1/ A thread of some of my the ideas that I keep coming back to. Will likely add to this over time. Trying to make sense of some of the things I keep coming back to.
2/ Beware of the default path
Blindly following the default paths in today's world in both life and work will lead many people down a road of guaranteed misery. You need to be able to do a bit of tinkering and build the courage to blow it up if needed
Blindly following the default paths in today's world in both life and work will lead many people down a road of guaranteed misery. You need to be able to do a bit of tinkering and build the courage to blow it up if needed
3/ Accidental meaning
A period from 1945-2000s coincided with economic growth in many places around the world that aligned with a certain way of living life that happened to work for many. Now people mistake full-time jobs for the reason why that happened and end up lost
A period from 1945-2000s coincided with economic growth in many places around the world that aligned with a certain way of living life that happened to work for many. Now people mistake full-time jobs for the reason why that happened and end up lost
4/ Hustle traps
The high % of people who leave full-time jobs after burnout and end up re-creating the same conditions they claimed to avoid.
The high % of people who leave full-time jobs after burnout and end up re-creating the same conditions they claimed to avoid.
5/ Doing things you want to keep doing
The only goal with work is to create the conditions such that you can do the things you want to keep doing. Easier said than done. Many people get distracted by shiny goals
The only goal with work is to create the conditions such that you can do the things you want to keep doing. Easier said than done. Many people get distracted by shiny goals
6/ Don't chase passion, build savings
It's great to pursue something you love, better to get paid for a few years and then buy some more time to figure it out. Even better if you work at a place that nudges you to learn skills you actually want to learn.
It's great to pursue something you love, better to get paid for a few years and then buy some more time to figure it out. Even better if you work at a place that nudges you to learn skills you actually want to learn.
7/ Money insecurity
You can't deal with money insecurity by making more money. You can only ever face it by stepping off a steady income path and existing a few months without making an income. Then you'll know what you really fear
You can't deal with money insecurity by making more money. You can only ever face it by stepping off a steady income path and existing a few months without making an income. Then you'll know what you really fear
8/ All-or-nothing leap fallacy
Too many people look at shifts as all-or-nothing leaps and compare the possible downsides with their current state (which they are already tolerating). A better way to frame it is to add in uncertain wonder + identify learnings from a half-success
Too many people look at shifts as all-or-nothing leaps and compare the possible downsides with their current state (which they are already tolerating). A better way to frame it is to add in uncertain wonder + identify learnings from a half-success
9/ 4-day workweek as existential opening
The best benefit of the 4-day workweek for companies is helping them figure out what they should have stopped doing years ago. It can also be a focusing mechanism for people and make them more clear about how they want to spend time
The best benefit of the 4-day workweek for companies is helping them figure out what they should have stopped doing years ago. It can also be a focusing mechanism for people and make them more clear about how they want to spend time
10/ Most people don't know true leisure
We mistake vacations for leisure and leisure for "doing nothing" or passive doing. A historical version of leisure is probably a better aim for most people - contemplative about our role in the world and an active engagement with things
We mistake vacations for leisure and leisure for "doing nothing" or passive doing. A historical version of leisure is probably a better aim for most people - contemplative about our role in the world and an active engagement with things
11/ Ikigai is a scam
Ikigai is a beautiful japanese concept but when translated to english and added to a made up 4-quadrant framework it makes people imagine that a reason for being also can be always paid for (as a job).
Ikigai is a beautiful japanese concept but when translated to english and added to a made up 4-quadrant framework it makes people imagine that a reason for being also can be always paid for (as a job).
12/ Maslow's hierarchy is a scam
Maslow abandoned this idea before a journalist created the diagram for a business publication on employee motivation. Many people think they are self-actualized but Maslow thought this was only a stop along the way to transcendance
Maslow abandoned this idea before a journalist created the diagram for a business publication on employee motivation. Many people think they are self-actualized but Maslow thought this was only a stop along the way to transcendance
13/ Prestige can be a good thing
We can't avoid status games but we should actively seek communities of people or types of work in which we can win prestige in the ways that are best suited to us and dont destroy us (religious communities & volunteering)
We can't avoid status games but we should actively seek communities of people or types of work in which we can win prestige in the ways that are best suited to us and dont destroy us (religious communities & volunteering)
14/ Non-doing
Non-doing, or wu-wei, is hard to explain but can be felt when we allow the need to "do" to dissolve. I'm not sure how to make this happen but when you experience this weird state it opens up a lot of life
Non-doing, or wu-wei, is hard to explain but can be felt when we allow the need to "do" to dissolve. I'm not sure how to make this happen but when you experience this weird state it opens up a lot of life
15/ We need more creators
We shy away from creating in public because of some bad actors that abuse audiences and make sketchy claims. But this is exactly why you should create. You are hesitant to do such things and likely will bring more care to it
We shy away from creating in public because of some bad actors that abuse audiences and make sketchy claims. But this is exactly why you should create. You are hesitant to do such things and likely will bring more care to it
16/ Labor economy is less healthy over time
Middle-skill jobs are disappearing, economies are adding more low-skill jobs over time and high-skill jobs require a identification with work in $$$ cities. None of this helps people build sustainable lives & communities outside work.
