Greatness
exploring the foundations of quality and the currents that fight against mediocrity
sari and
Greatness
Taste requires originality. It invokes an aspirational authenticity. Writer George Saunders calls this “achieving the iconic space,” and it’s what he’s after when he meets his creative writing students. “They arrive already wonderful. What we try to do over the next three years is help them achieve what I call their “iconic space” — the place from... See more
Brie Wolfson • Notes on “Taste”
in a world drowning in mediocrity, giving a shit is the most durable competitive advantage
Instead of asking “Do I have a talent for this?”, one should ask "Do I want to have a talent for this?".
To endure something is obviously exhausting and agonizing. But at the same time, you must also continue to hold what you regard as important close to your heart and to nurture it. Should you ever relinquish what you truly hold dear, the only path left to you will be that of a pencil-pusher — the type of animator whose sense of self-worth is
... See moreFrom Christopher Alexander foreword to Richard Gabriel's "Patterns Of Software":
In my life as an architect, I find that the single thing which inhibits young professionals, new students most severely, is their acceptance of standards that are too low. If I ask a student whether her design is as good as Chartres, she... See more
Reaching 95%-ile isn't very impressive because it's not that hard to do. I think this is one of my most ridiculable ideas. It doesn't help that, when stated nakedly, that sounds elitist. But I think it's just the opposite: most people can become (relatively) good at most things.
Atul Gawande • 95%-Ile Isn't That Good
Don't focus on metrics. Just focus on making the best videos possible and the metrics will be taken care of.
Lex Fridman • MrBeast: Future of YouTube, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram | Lex Fridman Podcast #351
On Quality: An Inquiry into Excellence: Selected and Unpublished Writings
goodreads.com
haven't read yet but was recommended on a podcast - excerpts from the author of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance on quality and related concepts. will edit this note with takeaways once i've read.