this is a fantastic and correct post, worth reading if you're young.
i probably would have had a very different life trajectory--i'm not necessarily saying better--if i'd bothered applying anywhere other than university of minnesota for undergrad.
i probably would have had a very different life trajectory--i'm not necessarily saying better--if i'd bothered applying anywhere other than university of minnesota for undergrad.
https://twitter.com/aaron_renn/status/1846569960505557214
it goes beyond school though. technical hierarchies at firms are different than business side hierarchies. management hierarchies are different than IC hierarchies; of course the possibilities for ascent are higher in the former, both in terms of rate and of peak
regional hierarchies are different than national. industrial hierarchies too; between industry, within industry
simple awareness of hierarchies outside of the ones you currently occupy is important for planning your personal trajectory
simple awareness of hierarchies outside of the ones you currently occupy is important for planning your personal trajectory
it's often understood to be crass to even consider this, or at least you may have a feeling of revulsion about it
this is reasonable and often noble. strategic behavior in many social contexts is rightly stigmatized. in the context of friendships, it is sociopathic
this is reasonable and often noble. strategic behavior in many social contexts is rightly stigmatized. in the context of friendships, it is sociopathic
but many aspects of one's public life _ought_ to be viewed strategically, in furtherance of one's personal goals.
the broad curve of your professional life, as your means of providing for yourself or your family, is one such case
the broad curve of your professional life, as your means of providing for yourself or your family, is one such case
i'm not suggesting that people ought to stab their coworkers or companies in the back, but *your employer or your school is not your friend,* and you can bet that their relationship to you is ultimately a strategic matter from their perspective
what i am suggesting is that you should make an effort to develop and maintain cognizance of what hierarchies exist, how they are shaped, what the implications of occupying a given position in hierarchical space, and what actions you might take to reach some position you desire
this is a hard lesson for smallville kids, if those even exist anymore
their awareness of hierarchy and adult social strategy tends to be blunted by their existence in the midwest's aggressively egalitarian cultural ethic, flat hierarchies, and relatively functional institutions
their awareness of hierarchy and adult social strategy tends to be blunted by their existence in the midwest's aggressively egalitarian cultural ethic, flat hierarchies, and relatively functional institutions
i have to imagine children growing up in the coastal cities' brutal contrast of extreme wealth and poverty, visible national and global power, and indifferent or predatory institutions have, here, an educational advantage over their sheltered midland peers
but of course it's been a long time since i was really young, and i might be describing a world that's already departed without my knowing.
sic transit sal terrae
sic transit sal terrae
yeah i want to be really clear here, i'm not advocating anything like maxing out any given social hierarchy. this is usually insane actually.
i only think people should be agentic in charting their life course and develop awareness of paths and tradeoffs.
i only think people should be agentic in charting their life course and develop awareness of paths and tradeoffs.
https://x.com/zach26655/status/1846743176922439857?t=JSwexRiQeh0PZssGUIsmkw&s=19
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