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There's no speed limit (2009)

sivers.org

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Re: There's no speed limit (2009)

#61

Post by Aushin »

sivers wrote: post #53
Aushin wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it possible to be a semi-donkey? I have, if I were to try to count, 4 major 'things' going on in my life right now. One is keeping fit, one is keeping up with free online learning resources like Udacity, one is my job, and one is learning to play guitar. Are you suggesting that if I don't drop three of those, I won't succeed in any of them? That worries me a bit, because the job part takes up LOTS and LOTS of time…

We all have multiple goals. (Be healthy. Be a great programmer. Be a great dad. Etc.) You'll know if you have so many that it's holding you back, and paralyzing you. If it's not a problem, if you're able to progress on all of them, then congrats! No need to change anything because of a silly blog post. ☺

Thanks for the quick response. I'm a bit more at ease now. And the post was anything but silly. It makes a really powerful point!

Re: There's no speed limit (2009)

#62

Post by zumda »

Aushin wrote: post #51
sivers wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

First: Don't be a donkey. http://sivers.org/donkey Also, ask yourself of those 50 different goals, which is something you HATE NOT doing? http://sivers.org/hatenot Focus on that goal, and let go of the rest. See my other reply here about the conditions of "flow". One is that you need to be getting immediate positive feedback on your actions. Maybe your 50 different goals aren't giving you any progress feedback, becau…

Is it possible to be a semi-donkey? I have, if I were to try to count, 4 major 'things' going on in my life right now. One is keeping fit, one is keeping up with free online learning resources like Udacity, one is my job, and one is learning to play guitar. Are you suggesting that if I don't drop three of those, I won't succeed in any of them? That worries me a bit, because the job part takes up LOTS and LOTS of time…

I think this comes down to timeboxing everything.

1. Goal: Keeping fit. Invest 30 minutes each morning to that goal, which leaves 3.

2. Goal: Your job. Again, this is timeboxed until 5 pm, so do whatever it takes. Which leaves 2.

3. Goal: Play guitar. Not it gets tricky, because you could do both. But I think, again, timebox them. Monday through Friday you concentrate on your guitar, which leaves only 1.

4. Goal: Udacity. Now that you can do on the weekend. You will probably still play some guitar (I know I do), but thats not "learning", but playing (which is also important).

I think if everything is timeboxed and planned, I at least don't have problems keeping up, because I don't feel overwhelmed.

Re: There's no speed limit (2009)

#63

Post by hezekiah »

It's this kind of rah-rah self-congratulatory unquestioning cheer-leading that is bringing me back to Hacker News less and less often.

Read more and you learn the truth: this guy practiced his ass off for a long time, and that's how he got good. "Speed learning" is bullshit. There are enough studies showing a direct correlation between the time spent practicing an activity and your skill level that I don't need to mention them here. But this correlation of practice time holds not only for music but for chess, flying an airplane, basketball, virtually any activity of skill. And yes, programming.

It takes around 3,000 hours of study to be competent in something, and about 10,000 hours to be an expert. There are no shortcuts. You can be Bobby Fischer and in your first chess tournament you're still going to get your ass kicked just like he did. But if you do all chess, only chess, all the time, for years, you can compete.

One of the most important thing I teach my kids is, there is no magic. People are always trying to force magic upon you, usually when selling something, or to puff themselves up. But the reality is there is no magic. It's all hard work just to get to ground zero. Then you need luck.

Some may see this as pessimistic, or self-destructive, but I see it as just the opposite. It's only when you've been liberated from spoonfed bullshit that you can start to live and experience life in full.

Re: There's no speed limit (2009)

#65

Post by zumda »

sivers wrote: post #59
brimpa wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How do I find my Kimo Williams?

I don't know. Any ideas, anyone?

Find driven people. Go to conferences and other such events where the really passionate people are. Now? Just copy them!

It might not be a one on one coaching, but seeing how much others do while slacking of on the couch and reading about all their doings on Twitter should make you more productive.

Re: There's no speed limit (2009)

#67

Post by pepijndevos »

brimpa wrote: post #56
sivers wrote: post #7

Surprised 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.

How do I find my Kimo Williams?

It's sad we don't generally have this master-apprentice system anymore.

Be the change you want to see, right? So maybe just start by being a Kimo yourself?

Re: There's no speed limit (2009)

#69

Post by stacymcardle »

I work so hard and am always just getting by. Never ahead of the game. This effects my happiness because I feel a lack of freedom when money is always such an issue. I'm looking for a way to accept what is and find happiness in other ways, than say, my dream of going to Europe. Meditation seems to calm me but I feel a sense of disgust in myself because I am not making a good living, even though I should be proud of myself for working so hard and being good at what I do. Thanks for any thoughts.

Re: There's no speed limit (2009)

#70

Post by bh42222 »

sivers wrote: post #20
aamar wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've seen this post before, but I was glad to reread it. A bit off-topic, but could you tell us about your sleep schedule?

6 hours has always been enough for me. At Berklee, I'd get a piano room every night at 10pm until midnight, when they closed. Then I'd sleep from 1am to 7am, practice some more, and go to class. I was quite driven. Kind of like someone who really feels if they just work their ass off they can be the next Zuckerberg, 20 years ago, being a successful musician felt more attainable. It felt like if I just practiced my as…

6 hours has always been enough for me.

Yep, that's at least one genetic advantage you have on most of us.

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