H.G. Wells once said:
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"Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race."
Nassim Nicholas Taleb
/Now here is a chap that you should follow on facebook (at the very least) for his illuminating and thought provoking ideas. I first read Fooled by Randomness about two years ago and was mightily impressed. I have since been following him on facebook and on his website. This is a sample of his interesting (and topical) thinking:
For one of the smartest big-picture conversations out there, listen to this 45 min Interview. He talks mostly about the deleveraging of the banks, proper global finacial leadership, and risk in general, from the perspective of someone who truly has the survival of humanity at heart.
I like everywhere that this man's head is at. Nassim Taleb will make you smarter and more interesting
Aristotle once said
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Or more accurately, "All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind."
The sciences ask, why.
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The arts ask, why not.
Has someone said that already? I dig it.
To be a rockstar
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You've got to have pain. And more importantly, you can't kid yourself about how in touch with your emotions you are. I'm not going to mention exactly which recent documentary I saw on a "multicultural contemporary South African band" that made me think of this.
You can't sell your political ideologies (as they are probably less than informed) and you can't keep thinking about what your audience wants to hear (they are hardly a yardstick). You have to sell your feelings and your honesty - sell your pain. Even if all you have is happy pain.
You can't sell your political ideologies (as they are probably less than informed) and you can't keep thinking about what your audience wants to hear (they are hardly a yardstick). You have to sell your feelings and your honesty - sell your pain. Even if all you have is happy pain.
Alain de Botton - lovely stuff
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I try not to post too many TED talks, or random Youtube videos for that matter, but every now and then I have to post the really good ones. Some more of my old favourites will no doubt follow.
Everybody is betting their life on something
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I came across another smart person saying smart things again - on one of those smart people websites with the videos. He said: "Everybody is betting their life on something."
Man. It really is one of the most succinct, and frankly mindblowing thoughts I've heard in ages. Some tight copy right there.
Life is a gamble in many ways, and so often risk is the one thing that determines results and success more than anything. For instance, you cannot question someone else's love for you without first committing your own (another thing that brands ought to have learned by now). It's like a signal to the universe stating your intention to live, and deep down you know it's a gamble you have to take. Quite likely that the more risky option is to not risk anything at all, as people often can see the intention behind the action and find that all the more endearing.
But these are mostly not guesses or blind gambles. Like the quote says, the bet is on something, and that thing is inside you, like a skill or personality trait or worldview. Most likely it is a composite of those things, a broader intuition of life that grows and refines as you age. You say to yourself "I think I get it, and that's why I'm going to live like this, because that way will get me far.
Maybe you're super driven, maybe you just want to be a good person. It's about understanding and then believing, then forgetting everything you learned and going ahead and laying your shit on the line.
And I find that fascinating.
Man. It really is one of the most succinct, and frankly mindblowing thoughts I've heard in ages. Some tight copy right there.
Life is a gamble in many ways, and so often risk is the one thing that determines results and success more than anything. For instance, you cannot question someone else's love for you without first committing your own (another thing that brands ought to have learned by now). It's like a signal to the universe stating your intention to live, and deep down you know it's a gamble you have to take. Quite likely that the more risky option is to not risk anything at all, as people often can see the intention behind the action and find that all the more endearing.
But these are mostly not guesses or blind gambles. Like the quote says, the bet is on something, and that thing is inside you, like a skill or personality trait or worldview. Most likely it is a composite of those things, a broader intuition of life that grows and refines as you age. You say to yourself "I think I get it, and that's why I'm going to live like this, because that way will get me far.
Maybe you're super driven, maybe you just want to be a good person. It's about understanding and then believing, then forgetting everything you learned and going ahead and laying your shit on the line.
And I find that fascinating.
You need to watch this
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...if you haven't already.
A while back, my sometimes very inspirational mother sent me the transcript from J.K. Rowling's commencement address at Harvard in 2008. I really love a great speech, and this is way up there.
I've read and re-read it a number of times, and it still makes me mushy inside. I actually feel honoured to share a birthday with her!
This is the video. Full transcript here
A while back, my sometimes very inspirational mother sent me the transcript from J.K. Rowling's commencement address at Harvard in 2008. I really love a great speech, and this is way up there.
I've read and re-read it a number of times, and it still makes me mushy inside. I actually feel honoured to share a birthday with her!
This is the video. Full transcript here
Blazing good conversation
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Had a great chat with Iwan the other day after a spot of longboarding down the windy paths of Prospect Park. We just chilled on the grass and let rip with the craziest ideas for a good two hours. You know when all your shit is in sync - philosophy, creativity, similar viewpoints in life... A conversation like that really does wonders for your wellbeing. Need more of those.
People I like
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People try not to judge others, but we all do. A few days ago I was sitting on the train when I realised I think I know the way in which I judge people, when I first see them.
I judge people by whether or not they look like they are staying with or trying to break out of their allotted socio-economic place in life. You can tell, by body language, posture, expression on their face, or the way they speak relative to their apparent education.
On that train you may also see the relatively poor father of five, going to work a crap job, but he's dressed in the best suit he can afford, contemplating the day ahead. He wants to get that next promotion, and is thinking about what flowers to get his wife. He wants to get to the next level - even if it means being at the bottom of that next level.
