"The ratio of time you spend sweating to watching others sweat is a forward-looking indicator of your success." - Scott Galloway
“The score takes care of itself” - Bill Walsh
Focus on what you can control
The success paradox we must live with:
We must act like we are in control even if we know it’s an illusion without letting the self-deception give in to either side decisively. It’s like watching your autonomy duel honesty on a platform over a lava pit. If your sense of agency wins you become insufferable and no honest people will have you. If honesty wins you are calibrated but paralyzed.
Philosophy has wrestled with this forever because we are thirsty for meaning. Nobody would come to a play that was a 1 line soliloquy “Sorry, shit’s random”. Instead, we create art in an unconscious quest to reflect on the whims of atoms.
Finally, I must address the topic of whether the effort required for excellence worth it. I believe it is—the chief gain is in the effort to change yourself, in the struggle with yourself, and it is less in the winning than you might expect. Yes, it is nice to end up where you wanted to be, but the person you are when you get there is far more important.
“Iron sharpens iron”
Environment (and habits) trump will
This is also why you are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with. Mind your inputs so they are congruent with the direction you want to move towards. You are going to be programmed so be deliberate.
“Talent hits a target no one else can hit. Genius hits a target no one else can see.”
~Arthur Schopenhauer
Requirements to get rich:
Ravikant: Get rich without getting lucky prereqs:
accountability (take a risk)
leverage
specific knowledge
My version:
work nobody wants to do because it’s hard or otherwise unattractive
leverage
scarce (accountability incorporated)
i’d like to say risk but experience has proven otherwise
Courage cannot be faked; the warrior bore the risk of his deserved glory in the service of his countryman. The 'primacy of the risk-taker' has been a feature of nearly all human civilization. When we reward leaders who did not bear commensurate risks we undermine virtue. Society frays as the truly virtuous/courageous bristles as they watch. (Moral hazard of private gains vs socialized losses)