"There's no speed limit." I'm going to keep that line very present from now on - I'm sure it is going to appear often!
There's no speed limit (2009)
31–40 of 214 posts
Re: There's no speed limit (2009)
#32It's definitely helpful to understand that there is no real speed limit. Conversely, I think it's also useful to think that there's no rush. I sometimes get in my head that "if I don't have X millions by the time I'm 30, I'll be a failure." I realized it's too stressful to think that way. It's probably more important to think there are no speed requirements at all. Move as slow or as fast as you need/want. Great post…
I would say that maybe you should refine your metrics? What significance is x millions? Is that how success is defined? Or do you define success by doing something great? Typically when you do something great, in the world of products and business, the money follows. If you can turn out a great product in x months that gains hundreds of thousands or millions of users, would that be a better metric? I'm not saying your metric is wrong, I'm just challenging you to consider what the proper metric of success is for you.
The author didn't use $ as his measuring stick, he used a skill or status. So do you want to make $, or do you want to make awesome stuff, or do awesome things? Figure it out, then use it to define your metrics and drive your success. I can't see how, "there's no rush", can be remotely true. You only get x days, if day x is = tomorrow then you only have 1 more day. You never know when day x = tomorrow, so I would say there is always a rush.
Re: There's no speed limit (2009)
#33Great article, loved it. I also liked the booklist (http://sivers.org/book).
Re: There's no speed limit (2009)
#34I'm almost jealous that you had a teacher as great as you did! We need more Kinos!!!
I'm jealous of my past self, too. I wish I had a new Kimo in my life, that could help me deeply grok programming as intensely as he did.
I guess I'm even more pissed with myself then jealous, because the only time I actually had Kimo in my life I myself weren't ready for that. Now I think I would be, but the opportunity is gone...
So, let's hope you meet more than one Kimo in your life time!
Re: There's no speed limit (2009)
#35Earlier quoted context omitted.
How to you focus? Do you also face issue with your focus some time in life?
See my other comment here about the drive to "be the next Zuckerberg". Then look into the conditions of "flow" : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_%28psychology%29 1. A clear set of goals : you know exactly what needs to be done next. 2. The task is not too easy, but not too hard. It's just at the edge of your ability. 3. The task gives you immediate feedback. When you're engaged in that kind of work, you FOCUS! That…
Surely there must be more "cool stuff" to do? Also, how satisfying is helping others achieve their goals, and how much does it motivate you? Trying to "top" yourself doesn't sound right, but trying to find the things that match #1, 2, 3 sounds more like it.
Re: There's no speed limit (2009)
#36This is a great article. My problem is, however, that I take it to the extreme: I set unrealistic goals for myself seeing as there are about 50 different things I want to learn outside of school. I almost always never meet my goals, and I become really discouraged.
It also seems like most successful people can point to an event, person, etc, in their past that served as a great turning point in putting them on the path to success. I just can't seem to put myself in a position for that to happen.
Derek, any tips?
Re: There's no speed limit (2009)
#37I think there are a whole load of kids out there that could benefit from a "no speed limit" policy. I think the larger problem is that there aren't enough teachers that can set the pace. I remember, as a kid, reading an article in the paper about how two 10 year old kids had completed a computing A level course (i'm from the UK). I was 11 myself at the time and so much wanted to do that course. My parents looked in many places and couldnt find a way for me to be able to take that course any sooner than what the national curriculum had prescribed. After a few years, i got distracted and lost my enthusiasm and determination.
I'm having the same problem learning Node. js right now. I had been trying to teach myself, but my progress was going rather slowly. Then along came a mentor that help me achieve in just a few hours what i wasn't able to achieve in over a month. And then he disappeared, and im stuck at snails pace again.
Maybe that's just the story of my life, or maybe that the story, period.
Re: There's no speed limit (2009)
#38Surprised to see a post of mine here on Hacker News. (First time in a long time. Thanks!) Feel free to ask me absolutely anything here.
Hi Derek,
Do you have any experiences with or knowledge of speed learning being used to learn the physical skills of playing an instrument?
Re: There's no speed limit (2009)
#39This is a great article. My problem is, however, that I take it to the extreme: I set unrealistic goals for myself seeing as there are about 50 different things I want to learn outside of school. I almost always never meet my goals, and I become really discouraged. It also seems like most successful people can point to an event, person, etc, in their past that served as a great turning point in putting them on the pa…
Just pick one thing and finish it. This does take discipline, but it is the obvious way forward.
Re: There's no speed limit (2009)
#40Visit Kimo's website (http://www.kimowilliams.com) and listen to the music. It's really nice.