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“Become Abnormal”: traits to cultivate for top performance

capitalandgrowth.org

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Re: “Become Abnormal”: traits to cultivate for top performance

#101

Post by jressey »

dlivingston wrote: post #10
jressey wrote: post #3

"they channeled their thoughts toward the fundamental details of having a 'good at-bat.'" I'll pass. You can't just use tangential examples of the most successful people. This feels like pop-(pseudo) science.

Is there a non-pop-psych book that you would recommend in the same vein as this one?

I honestly believe the vein of this book being presented is "try hard and maybe you'll get lucky."

I'm sorry I can't find it, but there was an article on here a month or so ago called something like "to get ahead, focus on the metagame." The idea is to work on things that will help you get actual benefits in life. For example, spend your energy at work making sure your boss knows you do a good job, and forget about actually doing a good job. While some folks find that hard to swallow, it's how you get a high salary and promotions.

Re: “Become Abnormal”: traits to cultivate for top performance

#102

Post by esotericn »

These posts miss the point of life, to me. They read as propaganda distributed by sociopaths or something.

It's intuitively obvious that if you're a relatively healthy person, and grind at a goal exclusively with no other desire, you'll eventually be at least good at it if not spectacular.

Applying that to something that you're personally interested in makes sense - but the idea that you want to be a "top performer" in some wanky capitalist game so that you can have a load of numbers and buy some fancy toys at the cost of deleting your empathy is totally absurd to most people.

That's _why_ it's abnormal, because it's a shit way to live and most people don't want it. Hell, I thought I wanted it for the longest time, eventually I grew out of it and I'm glad I did and that I'm still able to make up for lost time.

As long as you can convince yourself that you know it's possible - you don't need to like, actually do it. Go and enjoy yourself and those around you, we're only here once.

Re: “Become Abnormal”: traits to cultivate for top performance

#103

Post by FireLiar »

lm28469 wrote: post #99
FireLiar wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's because I was able to connect with people so well when I was young that I went down this path. It was just a game at the end of the day. Make the right moves, win the right prizes. But like any game, you lose the magic after a while. And unlike video games, you can't just step back and take a break from doing it, it's an unavoidable part of being human. But you're not off-base. At this level you definite…

> I don't view anyone who has amassed anything under $10MM in networth as successful; > If someone does nothing for me or adds nothing to my life, why would I give them any of my empathy? > Whatever problems, emotional, physical, mental, sociological, economical, yada yada yada, that you have are your own responsibility. No one really gives a shit about anyone else; all relationships are transactional, and if you're…

0.5th generation American.

I wasn't given a choice in this matter. I was dragged into this world without being consulted first. Now I am forced to align myself and my interests to countries that don't give a shit about me, and towards people that had never and would never reach out their hand, to help another's, as dirty as it might be. Why should I participate in any of this? That is exactly the point; there is no point in my participation for me, because I gain nothing, but others do gain -- at my exepense.

Few are truly out to get me, but none are truly out for me. I can say the same for just about all people in this country, even if that fact hasn't had an oppurtunity to be tested yet. We can solve problems together, but that requires two parties compromising their standards, lowering them to be able to satisfy all parties involved. If I'm able to solve mt peoblems, at less cost than I would "together," what incentive do I have to work "together?"

Would I not be a moron, perhaps even more insane and detached from reality, were I to choose this path?

You can became wealthy holding yourself to a much higher standard than the majority of the world's population -- but why would you? I don't gain anything besides popularity among the less fortunate than I, which at best is worth nothing, but at worst is a hindrance in my life.

There is virtually no downside I can see here, but I am open to being proven wrong, with a more well-crafted, and deep argument.

Re: “Become Abnormal”: traits to cultivate for top performance

#104

Post by FireLiar »

lm28469 wrote: post #97
FireLiar wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't view anyone who has amassed anything under $10MM in networth as successful; I believe me and the parent are in agreement on this. You cannot amass this much wealth in a reasonable -- 40-50 y.os need not apply -- timeframe if you have a family commitment. Even significant others may become detrimental to that end, if they cannot accept that they're #2 now. Close relationships take time. An absolute fuckload of…

Mah man, creating a throwaway account to write that kind of crap tells a lot about you. I wish you'll open your eyes soon enough and get out of that mentality, that's not a path for happiness.

I don't frequent this website often. I like to drop in whenever I have time, and peruse anything that might be ultra-high brow or related to financing. If I can offer my own insight on a matter, I create an account, and put my thoughts to RAM.

Re: “Become Abnormal”: traits to cultivate for top performance

#105

Post by czbond »

wombatpm wrote: post #62
czbond wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I respect your opinion - it's hard to put those out there. As a counter thought, would a 'hole' in the argument be that religion doesn't ask, require, or expect you to be #1. It just asks you to try to improve and to become a better person. How could G d expect you to be as good as "he/she/it/they"? G d would have created you, and designed your limitations. Why not separate G*d's expectations of you from your interpr…

Depends on your branch. Calvinism claimed there were only 1300 Elect who were guaranteed a place in heaven. Lot of effort spent trying to figure out your ranking

I did not know that. 1300? That is quite a specific, but round number. 1028 would have been really cool!

