I feel really tired today. I really like this course but I’m having a couple of worries:
I don’t know what products to sell because I like utilitarian stuff, things to make things and all those items, quality matters a lot and there are existing players
For more complex items, I don’t know if my RFQ will require a lot of work (cad models and blueprints)
Anyway, excited to see what happens today.
Thoughts and questions:
Money is like soldiers
There was a village that borrowed soldiers from other villages until they became an empire…they become Rome
“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” – Einstein
I saw an ad on Facebook. It was talking about making money as an introvert and making money without giving up your inner peace.
I immediately signed up. It was about 20 dollars.
Now I have done a bunch of the exercises for the prework of the challenge and here are my reflections.
Some major questions that I have right now:
What am I willing to give up and how will I go about giving it up?
How do I live my values every day in a way that is in flow and not forced or mechanical?
I have some initial ideas.
First, I was thinking originally about what I wanted to give up in terms of things like YouTube, or socializing. But recently it made a lot more sense for me to think about time. Specifically, I wanted to dedicate my entire morning to succeeding at these goals.
From the time I wake up, I usually am doing what JT Franco calls “buffalo brain” (the idea of being one of the herd that moves without thinking). I listen to audiobooks, and watch YouTube videos. I don’t eat breakfast or drink water. I keep the blinds closed. I feel awful and I don’t feel the feelings.
Someone once said (might be Melinda Gates) that the first few hours of the day are the most important because they set the stage for the entire day to come. If I want to give up anything, I want to give up my mornings to getting up, drinking water, feeling my body, and going downstairs into the lounge to write on my blog and work on achieving my dreams.
Middle of the day has to be reserved for work and for talking to my girlfriend. End of the day has to be reserved for me time. Being alone, taking time, creating art, and letting the magic of nighttime take over.
This is what I’m thinking roughly:
7/8 AM – 9/10 AM: Dedicated to living the magical life
9/10 AM – 12 PM: Dedicated to doing the impossible at work
12 PM – 1/2 PM: Lunch, meditation
1/2 PM – 5 PM: Work, performing at the highest levels
5 PM – 7 PM: Misc time
7 PM – 11 PM: Alone time, creativity, play
During the weekend, work will be removed, leaving more time for dedication to my magical life. I think it will look something like this:
7/8 AM – 12 PM: Dedicated to living the magical life
12pm – 7 PM: Misc time
7 PM – 11 PM: Alone time, creativity, play
With this balance, it seems that my breakdown is this:
Weekday
1-3 hours per day on living magical life
5-7 hours of work
4 hours of alone-time/play
2 hours of miscellaneous time
Weekend
4-5 hours per day on living magical life
4 hours of alone-time/play
7 hours of miscellaneous time
I suspect, I will have to do careful planning during the weekend, in order to perform at the absolute highest levels of work and potentially spend less time there.
In terms of living out my beliefs of empathy, intuition/following feelings, creativity/imagination, and honesty. I’m not entirely sure what actions I need to take to feel that I am in congruence with my values.
My main thought right now is about taking risks, breathing through difficult emotions and sensations, and following connection theory.
50% of YC focused on AI, but not because they focus on AI, but because they focus on smart good founders, and many smart people are focusing on AI
Tarpits are things that seem really exciting for a lot of founders, but actually isn’t that great…might be hard to solve the real problem
Example tarpits for AI: copilot, chat interfaces
Use UX and software, and instead of chat interface, add in LLMs in background
Boring is often good
Example of boring: AI that is able to search government contracts and apply for relevant ones
If someone doesn’t want to buy your AI product, try to compete with the market itself
For example: if you develop a product for a industry and they won’t buy it, see if you can build your own company in that industry and see if you can beat them
I think this is KEY for consulting for big ideas like I want to do (solve their biggest issue) I need to think of ideas that would run them out of business if I made a company enhanced with AI
Specific is important: don’t do a catchall, include a lot of business logic
Prompting and GPT wrappers is the future: SAAS is basically a MySQL wrapper
I have been struggling with making videos for some time. I feel that a video isn’t perfect, I immediately get very stressed out. I don’t know whether to refilm or not, I don’t know what to do with the existing footage.
Here is a process that I came up with when sitting with the feelings for a bit:
Acknowledge that part of you that feels that things are missing or could have been said better by coming up with ideas for a new video to shoot (that might be almost the same or different)
Feel the feelings of discomfort in feeling not perfect, slow down, nothing else is important
Search for what the video wants to be, just like searching for beauty in the world to paint
Focus on the areas that are most clear or exciting to you.
Paint in broad brushstrokes, you don’t need the best takes at first, just focus on laying down the footage so you can see the context of how everything relates to each other
Develop the video around the areas that are most clear and start to fill out the details
Focus on the transitions
While we are at it, maybe I can think of ideas for how I can approach filming a video:
Come up with a short writeup on what feels like the right flow
Come up with some concepts of what the shoot will look like
Set up the shoot and lighting
Do three takes, first take is a direct recitation of the script, but as the takes go on, let the video become what it wants to become
Or just do step 4 and call it a day. You don’t need a script, you don’t need a plan.
I wonder a lot sometimes on when I should make a video and when I should just restart (like in art). I think there is no right answer, but making a “mediocre” video is not for the artform of Youtube, it is because I am learning Youtube. Anything you want to learn will have many imperfect tries to succeed.
