Greatness
exploring the foundations of quality and the currents that fight against mediocrity
sari and
Greatness
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
Steve Jobs: We don't ship junk, HD version
youtube.com
Rick Rubin on turning Metallica around
It’s always better to think and work backwards from great than it is to work forward from good
obsessing over quality often demands that you slow down, as the focus required to get better is simply not compatible with busyness.
Cal Newport • Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout
I see no reason to spend your life writing poems unless your goal is to write great poems.
Poetry and Ambition
Compulsion. I think about that word a lot. I believe that all of us, carelessly walking about planet earth, are intrinsically compelled to do something . It’s in our nature, in the shape of our soul. To excel, to truly be the best, I think it’s crucial to spend time thinking about what that is. Because if you do something other than that, you’re... See more
Dan Shipper • How David Perell Uses ChatGPT as a Creative Partner
the path to excellence is aligning what you do with who you are. Lean in, or better still, dive in, headfirst. The first step is to look inward and think deeply about who you are and what you’re made to do.
a thought-provoking read on energetic aliens - the rare few that can sustain their focus on cognitive tasks for more than the avg 4-6hrs a day without burning out.
be extremely critical of all your work until it’s great. it’s not about you personally, it’s about how people feel and receive the work
H/t patrick oshag