But right next to him is the guy of the same age, same background, who has the same amount of money, but is dressed in tattier clothes, texting away on his cellphone, shouting at his buddy. He appears happy to be at the top of the lower level. Why? Because it's the top. He's happy there.
People who are prepared to constantly be at the bottom of a strata, be it socially or in their career are normally the ones moving up that quickly. Those who are out of their comfort zone most are learning the most.
People impress and interest me if they look like they're making an effort to get to whatever their next level is, or to be out of their comfort zone in some way all the time. How else do you learn unless you're at the bottom? For me it plays a big part in informing your general attitude towards life.
"A great man is always willing to be little." Ralph Waldo Emerson
I judge people by whether or not they look like they are staying with or trying to break out of their allotted socio-economic place in life. You can tell, by body language, posture, expression on their face, or the way they speak relative to their apparent education.
On that train you may also see the relatively poor father of five, going to work a crap job, but he's dressed in the best suit he can afford, contemplating the day ahead. He wants to get that next promotion, and is thinking about what flowers to get his wife. He wants to get to the next level - even if it means being at the bottom of that next level.
But right next to him is the guy of the same age, same background, who has the same amount of money, but is dressed in tattier clothes, texting away on his cellphone, shouting at his buddy. He appears happy to be at the top of the lower level. Why? Because it's the top. He's happy there.
People who are prepared to constantly be at the bottom of a strata, be it socially or in their career are normally the ones moving up that quickly. Those who are out of their comfort zone most are learning the most.
People impress and interest me if they look like they're making an effort to get to whatever their next level is, or to be out of their comfort zone in some way all the time. How else do you learn unless you're at the bottom? For me it plays a big part in informing your general attitude towards life.
"A great man is always willing to be little." Ralph Waldo Emerson
Proust Questionnaire
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What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Respect for everything and everyone, by everyone. No really.
What is your greatest fear?
Going blind or deaf, or not being able to run.
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
No-one really.
Which living person do you most admire?
Renzo Rosso.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Over sensitivity.
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Hypocrisy. There is no escape from that one.
Or amorality - similar vibes.
What is your greatest extravagance?
A good haircut.
What is your favourite journey?
Any long ski-lift to the top of the Alps.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Teetotalism. Never trust someone who tells you they don’t drink.
On what occasion do you lie?
To protect others’ feelings.
What do you dislike most about your appearance?
I appear too normal.
Which living person do you most despise?
Robert Mugabe. George W Bush just doesn’t know any better.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Vibe. But is it really over-use?
What is your greatest regret?
Not seeing Nirvana unplugged.
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My friends. No question.
When and where were you happiest?
The sunset set at Origin Festival, front right speaker - with my mates of course.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Better feet.
What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?
Open mindedness - to anything new.
If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be?
Ryk Neethling. He must have a lot of money, get laid a lot and not have any health problems…
What is your most treasured possession?
Good taste.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
The inability to really chill out.
Where would you like to live?
Lake Como.
What is your favourite occupation?
Music, sex, maybe both.
What is your most marked characteristic?
I'm me.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Enthusiasm.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
The ability to talk proper shit.
What do you most value in your friends?
Their sheer coolness and perspective on life.
Who are your favourite writers?
Everyone has their moment, some for longer than others
Who is your favourite hero of fiction?
Patsy Stone.
What is it that you most dislike?
People who don’t think before they talk.
How would you like to die?
On the dancefloor. Or in space. Though those could be the same thing.
What is your motto?
“Those who know do not say. Those who say do not know.”
Respect for everything and everyone, by everyone. No really.
What is your greatest fear?
Going blind or deaf, or not being able to run.
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
No-one really.
Which living person do you most admire?
Renzo Rosso.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Over sensitivity.
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Hypocrisy. There is no escape from that one.
Or amorality - similar vibes.
What is your greatest extravagance?
A good haircut.
What is your favourite journey?
Any long ski-lift to the top of the Alps.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Teetotalism. Never trust someone who tells you they don’t drink.
On what occasion do you lie?
To protect others’ feelings.
What do you dislike most about your appearance?
I appear too normal.
Which living person do you most despise?
Robert Mugabe. George W Bush just doesn’t know any better.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Vibe. But is it really over-use?
What is your greatest regret?
Not seeing Nirvana unplugged.
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My friends. No question.
When and where were you happiest?
The sunset set at Origin Festival, front right speaker - with my mates of course.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Better feet.
What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?
Open mindedness - to anything new.
If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be?
Ryk Neethling. He must have a lot of money, get laid a lot and not have any health problems…
What is your most treasured possession?
Good taste.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
The inability to really chill out.
Where would you like to live?
Lake Como.
What is your favourite occupation?
Music, sex, maybe both.
What is your most marked characteristic?
I'm me.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Enthusiasm.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
The ability to talk proper shit.
What do you most value in your friends?
Their sheer coolness and perspective on life.
Who are your favourite writers?
Everyone has their moment, some for longer than others
Who is your favourite hero of fiction?
Patsy Stone.
What is it that you most dislike?
People who don’t think before they talk.
How would you like to die?
On the dancefloor. Or in space. Though those could be the same thing.
What is your motto?
“Those who know do not say. Those who say do not know.”