world can bring a singular focus to projects that take decades. Steve Jobs wanted to put a computer in your pocket. Jeff Bezos wanted to use the internet to sell books. Elon Musk is going to Mars. What are you going to do?
Read MoreSome people think that creative constraints reduce their creativity. The opposite is true: constraints make you more creative, not less. So if you’re wondering how to get through a creative project, don’t bust things wide open. Add constraints instead.
Read MoreMost people feel bad when they procrastinate. It’s seen as a problem to “fix” with the latest productivity hack, software update, or “focus” mode. But procrastination is not a problem to solve. It’s a signal that tells you what’s important to YOU (not to someone else). And it’s a signal you should listen to.
Read More“No one knows anything.” That’s what famed screenwriter William Goldman (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, All The Presidents Men) says about Hollywood. And it’s pretty much true. No matter what market you’re in, if you’re looking for a hard yes or no about the viability of a creative project, no one can give it to you. Ultimately, the free market is the final arbitrary of “truth.” If you want good feedback, ask the free market.
Read MoreMost people immediately look at what they can create or add to something to make it better. Very few people consider what they could remove. Yet, there is immense power in improvement by subtraction - an idea called via negativa. Consider that a clear mind is one without distraction. Clear writing is that which removes redundancies and clutter to make room only for the essential. You can improve your life substantially by merely knowing what to avoid.
Read MoreIn 2008, Naval Ravikant released a blog post called Life Formulas I. In it, Naval distills down his framework for a successful life into a series of formulas. Here’s a breakdown of a few I really like, with some associated quotes, definitions, and links to further reading.
Read MoreThe world is full of noise. Pulling out the signal - the meaningful content - that you can use to make better decisions is increasingly difficult in a world bursting with digital media. Wouldn’t it be helpful if there was a guide you could use to filter the knowledge worth knowing from the rest of the noise? There is - it’s called the Lindy Effect.
Read MoreYou probably know the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” But it’s very difficult to know exactly how you’d like to be treated at all times. That’s what makes the Golden Rule difficult to follow. The Silver Rule is basically the “Negative” Golden Rule. Nassim Nicholas Taleb writes it as follows: “Do not treat others the way you would not like them to treat you.” This rule is far more useful - let’s see why.
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