Greatness
exploring the foundations of quality and the currents that fight against mediocrity
sari and
Greatness
From 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 often smiles tolerantly at m... See more
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 no... 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.
The best reason to not cut corners:
If you didn't get the response you were hoping for, how can you know if it was because your idea was bad vs. you cut corners?
I see no reason to spend your life writing poems unless your goal is to write great poems.
Poetry and Ambition
MrBeast: Future of YouTube, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram | Lex Fridman Podcast #351
youtube.comI’ve always been a freak for the zealous pursuit of the better, especially where culture is concerned. I love the story of it, and also the motive. So that, too, is what this book is—a celebration of the art that happens when instinct meets rigor.
Adam Moss • The Work of Art: How Something Comes from Nothing
Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected.
-Steve Jobs
Human scale institutions strive for optimum scale. Not mega scale. The point at which maximum quality can be attained. Their purpose is not to maximize profitability. It is to maximize well-being. Whose? Everyone’s.