Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World

In the plant world, lateral roots play a crucial role in anchoring the plant securely into the soil, increasing water uptake, and facilitating the extraction of nutrients required for growth and development.

Instead of waiting for someone to sign off on your competence, build your experience by turning your interests into action, focusing on how you can create value for others. Designer Jack Butcher calls this a “permissionless apprenticeship,” Seth

“No matter how isolated you are and how lonely you feel, if you do your work truly and conscientiously, unknown friends will come and seek you,” wrote Carl Jung.

And producing proof of work is one of the most effective ways to increase your surface area of luck. It gets you into new, ever more interesting rooms faster than any résumé. You not only demonstrate your problem-solving abilities but also showcase your knowledge in a tangible way.

“Luck isn’t an independent variable but increases super-linearly with more surface area—you meet more people, make more connections between new ideas, learn patterns,” said entrepreneur and investor Sam Altman.

“I was doing proof of work because I didn’t have any clout in the startup ecosystem. By doing so, I increased my surface area of luck. That’s how I’ve ended up where I am.”

a generative approach is about proactively creating value. Instead of waiting for permission or validation, you can leverage your current resources and skills to produce tangible assets that demonstrate your ability to make a difference.

Instead of focusing on a destination, he simply moves in the direction of his curiosity, constantly exploring where he can grow, who he wants to grow with, and how he can contribute positively to the world.

As much as we love tales that reveal clear patterns amidst life’s chaos, many success stories defy any legible narrative. They follow a nonlinear path, where curiosity and community, not continuity, determine each next step, and where each twist and turn provides unique insights that are later used to make a positive impact.