Middle-skill jobs are disappearing, economies are adding more low-skill jobs over time and high-skill jobs require a identification with work in $$$ cities. None of this helps people build sustainable lives & communities outside work.
17/ Work is one of the most dominant elements in our lives
You cannot ever escape work world you can only exist on the edges of it or in rejection of it. Wage-work and salary-work dominates how most adults orient towards living in the modern world.
You cannot ever escape work world you can only exist on the edges of it or in rejection of it. Wage-work and salary-work dominates how most adults orient towards living in the modern world.
18/ Reinvention
Reinventing ourselves and being resilient to external shocks (jobs losses, pandemics, industry stagnation, debt) is probably an underdeveloped skill. People that have a lot of lifestyle flexibility can have more freedom than high-wage employees
Reinventing ourselves and being resilient to external shocks (jobs losses, pandemics, industry stagnation, debt) is probably an underdeveloped skill. People that have a lot of lifestyle flexibility can have more freedom than high-wage employees
19/ Corporate world is good, within limits
Learn the games (power, achievement, hitting goals, politics) but don't become the game. Some CEOs only made it that far because that is all they live for. Works for some, not most.
Learn the games (power, achievement, hitting goals, politics) but don't become the game. Some CEOs only made it that far because that is all they live for. Works for some, not most.
20/ The future of work is five conversations
1. trends, academic reports, robots
2. organizational culture & meaningful work
3. gig economy, flexibility & freedom memes
4. creator economy and personal transformation
5. philosophical foundations of work & role in our lives
1. trends, academic reports, robots
2. organizational culture & meaningful work
3. gig economy, flexibility & freedom memes
4. creator economy and personal transformation
5. philosophical foundations of work & role in our lives
21/ The pathless path
Probably the best idea for sensemaking life beyond the default path. This can help protect against becoming overly identified with a role (e.g. freelancer) while staying open to the upsides of self-employment and non-work
Probably the best idea for sensemaking life beyond the default path. This can help protect against becoming overly identified with a role (e.g. freelancer) while staying open to the upsides of self-employment and non-work
22/ Long-term breaks from work
Probably one of the most powerful things you can do without quitting your job is take an extended break of more than 2 weeks and see what emerges. These can be life-changing for some people
Probably one of the most powerful things you can do without quitting your job is take an extended break of more than 2 weeks and see what emerges. These can be life-changing for some people
23/ You cant escape culture
Many nomads and self-employed people try to reject mainstream culture but its almost impossible to escape. You have to find the things from the world you are leaving that still work for you and slowly come back to appreciate them
Many nomads and self-employed people try to reject mainstream culture but its almost impossible to escape. You have to find the things from the world you are leaving that still work for you and slowly come back to appreciate them
24/ ship, don't be a perfectionist
as you can see from the first tweet in this thread I tend to make a lot of silly mistakes. it actually can be a good thing because you attract people that are okay with imperfection and might be interested in your ideas not your polish
as you can see from the first tweet in this thread I tend to make a lot of silly mistakes. it actually can be a good thing because you attract people that are okay with imperfection and might be interested in your ideas not your polish
25/ Always compromise your personal goals to help others
Be willing to drop the ball, slow down accomplishing your to-do list or goals to help other people. Also always find ways to offer more help than is reasonable. This will help to build friends rather than networks
Be willing to drop the ball, slow down accomplishing your to-do list or goals to help other people. Also always find ways to offer more help than is reasonable. This will help to build friends rather than networks
26/ Design things for quitting, not scale
For creating online it can become a trap to opt-in to whatever is fashionable (e.g. "pivot to video" 2016). thus, design things for quitting and get enough time in experimental mode to see if you actually like doing the thing
For creating online it can become a trap to opt-in to whatever is fashionable (e.g. "pivot to video" 2016). thus, design things for quitting and get enough time in experimental mode to see if you actually like doing the thing
27/ Send nice notes
Send DMs, e-mail responses, share stuff online if you enjoyed something. Having been a public facing creator you realize how little feedback you get sometimes. Just because you like it doesn't mean the person creating it thinks its resonating
Send DMs, e-mail responses, share stuff online if you enjoyed something. Having been a public facing creator you realize how little feedback you get sometimes. Just because you like it doesn't mean the person creating it thinks its resonating
28/ Freelancing as paid internship
The best freelance projects are slightly terrifying in that you have to do things you don't know if you can do. They you get the added benefit of realizing you can figure hard things out on your own and learn things you werent trying to
The best freelance projects are slightly terrifying in that you have to do things you don't know if you can do. They you get the added benefit of realizing you can figure hard things out on your own and learn things you werent trying to
29/ Gift economy is worth experimenting with
Experimenting with a gift economy relationship with strangers is incredibly awkward but also makes you realize some of the flaws in transaction relationships and can also enable you to see the value in tending to things with care
Experimenting with a gift economy relationship with strangers is incredibly awkward but also makes you realize some of the flaws in transaction relationships and can also enable you to see the value in tending to things with care
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