Principles
- Knowledge is the goal (for now)
- We know too little today to ask the right questions — “what is meaning?” has little virtue.
- I’m hopeful one day we’ll know enough about this reality to do so.
- Life’s too short to spend it being existential; contribute substantially first.
- Stay focused on adding value to others, no matter what scale.
- Meaning is rooted in people.
- Each person is a beautiful, complex process. It’s awe-inspiring.
- Gift others with deep understanding and value.
- In some sense, we’re all on the Titanic. I choose the positive sense.
- To do anything well, excitement matters.
- Enthusiasm and curiosity are “initial velocity vectors.”
- Passion enables contribution (it’s not the end, only means to it).
- And dreams rarely come baked-in.
- Always produce.
- Water finds its way downstream, eventually towards things you love. - PG
- Action precedes motivation.
- Beware of premature optimization everywhere.
- Iterate instead: spend the time, accumulate scar tissue, and grow.
- The only true limits are the laws of physics.
- “Whether you think you can or can’t do something, you’re right.”
- “The world is a museum of passion projects”
- Everything was made by people just like you.
- Self-belief matters. Love yourself; it doesn’t demand achievement and will not harm productivity.
- What matters? Money < time < attention.
- Awareness is the only way to live fully.
- Emotions are mere sensations; reactions are a choice.
- It’s always possible to be more grateful.
- Contentment & equanimity are totally compatible with striving to improve.
- Be very careful what your mind is exposed to.
- Learn to think independently, not regurgitate ideas (it helps to write more).
- Be very careful of sources of dopamine.
- Intrinsic motivation means making something happen (often good).
- Whether other people think it’s the right thing (often not).
- Ego and prestige are sneaky and slippery.
- It helps to be aware, but it takes a lot of hard work to change.
- Seeing happy people makes me happy.