How to Thrive as a Hunter-Gatherer
A lifestyle advocated by @naval, @balajis, @dvassallo, & more. Let's break it down!
In a nutshell, this means:
1. low risk, high volatility
2. less certainty, more control
3. more adversity, greater strength
4. lots of intensity + leisure
A lifestyle advocated by @naval, @balajis, @dvassallo, & more. Let's break it down!
In a nutshell, this means:
1. low risk, high volatility
2. less certainty, more control
3. more adversity, greater strength
4. lots of intensity + leisure
Most career tracks are fragile. One small thing goes wrong and you're jobless. Dangers include:
• AI/robotics
• outsourcing
• pandemics
Things are different for us than our parents.
• AI/robotics
• outsourcing
• pandemics
Things are different for us than our parents.
At our age they could choose from hundreds of robust careers because:
• the economy was booming
• technology was slow(er)
• globalization was low(er)
If something went terribly wrong, it was hard to bounce back, but the overall likelihood of career disruption was much lower.
• the economy was booming
• technology was slow(er)
• globalization was low(er)
If something went terribly wrong, it was hard to bounce back, but the overall likelihood of career disruption was much lower.
In a sense, these old careers were like subsistence farming.
You planted crops and stored your harvest so you could eat during winter.
You could clock in every day for 40 years, invest in low-cost index funds, and retire.
You planted crops and stored your harvest so you could eat during winter.
You could clock in every day for 40 years, invest in low-cost index funds, and retire.
You can no longer "subsistence farm" in your career. The world is too volatile.
But if you've studied ecology, then you know volatility in nature creates abundance and diversity.
Consider wildfires. They seem to destroy forests but actually help them thrive.
But if you've studied ecology, then you know volatility in nature creates abundance and diversity.
Consider wildfires. They seem to destroy forests but actually help them thrive.
From Wikipedia:
"Many ecosystems have evolved with fire as an essential contributor to habitat vitality and renewal."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_ecol…
"Many ecosystems have evolved with fire as an essential contributor to habitat vitality and renewal."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_ecol…
To borrow from @nntaleb, farmers are fragile.
One fire and they're toast. They can't handle the creative destruction in nature.
Hunter-gathers are antifragile. They easily move away when the sparks fly and return to thrive after resilient life springs back to flourish.
One fire and they're toast. They can't handle the creative destruction in nature.
Hunter-gathers are antifragile. They easily move away when the sparks fly and return to thrive after resilient life springs back to flourish.
Technology and globalization are modern wildfires.
They're destroying traditional career tracks, but they're leaving in their wake a diverse and abundant environment for modern hunter-gatherers to thrive.
They're destroying traditional career tracks, but they're leaving in their wake a diverse and abundant environment for modern hunter-gatherers to thrive.
Alright. Enough theory. Let's get practical.
First, you need the right mindset. I recommend courses and communities like:
• Build Once, Sell Twice @jackbutcher
• The Write of Passage @david_perell
• Profit & Loss @dvassallo
• The Minimalist Entrepreneur @shl
First, you need the right mindset. I recommend courses and communities like:
• Build Once, Sell Twice @jackbutcher
• The Write of Passage @david_perell
• Profit & Loss @dvassallo
• The Minimalist Entrepreneur @shl
They cost money but they're packed with value from people who know how to hunt and gather.
They'll give you:
• mental models
• confidence
• networks
You need these to detox from a subsistence-farming lifestyle.
They'll give you:
• mental models
• confidence
• networks
You need these to detox from a subsistence-farming lifestyle.
These courses and communities will also help you identify your personal monopoly.
See this thread from @david_perell for more.
See this thread from @david_perell for more.
https://twitter.com/david_perell/status/1259539005097426944?s=20
Hunter-gatherers eat plenty, but their lifestyle is no-frills.
You need to do the same.
Lower expenses will provide freedom to explore the abundance around you on your own timeline and with fewer worries.
You're trading stuff for experiences, which are better anyways.
You need to do the same.
Lower expenses will provide freedom to explore the abundance around you on your own timeline and with fewer worries.
You're trading stuff for experiences, which are better anyways.
Next, start thinking about a portfolio of small bets you can make.
Hunter-gatherers don't eat only potatoes. They enjoy a plethora of different foods.
Similarly, don't bet everything on your one SaaS idea. Instead, find a combination of income sources.
Hunter-gatherers don't eat only potatoes. They enjoy a plethora of different foods.
