learnings #6

1. Chaos to Clarity - every time you face chaos, attempt ways to achieve clarity. Writing, prototyping, building gives clarity.

>> This may be why I have the urge to cleanup, write things down and start over. Writing clarifies.

2. Everybody deserves a second chance, but not a third chance with us.

>> I am not sure if I keep count, but good to remind once in a while, not to be fooled.

3. "The curse of knowledge is a cognitive bias that occurs when an individual, communicating with other individuals, unknowingly assumes that the others have the background to understand."

>> I wish to tell this to a few people, who are super smart, but not able to explain to different audiences. And admire the superlative skill of a few who are able to simplify and narrate anything.

4. Being genuinely excited about what others are bringing to you - encourages them to do more.

>> I have seen a few like this. Wide eyed wonder, which does not seem to be an act, when someone tells them anything interesting. Full attention like headlights focused on you. It is such a boost, like you are in the center of their world and what you are saying is like gospel.

5. Cycle of more consumption vs more creation. Maybe that applies to the day as well - a time to consume and a time to create.

>> This phrase has taken root in me, when I can justify not reading anything, to say I am in creation cycle (sometimes maybe fooling myself).

6. Will you have high agency or be a "non player character"?

>> Non player character – NPC – like in video games, got that picture from here. To inspect if I am being an NPC or not in a situation, or can I not do something about it myself.

7. We remember moments that is emotionally charged, that is the peg on which memories hang in the brain. Create such positive emotions in storytelling.

>> Emotions as pegs on which memories hang – what an image. I am trying to apply this at times, by expressing / evoking emotion.

8. It is better to go by what people do than go by what people say. (Theorising, moralizing, explaining, rationalising, wishing)

>> Especially true of some people who praise or curry favor profusely, but realizing sometimes that they didn’t mean a word of it.

9. Be open to adjusting beliefs: Start by forming strong initial viewpoints in new subjects, then let evidence and experience refine or overturn them as you progress. This approach can help make new information stand out and is more effective than perpetual uncertainty, provided you actively update beliefs based on evidence.

>> I may be opposite of this, not forming an opinion initially. But this approach of forming a strong opinion and then course correcting as needed – that is an interesting position to take. I had a mentor who used to do this. He used to state a hypothesis about a situation, at times antagonistic. If we fail to prove him wrong, he will assume he was right to begin with. He expected us to argue vehemently. Initially I used to be taken aback and sometimes fall silent, but once I realized the trick, looked forward to his questions.

10. Difference between the cook and the chef. Cook follows a recipe, Chef is able to make new recipes with the material. Creativity is driven out of us by the environment. It takes years to keep trying, develop the taste and experiment. Keep trying.

>> Hope to continue to do so, atleast in a few areas of interest.