Re: “Become Abnormal”: traits to cultivate for top performance

#106

Post by hopfscotch »

FireLiar wrote: post #94
hopfscotch wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You could have saved the time spent writing this and just said “I’m insecure about my inablility to connect with people”.

I think it's because I was able to connect with people so well when I was young that I went down this path. It was just a game at the end of the day. Make the right moves, win the right prizes. But like any game, you lose the magic after a while. And unlike video games, you can't just step back and take a break from doing it, it's an unavoidable part of being human. But you're not off-base. At this level you definite…

Not sure why I hoped for a genuine response to that. Oh well. Someday you’ll figure it out.

Re: “Become Abnormal”: traits to cultivate for top performance

#107

Post by gintery »

thomk wrote: post #66
gintery wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your whole post is extremely American. Why do you want to be #1 compared to anyone, let alone compared to God? You are no longer religious because your self-centric world-view is incompatible with believing anyone can be better than you, which includes God? I have trouble believing you are serious.

You completely missed my point. Here: God doesn't exist, I'm in competition with myself only, I can't control the outcome or anyone or anything at all including my emotions, only my individual behavior.

I see. That makes more sense. That being said, you are still framing life as a competition/game which I'm not sure I see the point in. For what it's worth, I view religion mostly as a mechanism for encouraging behavior which is collectively beneficial. We are all better off if we act in ways that are trustworthy, even if that means individual sacrifice in some cases, and so the whole afterlife b.s. is just a way of suggesting a lifestyle which is pro-social. Case in point, even people who supposedly believe in paradise don't act like it.

Re: “Become Abnormal”: traits to cultivate for top performance

#108

Post by thomk »

gintery wrote: post #107
thomk wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You completely missed my point. Here: God doesn't exist, I'm in competition with myself only, I can't control the outcome or anyone or anything at all including my emotions, only my individual behavior.

I see. That makes more sense. That being said, you are still framing life as a competition/game which I'm not sure I see the point in. For what it's worth, I view religion mostly as a mechanism for encouraging behavior which is collectively beneficial. We are all better off if we act in ways that are trustworthy, even if that means individual sacrifice in some cases, and so the whole afterlife b.s. is just a way of s…

I'd also like to amend my comment from "God doesn't exist" to "We don't know if God exists".

Re: “Become Abnormal”: traits to cultivate for top performance

#109

Post by NateEag »

watwut wrote: post #76
realbarack wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm curious about the timing. Many people seem to find it more difficult to maintain this level of dedication after they have kids. What made things different in your case?

Usually it is partner that does all the nighttime waking up during baby time. And the partner that deals with all the interruptions the toddler produces and the partner that generally does all childcare.

And then partner leaves you from anger at your self-centered approach to existence.

Not speaking from experience - I just have three kids, do what I can to take care of them despite being the primary breadwinner, and can't imagine the resentment that must stack up if you just drop all the sleepless nights and weekends of kid-juggling on your partner.

Never mind that you'll lose 7/8ths of the whole point of having kids with this approach, too.

Re: “Become Abnormal”: traits to cultivate for top performance

#110

Post by jierenchen »

thcricketfan wrote: post #79
jierenchen wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The funny thing about knowledge work is that it sits somewhere between additive and compounding. Additive like: Let's say you shovel sand into a pit and you shovel 1% more than your peers every day for a year. By end of year, you will have shoveled 1% more. Compounding like: You're a derivatives trader and make 1% more returns every day for a year than your peers. By end of year you will have made 3780% more. Knowled…

Great idea. As a beginner i struggle with this. Since you have thought about this, Any tips on how to achieve the compounding? Thank You.

What I've found is that the real challenge for a beginner is making continuous and sustained progress. The key number in the (1.01)^365 equation is the ^365 part. Do something difficult every single day.

Beyond just sticking with it, you also need to continually challenge yourself. Avoid staying into the comfort zones that fear and ego will shunt you into.

These are very difficult to do as a beginner because you're going to encounter so many demoralizing roadblocks. I still remember when I first started writing code. It was incredibly painful. Things that now take me minutes would take days.

The real key here isn't some technique that will make the learning easier, it's in getting the emotional fortitude to push through these struggles. Your struggles will be unique and it's impossible for me to prepare you with solutions for every novel challenge you face. "Ask not for lighter burdens, ask for stronger backs" and all that jazz. There's a lot of resources online, esp. on Youtube, about increasing mental discipline. Cold showers, fasting, mental discipline, stoicism, etc. I recommend investing some time into trying these techniques for improving pain tolerance.

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