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How I Tricked Myself Into Being Awesome

japhr.blogspot.com

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Re: How I Tricked Myself Into Being Awesome

#31

Post by tangue »

eee_c wrote: post #22
tangue wrote: post #17

Though I respect the process and the efforts behind this, "How to write books with a superficial understanding of what you're talking about" would be more appropriate.

Ah, but I think that's the point. My understanding of the topics is anything but superficial. If you follow along with my daily posts, I think you can see me work through initial infatuation, recognition of limitations, and finally deeper understanding. To be sure, I could know more. But I think you're being dismissive by characterizing this as superficial.

To be clear : I'm dismissive about the title but admiring the results. I'm just tired of reading blog posts where everything from jquery plugins to pancakes recipes are "awesome"

Re: How I Tricked Myself Into Being Awesome

#32

Post by microcentury »

MortenK wrote: post #28
microcentury wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

She does sound like an incredible person, but what are we supposed to do with that information? Does it mean we should not try and do anything, given there is always someone out there who has a 'better' (for very wide definitions of 'better') story? I don't write this to be snarky, and I used to think in a similar way myself, but this is not a good way to see the world.

I think OP is just making a general call for people to be a bit more humble. Fueled by this particular case where a guy declares himself to be awesome, because he wrote a blog post every day for a year, and self-published 3 PDF's.

Fair point, noted and accepted :-)

Re: How I Tricked Myself Into Being Awesome

#35

Post by its_so_on »

anthony_franco wrote: post #2

Jerry Seinfeld used this exact technique to become a great comic. As told by software developer Brad Isaac when he asked Jerry for career advice[0]: He told me to get a big wall calendar that has a whole year on one page and hang it on a prominent wall. The next step was to get a big red magic marker. He said for each day that I do my task of writing, I get to put a big red X over that day. "After a few days you'll h…

There's only one problem. When you do break the long chain you're out for the count. When was the last time you heard anything from Seinfeld after his long-running eponymous show was cancelled?

How are you supposed to motivate yourself to start a new chain, when it means you'll be working on this shit for the next 3,000 days?

Re: How I Tricked Myself Into Being Awesome

#36

Post by goblin89 »

makeshifter wrote: post #8

I think you're patting yourself on the back too much. I was reading about a woman in Cambodia who escaped from torture and near death with her two children and survived in the jungle for 3 years. They never stayed in the same place two days in a row and ate nothing but roots and bugs. Despite this mother's best efforts, her youngest child starved to death and died in her arms. A few years later, she founded a safehou…

Thing is, the fact that you give more of your respect to that woman than to Chris changes little. True, we can try and “rate” these accomplishments, and that woman probably would receive higher “mark”. However, it obviously makes little sense—because we're unable to judge the outcome, since causal relationships are too complex; because what matters is doing things, not recognizing and/or ranking others' achievements.

Re: How I Tricked Myself Into Being Awesome

#37

Post by dansingerman »

eee_c wrote: post #22
tangue wrote: post #17

Though I respect the process and the efforts behind this, "How to write books with a superficial understanding of what you're talking about" would be more appropriate.

Ah, but I think that's the point. My understanding of the topics is anything but superficial. If you follow along with my daily posts, I think you can see me work through initial infatuation, recognition of limitations, and finally deeper understanding. To be sure, I could know more. But I think you're being dismissive by characterizing this as superficial.

Is it more than superficial though? Depends on your definition of 'superficial':

If I buy a book on SPDY (or any technology), it is likely because I want to use it in a production/live environment.

I want to buy a book on technology from someone who has run a live system, and got the battle scars one gets from doing so; who has learnt from the experiences, which they can then share.

When it comes to technology, one can research all they like about it, but until you have practical _experience_ in a live environment, I would call it 'superficial'.

(From the blog post it is not clear; if you have run all these technologies live then I agree, your understanding is not superficial)

Re: How I Tricked Myself Into Being Awesome

#38

Post by ctdonath »

Someone else with a similar attitude I find inspiring: Les Stroud. He'd go to some random remote wilderness location, take a few video cameras and nothing else, and record himself surviving for a week. Result: Survivorman, a hit TV show going into its fourth season, with at least 3 spinoff shows.

A more mundane example: my brother took a photograph every day for a year. Not a big deal, no particular subjects or goals, but getting that one picture a day was paramount. With some editing & on-demand publishing, result was a very nice coffee-table book of intriguing eclectic photos.

Same idea. Pick a topic, dive in, write/record for an audience, do it with passion and consistency and detail, the result is awesomeness. The more you strive the awesomer you get.

Re: How I Tricked Myself Into Being Awesome

#40

Post by jpastika »

Congratulations, you are awesome! Not only did you accomplish your goal, but you have tangible evidence of your achievement. Your name is on the cover of three books, and no one can ever take that away. So what now? Does the bar get raised. Are you saying to yourself "Wow, I can't believe I did that, what else can I do?" The difference between success and failure is ambition. You sir have tapped into your inner ambition. Harness it, focus it and you are unstoppable. You've inspired me. Thank you!
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