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The side of Paul Allen I wish more people knew about

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Re: The side of Paul Allen I wish more people knew about

#51

Post by [deleted] »

carapace wrote: post #47
ggambetta wrote: post #12

> Paul was driven by an incredible curiosity his whole life. Even when we were just kids, he seemed to be interested in just about everything. I can identify with this. I've founded a gamedev company, taught Computer Graphics, and worked at Google and Improbable as a SWE; but in the middle of all this I wrote a novel, I recently quit my job to become an actor/filmmaker ( https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10232800 ), and I…

> what to optimise for (Not spelling or grammar, eh? I kid.) ;-) Open secret (it's like a cheat code): service to others is the most rewarding.

[deleted]

Re: The side of Paul Allen I wish more people knew about

#52

Post by c1b »

tsunamifury wrote: post #48
chrisco255 wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think he said Microsoft "deserved" to win. He said he regretted that they didn't. But he was totally accountable for that loss.

“That was a natural thing for Microsoft to win.” Interpret as you see fit. It comes off to me as if it was stated that the natural order meant it was deserved due to inherit superiority.

You guys are reading way too much into this. Its just an objectively true observation - not a declaration of "superiority". An OS company should win in the OS space.

Re: The side of Paul Allen I wish more people knew about

#53

Post by aerophilic »

ggambetta wrote: post #12

> Paul was driven by an incredible curiosity his whole life. Even when we were just kids, he seemed to be interested in just about everything. I can identify with this. I've founded a gamedev company, taught Computer Graphics, and worked at Google and Improbable as a SWE; but in the middle of all this I wrote a novel, I recently quit my job to become an actor/filmmaker ( https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10232800 ), and I…

I have said this before, but I will say it again here: I do not personally believe in a “happiness optimization algorithm” The best I think any of us can really do is have a “regret minimization” approach.

Whenever you have a decision to make, ask yourself “What would I regret more if I didn't do in 20, 30 years?

The only caveat is really make sure you think of yourself in the long time horizon: would you regret not saving enough money? Not spending more time with your kids? You get the themes... some things are obvious... others less so.

In general this has worked out well for me, and I have few genuine regrets.

It sounds simple, but in my personal experience, it is the simple things that are both the hardest and most important things to do right.

Re: The side of Paul Allen I wish more people knew about

#54

Post by mhh__ »

tsunamifury wrote: post #48
chrisco255 wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think he said Microsoft "deserved" to win. He said he regretted that they didn't. But he was totally accountable for that loss.

“That was a natural thing for Microsoft to win.” Interpret as you see fit. It comes off to me as if it was stated that the natural order meant it was deserved due to inherit superiority.

I read that as more like "We're Microsoft, they're "Google"[Small fry]." Given the stature of the company, and the combined brain power of the staff it was their battle to lose

Re: The side of Paul Allen I wish more people knew about

#55

Post by valleyer »

carapace wrote: post #47
ggambetta wrote: post #12

> Paul was driven by an incredible curiosity his whole life. Even when we were just kids, he seemed to be interested in just about everything. I can identify with this. I've founded a gamedev company, taught Computer Graphics, and worked at Google and Improbable as a SWE; but in the middle of all this I wrote a novel, I recently quit my job to become an actor/filmmaker ( https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10232800 ), and I…

> what to optimise for (Not spelling or grammar, eh? I kid.) ;-) Open secret (it's like a cheat code): service to others is the most rewarding.

"optimise" is the correct spelling in some variants of English other than American, like British.

Re: The side of Paul Allen I wish more people knew about

#56

Post by theunixbeard »

danielecook wrote: post #27
ggambetta wrote: post #12

> Paul was driven by an incredible curiosity his whole life. Even when we were just kids, he seemed to be interested in just about everything. I can identify with this. I've founded a gamedev company, taught Computer Graphics, and worked at Google and Improbable as a SWE; but in the middle of all this I wrote a novel, I recently quit my job to become an actor/filmmaker ( https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10232800 ), and I…

I think the most important thing to optimize for is time. Move closer to work, get a roomba, buy a second monitor, etc. For me anything I can do to get extra time is a huge payoff because I'd rather spend my time learning something new, cooking, traveling, or cycling/running. I recently switched jobs and am moving next month to reduce my commute. I'll have an extra 7 hours a week to do whatever I want and I cannot wa…

Now imagine building an online lifestyle business such that after it’s setup you can spend 0 time on it (for the most part) and still earn enough to pay (reasonable) living expenses.

That’s what I’m driving towards.

Re: The side of Paul Allen I wish more people knew about

#57

Post by yitchelle »

gct wrote: post #30

Remember when Gates and Ballmer tried to screw Allen out of his shares because his productivity had gone down due to cancer? https://www.cnet.com/news/paul-allen-gates-ballmer-tried-to-...

Feel the cliche "Its business, nothing personal" sums up this entire scenario nicely.

Re: The side of Paul Allen I wish more people knew about

#58

Post by AstralStorm »

bodi wrote: post #36
ggambetta wrote: post #12

> Paul was driven by an incredible curiosity his whole life. Even when we were just kids, he seemed to be interested in just about everything. I can identify with this. I've founded a gamedev company, taught Computer Graphics, and worked at Google and Improbable as a SWE; but in the middle of all this I wrote a novel, I recently quit my job to become an actor/filmmaker ( https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10232800 ), and I…

> Sorry to bring a personal question... On an article about the selflessness of another, in four paragraphs of text, you mentioned yourself ~24 times. One might suggest reading the article again.

Maybe that's the point. You can either be more selfish or altruistic.

Get more for yourself and to help with consequences to others on one end or burning out forever helping others in whatever way you can. Regardless, life can be as boring or as interesting as you make it, focused or diffuse too.

Re: The side of Paul Allen I wish more people knew about

#60

Post by carapace »

valleyer wrote: post #55
carapace wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> what to optimise for (Not spelling or grammar, eh? I kid.) ;-) Open secret (it's like a cheat code): service to others is the most rewarding.

"optimise" is the correct spelling in some variants of English other than American, like British.

Ah, cheers.
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