Running a startup is like running a Linux Kernel. Early employees are important threads. Some founders go out to raise and then build an army of employees. They along with their investors for the hope of shipping product quickly.
Sadly it never works, one reason being expectation mismatch. Founder expects new hires to be as passionate as them because they are among the best paid in the industry. The employees join the company because of the noise and fundraising PR.
I want to know where I would die so I can never go there.
— Charlie Munger
I was reading this blog about Charlie Munger and I loved it. His principle of living life in the inversion is fascinating.
I am trying to add a similar principle to myself. Instead of seeing or striving for success, it is better to look and avoid a recipe for failure. In short, eliminating all the risk for failures, success will be the byproduct.
In the end, success and failures are not in our hand, we have to enjoy the journey and make the best of it.
I am hoping one day I will totally stick by this saying of Epictetus.
Some things are in our control and others not. Things in our control are opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever are our own actions. Things not in our control are body, property, reputation, command, and, in one word, whatever are not our own actions.
A few years back I was told attitude never changes. I was struggling with myself at work and personal life. Reading an article on attitude a few days back, bought back the memory.
We are living in this cosmos which exists on the premise of evolution and change. How can we not change our Attitude?
I keep reading tweets of folks like “Attitude is everything.” All these folks miss adding, to inculcate great attitude one requires:
believers
mentors
honest friends
Our human mind is a monkey mind and when we say things via prefrontal cortex, logic and rationality take back seat.
We are the makers of our destiny, as long as we are trying we can achieve anything. It includes changing our attitude and being more optimist about self.
These are summary of authors observation from the life of Steve Jobs. I am sure most of us have read all these in one of the other books or blogs published.When One Door Closes, Another One Opens
Humanity is hooked on to desire to progress. New revolution and technological advancements are the byproducts of our desire to progress.
Our desire to progress is equally powerful as our fight and flight mode actions. We envision a better version of self.
Advertisement:
Many products and brands use this in their favor. They won’t tell you about the chemical they are selling but advertise you deserve it.
Product:
Myspace was a market leader and then Facebook happened.
Altavista was in the market leader before Google took over.
If we are building some product for a particular market, it will be great to map a desire to progress map for your customers. How will your product help them in becoming better?
Our brain likes to take shortcuts. It is programmed to take quick decisions. That has been a reason we call it monkey mind.
How many times did you buy ice cream or soap or soda because your favorite superstar was selling it?
Go out and check the signboards people selling sugar associate it with Happiness.
Cesarean section is advertised as pain-free delivery.
Alcohol is sold association company of friends.
A credit card is sold as freedom.
Mere association tendency is not limited to humans. Russian psychologist Pavlov conducted an experiment on a dog. In the experiment, he rang a bell before feeding the dog. He repeated the same for some time and noticed ringing the bell alone resulted in dog secreting more saliva.
Stoicism is a school of Philosophy over 2000 years old. It has become more popular in the modern age. It mostly focuses on our thoughts and understanding self.
Our life is what our thoughts make it.
— Marcus Aurelius
Our fears are always more numerous than our dangers.
— Seneca
Some things are in our control and others not. Things in our control are opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever are our own actions. Things not in our control are body, property, reputation, command, and, in one word, whatever are not our own actions.
— Epictetus
The author has done a great job in explaining the whole concept if you want to learn about stoicism, this book is a good start.
I made some doodles as I was reading the book, I have added them with the blog. Ooh, he also mentions about 54 stoic practices, read the book to know more. 🙂
Lastly one can find most of the writings of these stoics for free on the internet.