Similarly, don't bet everything on your one SaaS idea. Instead, find a combination of income sources.
https://twitter.com/dvassallo/status/1262251147135340544?s=20
You also need to build distribution for yourself.
This means contributing to an online community, adding value, and earning trust.
If you want to build an audience like the best, take this course by @Julian and @SahilBloom: maven.com/demandcurve/au…
This means contributing to an online community, adding value, and earning trust.
If you want to build an audience like the best, take this course by @Julian and @SahilBloom: maven.com/demandcurve/au…
Once you have an audience, you can monetize many different ways:
• @SubstackInc for writers/journalists
• @joinClubhouse for talkshow hosts
• @Etsy for makers
• @gumroad for creators
• @YouTube for videographers
• @Rapid_API for developers
Mix and match for best results!
• @SubstackInc for writers/journalists
• @joinClubhouse for talkshow hosts
• @Etsy for makers
• @gumroad for creators
• @YouTube for videographers
• @Rapid_API for developers
Mix and match for best results!
Throughout this process, the key is maintaining unfailing confidence in yourself without falling into over-confidence about any one of your ideas.
Experiment. Iterate. Try. Fail. Try again!
Learn when to fold 'em and when to hold 'em.
Experiment. Iterate. Try. Fail. Try again!
Learn when to fold 'em and when to hold 'em.
Hunter-gatherers look lazy to outsiders. So should you!
Lay around, read blogs, take naps, and go for walks.
Wander about the world and soon you'll see an abundance of opportunity—but you must be ready to pounce!
And when you see opportunity, go full force!
Lay around, read blogs, take naps, and go for walks.
Wander about the world and soon you'll see an abundance of opportunity—but you must be ready to pounce!
And when you see opportunity, go full force!
As @naval says, be like a lion.
Rest lots and hunt big game.
Your mind must be strong, sharp, nimble, and energized to recognize and exploit the chances for success you'll find around the internet.
Rest lots and hunt big game.
Your mind must be strong, sharp, nimble, and energized to recognize and exploit the chances for success you'll find around the internet.
I've drawn an analogy to the hunter-gatherer lifestyle, but there's one major difference.
You can become rich, unlike any other hunter-gatherer in history.
How?
Through leverage.
You can become rich, unlike any other hunter-gatherer in history.
How?
Through leverage.
Your newsletter, course, code, etc can scale to millions with no extra money or work from you.
It takes lots of smarts, diligence, exploration, and luck, but it's possible.
Soon, @EricJorgenson will offer a course on leverage: ejorgenson.com/leverage
It takes lots of smarts, diligence, exploration, and luck, but it's possible.
Soon, @EricJorgenson will offer a course on leverage: ejorgenson.com/leverage
I didn't mention wealth earlier b/c you won't last if you're doing it for money.
To win, you need to love the game.
You must enjoy your craft, hunger for adventure, and crave freedom.
Otherwise, you'll give up.
Read this by @dvassallo:
danielvassallo.com/only-intrinsic…
To win, you need to love the game.
You must enjoy your craft, hunger for adventure, and crave freedom.
Otherwise, you'll give up.
Read this by @dvassallo:
danielvassallo.com/only-intrinsic…
It will take years to see any real money—and if your wreath grows, it won't grow linearly.
Most likely, it'll go like this:
Year 1: "I guess I like Ramen."
Year 2: "Is Amazon hiring?"
Year 3: "This is fun."
Year 10: "Oh, nice. Another NYT best-seller."
Most likely, it'll go like this:
Year 1: "I guess I like Ramen."
Year 2: "Is Amazon hiring?"
Year 3: "This is fun."
Year 10: "Oh, nice. Another NYT best-seller."
.@JamesClear is a real life example. Ten years ago, he started a blog called Passive Panda.
Now, he has over 1 million newsletter subscribers and sold over 4 million copies of Atomic Habits.
He didn't get rich over night with a brilliant idea.
He stayed consistent for a decade
Now, he has over 1 million newsletter subscribers and sold over 4 million copies of Atomic Habits.
He didn't get rich over night with a brilliant idea.
He stayed consistent for a decade
Again, a hunter-gatherer lifestyle is not about wealth.
It's about freedom.
It's about serendipity.
It's about smelling the roses.
It's about independence from any one employer.
It's about freedom.
It's about serendipity.
It's about smelling the roses.
It's about independence from any one employer.
I'll leave you with one final thought, from the brilliant @angjiang:
https://twitter.com/angjiang/status/1050466549360779264?s=20
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