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{{m}}{{t|Maxim}}s for a happy life. | {{m}}{{t|Maxim}}s for a happy life. | ||
=== | ===Be skeptical=== | ||
*[[This time is different|This time ''isn’t'' different]]. The laws of physics, finance and economics still apply. Even to {{strike|[[blockchain]]|[[ChatGPT]]}}. Just as they did before, during and after the dotcom boom, the [[global financial crisis]], [[Brexit]] and [[COVID]]. | *[[This time is different|This time ''isn’t'' different]]. The laws of physics, finance and economics still apply. Even to {{strike|[[blockchain]]|[[ChatGPT]]}}. Just as they did before, during and after the dotcom boom, the [[global financial crisis]], [[Brexit]] and [[COVID]]. | ||
*[[Be skeptical]]. The internet has given every person on the planet the power to publish whatever pops into her head, to the whole world. See? ''The [[JC]] is doing it now''. There is no bullshit filter anymore. Assume everything you hear and read to be nonsense until you have good reason to believe it is not. | *[[Be skeptical]]. The internet has given every person on the planet the power to publish whatever pops into her head, to the whole world. See? ''The [[JC]] is doing it now''. There is no bullshit filter anymore. Assume everything you hear and read to be nonsense until you have good reason to believe it is not. | ||
:'' | :''Sub-rule'': The more ''recent'' it is, the more ''likely'' it is to be bullshit, since [[Evolution by natural selection|natural selection]] hasn’t had a chance to weed it out: better ideas withstand scrutiny. Scrutiny comes with time. ''See'': {{maxim|Disdain fashionable things. Especially ideas.}} | ||
*[[The Dead Poets’ Society|The ''Dead Poets’ Society'']] Rule: [[There’s no machine for judging poetry]]. | *[[The Dead Poets’ Society|The ''Dead Poets’ Society'']] Rule: [[There’s no machine for judging poetry]]. | ||
*[[Technology has only transitory value]]: The value of solving problems falls the fewer humans are needed to solve them. No-one made money out of email. | *[[Technology has only transitory value]]: The value of solving problems falls the fewer humans are needed to solve them. No-one made money out of email. | ||
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*[[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. | *[[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. | ||
*{{maxim|Disdain fashionable things. Especially ideas.}} | *{{maxim|Disdain fashionable things. Especially ideas.}} | ||
*[[Be suspicious of leaders]]. Especially leaders with their own svengalis. People who are at the top of their field — Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, Peter Thiel —are as likely there by good luck and timing as skill and judgement. Make up your own mind. By all means buy the product, but why buy the philosophy of a guy who may well just have fluked it? Principle applies to leaders who themselves slavishly follow a svengali. [[Ayn Rand]] is a red flag. | *[[Be suspicious of leaders]]. Especially leaders with their own svengalis. People who are at the top of their field — Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, Peter Thiel —are as likely there by good luck and timing as skill and judgement. Make up your own mind. By all means, buy the product, but why buy the philosophy of a guy who may well just have fluked it? Principle applies to leaders who themselves slavishly follow a svengali. [[Ayn Rand]] is a red flag. | ||
*[[Ignore pop stars when they talk about politics]]. Would you listen to politicians when they talk about pop music? | *[[Ignore pop stars when they talk about politics]]. Would you listen to politicians when they talk about pop music? | ||
*[[It’s not a fucking competition]] | *[[It’s not a fucking competition]] | ||
==You== | |||
===Harden up=== | ===Harden up=== | ||
*{{maxim|The glass is half full | *{{maxim|The glass is half full}}. ''Always''. ''Whoever'' you are, ''wherever'' you are. If you have the time, resources and cognitive ability to read ''this'' diatribe, you’re one of the lucky ones. ''For Christ’s sake, buck up''. | ||
*{{maxim|Don’t be a victim}}. ''Own'' your predicament, don’t whine about it. If you can’t be the predator at least don’t be prey. See also: [[don’t talk your own book]]. | *{{maxim|Don’t be a victim}}. ''Own'' your predicament. Fix it, don’t whine about it. You can change the future. You can’t change the past. If you can’t be the predator, at least don’t be prey. See also: [[don’t talk your own book]]. | ||
*If you’re a man, [[be masculine]]. Masculinity is not inherently toxic. It is to be strong, not powerful. It is to be chivalrous. It is to have come to terms with who you are. Don’t apologise for who you are. | *If you’re a man, [[be masculine]]. ''Masculinity is not inherently toxic''. It is to be strong, not powerful. It is to be chivalrous. It is to have come to terms with who you are. {{maxim|Don’t apologise for who you are}}. If you don’t like who you are, be someone else. | ||
*Be a hero, do not wear a cape | *{{maxim|Heroes don’t wear capes}}. Be a hero, do not wear a cape. (''Be'' a hero; [[substance]]. ''Wearing'' a cape: [[form]].) | ||
* | *{{maxim|Don’t give or take offence}}. Don’t indulge those who do. Deliberately ''giving'' offence is oafish, negative and counterproductive. ''Taking'' offence is cowardly and anti-intellectual. To be offended is to have no better reason to disagree. If you don’t like something or someone, go somewhere else. | ||
*[[Don’t be needy]]. Walk up escalators. Give up your seat. See: [[You’re one of the lucky ones]]. | *[[Don’t be needy]]. Walk up escalators. Give up your seat. See: [[You’re one of the lucky ones]]. | ||
*[[Don’t be easily shocked]]: it’s called “the shock of the new” for a reason. Shock value isn’t the same as stock value. The longer something’s been around, the more crap it has put up with, and the more likely it is to be worthwhile. See: [[disdain fashionable things. Especially ideas]]. | *[[Don’t be easily shocked]]: it’s called “the shock of the new” for a reason. Shock value isn’t the same as stock value. The longer something’s been around, the more crap it has put up with, and the more likely it is to be worthwhile. See: [[disdain fashionable things. Especially ideas]]. | ||
