Being passionate about something for a long time (not just a couple of hours or weeks) seems to be a rare quality. Too bad for those who lack it, as it seems to be a requirement for success in everything. There are so many posts that try to tell you how to get the most out of your passion, I haven't seen one that explains the origin of passion or whether it is possible to become passionate.
How to increase your luck surface area (2010)
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Re: How to increase your luck surface area (2010)
#12Louis Pasteur figured this out in the 19th century. “Chance favors the prepared mind.”
Re: How to increase your luck surface area (2010)
#13I'll stick with the proverbial Seneca: “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” Which is actually a generalization of the author's (relatively narrow) thesis where 'opportunity' depends primarily on the people that you meet and the 'preparation' is being passionate about something.
I think this is roughly the same thesis with different words - preparation = doing and telling = creating opportunities.
Re: How to increase your luck surface area (2010)
#14The concept in the post is something I've observed in my own life and the lives of others. The article highlights that it's just not "doing" but doing something you are "passionate" about. I get a little stuck on that word because it evokes the "follow your passions" type of advice which can be taken the wrong way. Here I think the key is it's not just "doing" anything but rather something you care enough about to at least try to do well. In other words, you're putting attention and energy into it. This tends to be something others notice because it's authentic.
The other thing which seems to elevate outcomes in this context is not just "telling" people as measured by quantity but also by quality. Just sharing with large numbers of people may work but trying to share with those who also "do" things will reach those most likely to care about what you're doing, the way you're doing it or even just that you're "doing" things with genuine personal investment. When I see that, it usually stands out and I'm much more likely to want to engage with that person.
Re: How to increase your luck surface area (2010)
#15Product-market fit often has an element of luck, otherwise someone else would have found the opportunity already. So this is really good advice for anyone working on a startup, it's sort of another way of saying the classic YC advice that you should be "building things and talking to customers". I really like this mental model, one thing I've noticed about my failed startup attempts is that I did a lot of "doing" but…
I think that’s a slightly different thesis - I think this one is more about ‘lucky breaks’ I.e. Microsoft selling its first basic compiler, vs finding your product market fit.
Re: How to increase your luck surface area (2010)
#16Being passionate about something for a long time (not just a couple of hours or weeks) seems to be a rare quality. Too bad for those who lack it, as it seems to be a requirement for success in everything. There are so many posts that try to tell you how to get the most out of your passion, I haven't seen one that explains the origin of passion or whether it is possible to become passionate.
Opposite of passion is contentment, which is also very desirable for many.
You just can't have both, because with a burning passion, comes a sense of imperfection and constant struggle to get better but never enough, or worse, fear of decay and irrelevance, an inevitable outcome as one ages.
Re: How to increase your luck surface area (2010)
#17I'll stick with the proverbial Seneca: “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” Which is actually a generalization of the author's (relatively narrow) thesis where 'opportunity' depends primarily on the people that you meet and the 'preparation' is being passionate about something.
A previous manager of mine told me that same quote years ago. It’s never left me, and has always been a valuable way to look at the world.
Re: How to increase your luck surface area (2010)
#18There is no such thing as being lucky. It is just a matter of perspective. Luck is what happens when people spontaneously feel grateful.
Re: How to increase your luck surface area (2010)
#19This is only tangentially related to the article.
I keep hearing a lot of “put effort into what you are passionate about”. One thing I found is passion is also generated. It happened to be many times, I force myself to work and n something for some time and I automatically see the beauty/challenge in it and develop the motivation without the need to push. I want to hear other’s opinions on it.
Re: How to increase your luck surface area (2010)
#20A theory that only works for people who are lucky enough to be surrounded by supportive people. Some people have the misfortune to know people whose usual reaction is throwing sand in other people's gears. People who crap on other people's plans. Just as good luck can compound, so can bad luck.
> A theory that only works for people who are lucky enough to be surrounded by supportive people. It's possible to change who surrounds you. By socializing in new bubbles, making new friends, or just plain moving to a new location.
This is also possible, but it's also something where luck, personal resources, and experience play a role in determining how successful such changes will be.