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No More “Insight Porn”

jakobgreenfeld.com

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Re: No More “Insight Porn”

#121

Post by mrtksn »

MOARDONGZPLZ wrote: post #28

I got super lucky. I started a company and didn’t really have any meaningful traction. I was about to shut it down. Walking out of the grocery store one night after work, I passed by my former manager when I was an intern. We got to talk for about 30 seconds, mentioned my company, she asked me to email her. I did, and that very quickly led to my first big customer which makes me about double what a FAANG swe would ma…

> My advice: get lucky.

That's actually great and actionable advice. The more draws you have the better chances you get to luck out.

The actionable part is the draw participation and you participate with your each interaction multiplied with your relevancy surface.

Do you know who did not luck out with your former manager? Those who did not had a company that does the things you do and those who might have had but did not interact with your ex manager.

IMHO lucking out is a very straightforward strategy and is relevant not only in business but in romantic relationships or friendships or any other partnerships.

Just don't expect to luck out on your first try and multiple participations is much easier than trying to design the luck on first try.

Re: No More “Insight Porn”

#122

Post by whilestanding »

bearjaws wrote: post #17

Gotta hand it to The Secret (2006) for kick starting near two decades of bull shit "Insight Porn". I know a few people who got sucked into that universe and continue to read & share this kind of media today.

The foundational ideas of the secret was found in think and grow rich, an old book.

Re: No More “Insight Porn”

#123

Post by jrochkind1 »

Swizec wrote: post #86
danaris wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> you can increase your "luck surface" by doing certain things ....and your chances of being able to do those things (without severe risk of poverty and homelessness) are increased dramatically by having been lucky enough to be born wealthy, or at least upper-middle-class.

> ....and your chances of being able to do those things (without severe risk of poverty and homelessness) are increased dramatically by having been lucky enough to be born wealthy, or at least upper-middle-class. While this is true, it also isn’t helpful. Play the cards you have, not the cards you wish you had. You always gotta start somewhere . Might as well start with what you’ve got and go from there.

In theory, hypothetically, it could be helpful in identifying when you don't have the proper situation to make success sufficiently likely -- perhaps you want to find another path where your situation is more advantageous. OR to identify what you, unique to your circumstances, might need to do to be in circumstances to maximize your luck, that other people woudln't -- like, in this case, cultivate a relational network of wealthy people that others might have out of the box. Or find a founder partner with a different balance of advantages/disadvantages, maybe you need a partner with those networks you don't have, while you bring other things to the table.

I'm reluctant to talk about this case specifically because it is so... fraught. People get mad, in both directions.

But in theory, there is no reason identifying the challenges in your starting situation that others might not have wouldn't be helpful. Isn't all information helpful?

Re: No More “Insight Porn”

#124

Post by Swizec »

bombcar wrote: post #114
Sebb767 wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know why this is getting downvoted. Yes, inequality exists and it sucks, but you still need to make the best out of what you have. Also, a lot of people seem to far overestimate the work and risk involved. This doesn't help really poor people, obviously, but the amount of people with sufficient money, backing and time that complained they'd start a company if they "only also had $20 million backing from their…

People don't want to admit it involves hard work and luck - they'd rather think that Bill Gates got to where he is because of his parents (even though there are thousands/millions with similar parents and backgrounds who didn't get even close). Because one line of thought leads to: "I couldn't do anything, the game was rigged from the start" and the other leads to "I didn't do as much as I could have done."

> People don't want to admit it involves hard work and luck

My favorite realization from actually playing cards. We used to play a lot of rummy on vacations as a family. Like a lot.

I kept losing. Hard. Absolutely destroyed. If only I could get this one card to complete my hand, I’d win every time. But it just wouldn’t come! I had terrible luck. Someone else always ended up winning before I got the one card I needed to make the high score and beat everyone else into submission. It was infuriating.

After a while I changed tactics. No waiting. Make a play on every play. Something, anything, with whatever cards you’ve got. Find a way to make the card you just picked up work.

Suddenly I was winning almost every game. Everyone complained how much it sucks to play cards with me. How does this kid always get exactly the perfect card!?

Now I’m banned from playing cards with family. Last time I played rummy was with my girlfriend’s family over Christmas a few years ago. They banned me immediately. Cards never come up again in conversation lol.

It really isn’t about the cards. They’re just the ingredient.

Re: No More “Insight Porn”

#125

Post by throwaway98797 »

jjj123 wrote: post #119
Swizec wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> ....and your chances of being able to do those things (without severe risk of poverty and homelessness) are increased dramatically by having been lucky enough to be born wealthy, or at least upper-middle-class. While this is true, it also isn’t helpful. Play the cards you have, not the cards you wish you had. You always gotta start somewhere . Might as well start with what you’ve got and go from there.