*[[It’s just a game]]: If you derive a significant part of your self-worth from the fortunes of a dozen well-paid men<ref>Footballers.</ref> 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 just a game]]: If you derive a significant part of your self-worth from the fortunes of a dozen well-paid men<ref>Footballers.</ref> 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 [[heuristic]]s. Just be ''aware'' | *[[It’s okay to generalise]]. It’s okay to ''stereotype''. ''That’s how humans work''. We apply [[heuristic]]s. Just be ''aware'' 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 can stop them. | ||
===People are jerks=== | |||
===People are | *{{maxim|Jerks wear capes}}. It’s not just “{{maxim|heroes don’t wear capes}}”. People who do are not heroes. They tend to be ''jerks''. | ||
*It’s not just | *{{maxim|Pray for peace. Prepare for survival}}. From [[the military school of life]]. Expect people to be jerks, and you won’t be so upset about it. People ''are'' jerks. | ||
* | |||
===The good stuff=== | ===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]]. | *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]]. | ||
*Be provisional. [[Iterate]]. | *Be provisional. [[Iterate]]. Be prepared to change your mind. In a complex environment make decisions based on what you know but be prepared to change them as what you know changes. Avoid making irreversible decisions. See: don’t judge. | ||
*The out-sized risks and rewards are not at the top of the curve. They are down the tail. | *{{maxim|Ski off-piste}}. 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. | The good stuff isn’t always obvious till later. | ||
*[[Rome wasn’t built in a day]] - but it ''was'' built. | *[[Rome wasn’t built in a day]] - but it ''was'' built. | ||
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*[[Stay on your feet]]. Don’t [[diver|dive]]. ''Ever''. | *[[Stay on your feet]]. Don’t [[diver|dive]]. ''Ever''. | ||
*[[Don’t be that guy]]<ref>If you said, “''or'' girl,” ''you’re being that guy''. ([[and/or]] girl, [[as the case may be]].)</ref>. | *[[Don’t be that guy]]<ref>If you said, “''or'' girl,” ''you’re being that guy''. ([[and/or]] girl, [[as the case may be]].)</ref>. | ||
*[[Let it go]]. In the immortal words of | *[[Let it go]]. In the immortal words of East-Enders script-writing collective, “[[Leave it, Phil. He’s not worth it|LEAVE IT, PHIL. HE’S NOT WORTH IT]].” | ||
*Don’t judge. [[Let he who is without sin cast the first stone]]. | *Don’t judge. [[Let he who is without sin cast the first stone]]. | ||
*[[Don’t talk your own book]]. | *[[Don’t talk your own book]]. | ||
*[[If you got to the top of your game, your job is to be a role model, not a whiner]]. call this “Markle’s rule”, in honour of a serial abuser. There are plenty of people whose physical or cultural characteristics give them cause to complain about their mistreatment by a cruel and prejudiced world. For the most part, they tend not to — they just get on with it — but they could. But if you came from nothing, became a TV star and then married into royalty — if you ''literally got to be a princess'' — sister, you ain’t one of them. Be strong. Be humble. Be thankful for your elevated position. Show the people that the top of the tree is a place we can aspire to be. Don’t air your petty grievances, even if you have some. However bad yours, are everyone else’s will be ''worse''. | *[[If you got to the top of your game, your job is to be a role model, not a whiner]]. call this “Markle’s rule”, in honour of a serial abuser. There are plenty of people whose physical or cultural characteristics give them cause to complain about their mistreatment by a cruel and prejudiced world. For the most part, they tend not to — they just get on with it — but they could. But if you came from nothing, became a TV star and then married into royalty — if you ''literally got to be a princess'' — sister, you ain’t one of them. Be strong. Be humble. Be thankful for your elevated position. Show the people that the top of the tree is a place we can aspire to be. Don’t air your petty grievances, even if you have some. However bad yours, are everyone else’s will be ''worse''. | ||
==[[You]]== | |||
*[[Seize the day]]. Well, it’s obvious, isn’t it. | *[[Seize the day]]. Well, it’s obvious, isn’t it. | ||
*[[Harden up]]. Sticks and stones. | *[[Harden up]]. Sticks and stones. | ||
*[[Be careful in what you wish for]] - on this score, [[if you want to get to the Olympics, take up curling]]. | *[[Be careful in what you wish for]] - on this score, [[if you want to get to the Olympics, take up curling]]. | ||
*[[Wing it]]. It will be fine. You will figure it out. | *[[Wing it]]. It will be fine. You will figure it out. Overplanning anything is the lawyers’ folly. It cuts you off from serendipitous opportunity. You make a much better decision on the spot in right of circumstances than you can possibly do in abstract in advance. | ||
*[[Have a plan. Even a bad one]] have a theory of the game, and act as if you are executing it. | *[[Have a plan. Even a bad one]] have a theory of the game, and act as if you are executing it. | ||
===Use your scone=== | |||
*{{maxim|Do not buy a warranty on a toaster}}. | |||
====What you’ve got. Be ''additive''==== | ====What you’ve got. Be ''additive''==== | ||
*[[Do it properly]]. Build for the long term. The lesson of Worcester: if you make it easy, you will attract the mediocre and encourage them to be lazy. If you do it properly, it will stand for 1,000 years and still take the breath away. | *[[Do it properly]]. Build for the long term. The lesson of Worcester: if you make it easy, you will attract the mediocre and encourage them to be lazy. If you do it properly, it will stand for 1,000 years and still take the breath away. | ||