Maxims for a happy life

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A hearty collection of the JC’s pithiest adages.
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Maxims for a happy life.

Don’t be giddy

Contrarianism

  • Be a contrarian. But be prepared to stand in the cold. It’s lonely being a contrarian. If you challenge a popular, bad idea that happens to be liberal that doesn't make you a conservative, or vice versa. Be prepared to walk a lonely path: be wary of seeking shelter in the company of those who happen to be aligned against whoever you’re challenging.
  • Don’t join in. From the pages of the contrarian handbook. It's okay not to be joiner-inner. It's best not to be a joiner-inner. If you’re the guy from BlackRock who didn’t post an #iam message ... good for you. That took a ton more courage.
  • Disdain fashionable things. Especially ideas.

Harden up

It’s just a game: If you derive a significant part of your self-worth from the fortunes of a dozen well-paid men[1] you’ve never met and over whom you have no influence, ask yourself this: is that all there is? is something missing in your life?

It’s okay to generalise. It’s okay to stereotype. That’s how humans work. We apply heuristics. Just be aware that you’re doing it. Sometimes generalisations are unfair. Some fail. All are provisional. It’s okay for others to stereotype you too. Deal with it: it’s not like you’ll be able to stop them, is it?

People are arseholes

The good stuff

  • Make gradual changes in direction, but lock them in. There is an optimal degree of variability. If you vary to much, you’ll change away the good stuff. A 5% change is less volatile, more sustainable, more controllable than a 50% change, and you can tack back if you change away from some good stuff. It is safer. It is wiser. See evolution.
  • The out-sized risks and rewards are not at the top of the curve. They are down the tail.

The good stuff isn’t always obvious till later.

Don’t be that guy

You

What you’ve got. Be additive

Confidence

Mental space

Learn

Your nose

Others

  • Don’t be intimidated: they’re more scared than you are.
  • First question: cui bono?
  • Assume they’re talking their own book until you know otherwise. Value people who don’t.
  • Insiders have an interest in making what they do seem hard.
  • Challenge. Require an explanation. What a professional can’t explain, she doesn’t understand. If she can’t explain it, it’s probably bullshit.

The team

  • Disregard rank. Seniors must earn your respect. You must earn it from juniors.
  • Your team. They get the credit. You take the responsibility. Deal with underperformance privately: that’s your job. Never sell them out.

Disobey stupid rules

Complexity and order

References

  1. Footballers.
  2. If you said, “or girl,” you’re being that guy. (and/or girl, as the case may be.)