Here is a favourite passage of mine from Johns Stuart Mill autobiography (he is speaking of the demanding education his father arranged for him): I remember at some time in my thirteenth year, on my happening to use the word idea, he asked me what an idea was; and expressed some displeasure at my ineffectual efforts to define the word: I recollect also his indignation at my using the common expression that something…
The theory guy never wins
21–30 of 33 posts
Re: The theory guy never wins
#22What an icky mess of strawman and false dichotomy! Who is this "theory guy" that never wins in business - someone who does only theory, eh? I wonder how well the "practice guy", who acts without any thinking whatsoever, comes out in comparison. As an aside and fuel for furhter thought, here is one of my favourite quotes (from Less Wrong): "As a general idea, high level intellectual exploration should consume substant…
And what is the definition of winning? If you're a theoretical problem solver, you are probably getting your kicks from doing just that. And that's "winning" for you. Now if you only care for money, "winning" would naturally be when you reached your goal of making some. But a lot of people probably would consider winning just getting by being in the moment doing what thrills you (like thinking about how to make the p…
Re: The theory guy never wins
#23Warren Buffet and Charlie Munger do a lot of reading. I think they win alright. See http://www.farnamstreetblog.com/2013/05/the-buffett-formula-... And if you're serious about reading or learning, this is great: http://www.farnamstreetblog.com/2013/07/seneca-on-reading/
Re: The theory guy never wins
#24Dude, you need both. Perhaps you and your friends who don't read very much aren't very good at it to begin with? Literacy is a lifelong pursuit. Sorry if that seems harsh but I'm gonna react when a dude basically says that reading books will make you less successful. That is some ignorant bullshit.
I think the point is to deliver . You are better off delivering than talking. Shut up, sit down and get shit done so you can deliver .
Re: The theory guy never wins
#25Dude, you need both. Perhaps you and your friends who don't read very much aren't very good at it to begin with? Literacy is a lifelong pursuit. Sorry if that seems harsh but I'm gonna react when a dude basically says that reading books will make you less successful. That is some ignorant bullshit.
Re: The theory guy never wins
#26Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think the point is to deliver . You are better off delivering than talking. Shut up, sit down and get shit done so you can deliver .
True story. I had to learn this after my studies. You have to get shit done or nobody listens to you. But I met many people who just learned this and not much else. They building huges piles of shit and sell them to people who don't know any better.
Re: The theory guy never wins
#27While you are blindly jumping into the claws of the tiger because your man-of-action guts tell you it's a lotus, I'll stick around to grab your wallet while he devours you. Signed, The Theory Guy P.S. Spending three seconds to think about why the fuck is a lotus flower striped and why it is purring like a cat could have saved you. Also, what the heck is a wantrepreneur? Is that the pretentious term for "someone who i…
And what is a entrepreneur anyways? Feels like the definition has shifted from being someone who has the job of starting up new businesses, to just running a business at all.
Re: The theory guy never wins
#28You have to learn how to execute, too. Creativity is theory, execution is putting it into practice.
Re: The theory guy never wins
#29Warren Buffett would seem to be the canonical example of a business guy who reads a lot . He seems to be successful.