"Is Exponential Growth Possible?" got a few really good comments. Riley Harrison left a really good comment and questions -

Hello Sebastian,

A great blog. One of the realizations that helped me was comprehending that if an insight or epiphany wasn’t actionable (didn’t lead to action) it wasn’t of much value (other than recreational). I have thought way too many deep thoughts, read too many self-empowerment books searching for the non-existent silver bullet (insight) that would allow me to bypass hard work, accumulation of small victories and risk taking.

The traditional barriers/obstacles (time, money, energy, risk taking etc) are to me somewhat secondary to just plain old inertia. But being at the right place at the right time – is that serendipitous luck or something else. You do have to factor into the equation that you are shooting at a moving target (circumstances change and you change) – times stands still for no man… As to the list of things to make you grow I would add that being conversant in the latest findings in neuroscience and positive psychology wouldn’t hurt.

Questions that I’m always pondering: how do you collapse time, how do you accelerate the learning process and how do you achieve instant intimacy/connection. All the above being said you must strive to be the best (in terms of realizing your potential) you can be. If there is a purpose in life, this might be it.

Riley

Hey Riley,

Thanks for the kind words. A bunch of interesting things in your comment.

"One of the realizations that helped me was comprehending that if an insight or epiphany wasn’t actionable (didn’t lead to action) it wasn’t of much value (other than recreational)." -> I think a lot of people are going to dislike that, but there really is something to it. Well, I'll say this - a lot of times you don't know what's going to be valuable later, so sometimes brushing up on not-immediately-actionable things have future value. But overall, I think you're right - focusing on the actionable learning and applying it immediately probably gives you the most bang for your buck in terms of improving and achieving things. If you want to study a topic that isn't actionable, ideally find a way to make it actionable somehow. That'll lead to producing in the real world, and a better mastery of what you're learning.

"But being at the right place at the right time – is that serendipitous luck or something else?"

I believe that Luck Doesn't Exist. Everything is cause and effect, and probability.

If you take 1,000 1-in-100 shots, you're going to hit around 10 of them. Each one, to an outsider, will look really, really lucky. They don't see the 9,990 high upside shots you took and missed. But it doesn't matter. You win anyways. Crediting luck is a bandage for people with wounded consciences. Cursing luck is a painkiller for the weak-minded. Things are. There's no luck involved.

"You do have to factor into the equation that you are shooting at a moving target (circumstances change and you change) – times stands still for no man…" - very good point here. I learned this playing Chess. A common new player mistake in Chess is to threaten an opponent's piece that can move from your threat into a more favorable position.

Instead, you don't attack where the piece is right now, you place attacks where the opponent would like to move that piece, thus ideally choking up their space and tempo and plans. Or, to paraphrase science, "Don't fight the last war again." Things change - you want to be aiming to do things in a way that are going to work when your plans reach maturity, not things that would work is time was frozen right now. Good insight.

"Questions that I’m always pondering: how do you collapse time, how do you accelerate the learning process and how do you achieve instant intimacy/connection."

Good questions. Quick answers:

1. Collapsing time: First, identify where your time is going. Then, gradually elevate time that's going where you want to into better and better things. I categorize my time into "Bad", "Okay", "Good", and "Excellent." I try to over time spend less time in Bad and Okay, and more time in Good. And then also move Good time up into Excellent.

It's hard and takes practice. Time tracking helps a lot, and I do a lot of it. I've found 20-60 minutes in the Excellent category might produce more than 10-20 hours of "Good" time... as crazy as that sounds, very expansive stuff pays off much more than standard maintenance sustaining type work, and standard work pays off much more than goofing off uselessly.

2. Accelerating the learning process: Google "deliberate practice" and read 5-10 articles on it. Also put yourself in situations where you're forced to produce with deadlines, model people who are already achieving at the level you want to, and seek out experienced mentors, coaches, and trainers.

3. Intimacy/connection: Work to truly understand what motivates people beneath the pleasant external side of things. Break ground and do unique things together. You'll bond faster if they're dangerous activities, but that's not really encouraged. Listen more than you talk. Get off smalltalk and talk about more interesting things. Say things that are controversial. Get a reputation for being highly discreet and tactful and more people will be comfortable being open and intimate with you.

"All the above being said you must strive to be the best (in terms of realizing your potential) you can be. If there is a purpose in life, this might be it."

Well said! Very good comment and questions.