You’re right it’s not helpful towards the goal of becoming an entrepreneur or whatever, but I disagree that it’s not helpful at the macro level. We should all have this basic understanding of how our society works, and how our plutocrats got to be in the position they are in. We’re fed myths that they all started from the bottom and worked hard enough and smart enough to get where they are, and you can do it too! And…

> We’re fed myths that they all started from the bottom and worked hard enough and smart enough to get where they are, and you can do it too!

i know this may be rhetoric but i’ve never heard someone say that. a lot of folks in power say “I got lucky but also worked hard”

it’s counter productive to claim the elite is this super disconnected group of people. because they are not and it weakens the case for reform.

let’s be honest many successful people work hard, yet most unsuccessful people don’t.

there’s a number of lazy successful people

there’s also a bunch unsuccessful hard working people

nuance is better than hyperbole

Re: No More “Insight Porn”

#126

Post by Swizec »

paskozdilar wrote: post #118
Swizec wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> ....and your chances of being able to do those things (without severe risk of poverty and homelessness) are increased dramatically by having been lucky enough to be born wealthy, or at least upper-middle-class. While this is true, it also isn’t helpful. Play the cards you have, not the cards you wish you had. You always gotta start somewhere . Might as well start with what you’ve got and go from there.

It might not be helpful to the individual, but it provides a useful guideline for society - everyone is capable of doing great stuff, as long as the means for doing so are provided. I'd bet my life on this - if every homeless person was given a place to live, recovery from addiction (if needed), mental health counceling, education and a job, a significant percentage of them would become productive members of society.

> a significant percentage of them would become productive members of society

The average homeless experience lasts about 2 years. So yes, you are right.

https://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/How_Many.html

Re: No More “Insight Porn”

#127

Post by Silverback_VII »

Swizec wrote: post #86
danaris wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> you can increase your "luck surface" by doing certain things ....and your chances of being able to do those things (without severe risk of poverty and homelessness) are increased dramatically by having been lucky enough to be born wealthy, or at least upper-middle-class.

> ....and your chances of being able to do those things (without severe risk of poverty and homelessness) are increased dramatically by having been lucky enough to be born wealthy, or at least upper-middle-class. While this is true, it also isn’t helpful. Play the cards you have, not the cards you wish you had. You always gotta start somewhere . Might as well start with what you’ve got and go from there.

>"While this is true, it also isn’t helpful. Play the cards you have, not the cards you wish you had."

certainly not, if you have bad cards it's better to bluff - What is there to lose?

btw the best book on the subject is unscripted from MJ DeMarco.

Re: No More “Insight Porn”

#128

Post by melenaboija »

Swizec wrote: post #86
danaris wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> you can increase your "luck surface" by doing certain things ....and your chances of being able to do those things (without severe risk of poverty and homelessness) are increased dramatically by having been lucky enough to be born wealthy, or at least upper-middle-class.

> ....and your chances of being able to do those things (without severe risk of poverty and homelessness) are increased dramatically by having been lucky enough to be born wealthy, or at least upper-middle-class. While this is true, it also isn’t helpful. Play the cards you have, not the cards you wish you had. You always gotta start somewhere . Might as well start with what you’ve got and go from there.

I think it is helpful. Along with the cards analogy I would say the first step is knowing what cards you have.

As an example, being upper-middle class probably gives you an advantage on networking, either family, school old mates, ex colleagues, … Which I think is quite important when starting a business.

So realizing you don’t have that since the beginning will help.

Re: No More “Insight Porn”

#129

Post by nthypes »

bombcar wrote: post #39
MOARDONGZPLZ wrote: post #28

I got super lucky. I started a company and didn’t really have any meaningful traction. I was about to shut it down. Walking out of the grocery store one night after work, I passed by my former manager when I was an intern. We got to talk for about 30 seconds, mentioned my company, she asked me to email her. I did, and that very quickly led to my first big customer which makes me about double what a FAANG swe would ma…

"Get lucky" is always the key - however, you can increase your "luck surface" by doing certain things (for example, you couldn't have gotten lucky if you hadn't started the company, nor if you hadn't bothered to talk to people).

this is only true if the "unlucky" payout is not that big, so you can increase your "luck surface" without worrying about the effects for "unlucky" results, otherwise increase your "lucky surface" could increase your downside of "unluckyness"

Re: No More “Insight Porn”

#130

Post by Swizec »

jrochkind1 wrote: post #123
Swizec wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> ....and your chances of being able to do those things (without severe risk of poverty and homelessness) are increased dramatically by having been lucky enough to be born wealthy, or at least upper-middle-class. While this is true, it also isn’t helpful. Play the cards you have, not the cards you wish you had. You always gotta start somewhere . Might as well start with what you’ve got and go from there.

In theory, hypothetically, it could be helpful in identifying when you don't have the proper situation to make success sufficiently likely -- perhaps you want to find another path where your situation is more advantageous. OR to identify what you, unique to your circumstances, might need to do to be in circumstances to maximize your luck, that other people woudln't -- like, in this case, cultivate a relational networ…

Identifying challenges to overcome is extremely helpful. Necessary even!

Giving up before you even start just because it’s harder for you than someone else, that part doesn’t help.

The thing here can be anything. Losing weight, running a marathon, starting a business, climbing out of poverty into the middle class. You can’t get there unless you start.

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