Resharing advice I gave to a friend:
**Don't play games you don't want to win.**
We often get caught up in other people's games. Ladders, likes, follows, points. Winning can bring a short-term rush, but feel empty after. These games are traps for competitive, ambitious people.
**Don't play games you don't want to win.**
We often get caught up in other people's games. Ladders, likes, follows, points. Winning can bring a short-term rush, but feel empty after. These games are traps for competitive, ambitious people.
The primary beneficiary of you being #1 on Product Hunt is Product Hunt.
The primary beneficiary of you being Employee of the Month is your Employer.
The primary beneficiary of you going viral on Twitter is Twitter.
Youre surprised *everything* around you is designed this way?
The primary beneficiary of you being Employee of the Month is your Employer.
The primary beneficiary of you going viral on Twitter is Twitter.
Youre surprised *everything* around you is designed this way?
"Play stupid games, win stupid prizes." - @naval
Characteristics of stupid games:
- Zero sum
- Finite game
- Single number
- Regular schedule
- Costs them nothing
- Rules clearly stated
- Winner irrelevant in 1 year
- Timing matters
- Microcopy matters
- Social proof matters
Characteristics of stupid games:
- Zero sum
- Finite game
- Single number
- Regular schedule
- Costs them nothing
- Rules clearly stated
- Winner irrelevant in 1 year
- Timing matters
- Microcopy matters
- Social proof matters
Play long term games with long term people instead.
Long term games look like this:
Long term games look like this:
when we are young, smart, and able, our ambition far exceeds our mission. we cling to any structure we can get, even if that structure is a giant pyramid scheme.
Scattershot approaches are common:
Most grow out of it. Find Your Thing and Don’t Quit.
Scattershot approaches are common:
Most grow out of it. Find Your Thing and Don’t Quit.