Make people understand why I’m doing what I’m doing
Make it ok for people to disagree and debate
It is important to talk about controversial issues because controversial issues are controversial because they are important issues. I have strong opinions and will say exactly what I mean and be very direct. I am not an expert on everything. I can be wrong and you can disagree with me. I might also change my mind, this is just what I believe right now.
Outro goal:
Get them thinking deeper
Get engagement
What came up for you during this video? What is your hot take? Add to the conversation in the comments sections below. I read everything.
I saw an ad on Facebook. It was talking about making money as an introvert and making money without giving up your inner peace.
I immediately signed up. It was about 20 dollars.
Now I have done a bunch of the exercises for the prework of the challenge and here are my reflections.
Some major questions that I have right now:
What am I willing to give up and how will I go about giving it up?
How do I live my values every day in a way that is in flow and not forced or mechanical?
I have some initial ideas.
First, I was thinking originally about what I wanted to give up in terms of things like YouTube, or socializing. But recently it made a lot more sense for me to think about time. Specifically, I wanted to dedicate my entire morning to succeeding at these goals.
From the time I wake up, I usually am doing what JT Franco calls “buffalo brain” (the idea of being one of the herd that moves without thinking). I listen to audiobooks, and watch YouTube videos. I don’t eat breakfast or drink water. I keep the blinds closed. I feel awful and I don’t feel the feelings.
Someone once said (might be Melinda Gates) that the first few hours of the day are the most important because they set the stage for the entire day to come. If I want to give up anything, I want to give up my mornings to getting up, drinking water, feeling my body, and going downstairs into the lounge to write on my blog and work on achieving my dreams.
Middle of the day has to be reserved for work and for talking to my girlfriend. End of the day has to be reserved for me time. Being alone, taking time, creating art, and letting the magic of nighttime take over.
This is what I’m thinking roughly:
7/8 AM – 9/10 AM: Dedicated to living the magical life
9/10 AM – 12 PM: Dedicated to doing the impossible at work
12 PM – 1/2 PM: Lunch, meditation
1/2 PM – 5 PM: Work, performing at the highest levels
5 PM – 7 PM: Misc time
7 PM – 11 PM: Alone time, creativity, play
During the weekend, work will be removed, leaving more time for dedication to my magical life. I think it will look something like this:
7/8 AM – 12 PM: Dedicated to living the magical life
12pm – 7 PM: Misc time
7 PM – 11 PM: Alone time, creativity, play
With this balance, it seems that my breakdown is this:
Weekday
1-3 hours per day on living magical life
5-7 hours of work
4 hours of alone-time/play
2 hours of miscellaneous time
Weekend
4-5 hours per day on living magical life
4 hours of alone-time/play
7 hours of miscellaneous time
I suspect, I will have to do careful planning during the weekend, in order to perform at the absolute highest levels of work and potentially spend less time there.
In terms of living out my beliefs of empathy, intuition/following feelings, creativity/imagination, and honesty. I’m not entirely sure what actions I need to take to feel that I am in congruence with my values.
My main thought right now is about taking risks, breathing through difficult emotions and sensations, and following connection theory.
50% of YC focused on AI, but not because they focus on AI, but because they focus on smart good founders, and many smart people are focusing on AI
Tarpits are things that seem really exciting for a lot of founders, but actually isn’t that great…might be hard to solve the real problem
Example tarpits for AI: copilot, chat interfaces
Use UX and software, and instead of chat interface, add in LLMs in background
Boring is often good
Example of boring: AI that is able to search government contracts and apply for relevant ones
If someone doesn’t want to buy your AI product, try to compete with the market itself
For example: if you develop a product for a industry and they won’t buy it, see if you can build your own company in that industry and see if you can beat them
I think this is KEY for consulting for big ideas like I want to do (solve their biggest issue) I need to think of ideas that would run them out of business if I made a company enhanced with AI
Specific is important: don’t do a catchall, include a lot of business logic
Prompting and GPT wrappers is the future: SAAS is basically a MySQL wrapper
I have been struggling with making videos for some time. I feel that a video isn’t perfect, I immediately get very stressed out. I don’t know whether to refilm or not, I don’t know what to do with the existing footage.
Here is a process that I came up with when sitting with the feelings for a bit:
Acknowledge that part of you that feels that things are missing or could have been said better by coming up with ideas for a new video to shoot (that might be almost the same or different)
Feel the feelings of discomfort in feeling not perfect, slow down, nothing else is important
Search for what the video wants to be, just like searching for beauty in the world to paint
Focus on the areas that are most clear or exciting to you.
Paint in broad brushstrokes, you don’t need the best takes at first, just focus on laying down the footage so you can see the context of how everything relates to each other
Develop the video around the areas that are most clear and start to fill out the details
Focus on the transitions
While we are at it, maybe I can think of ideas for how I can approach filming a video:
Come up with a short writeup on what feels like the right flow
Come up with some concepts of what the shoot will look like
Set up the shoot and lighting
Do three takes, first take is a direct recitation of the script, but as the takes go on, let the video become what it wants to become
Or just do step 4 and call it a day. You don’t need a script, you don’t need a plan.
I wonder a lot sometimes on when I should make a video and when I should just restart (like in art). I think there is no right answer, but making a “mediocre” video is not for the artform of Youtube, it is because I am learning Youtube. Anything you want to learn will have many imperfect tries to succeed.
Make people understand why I’m doing what I’m doing
Make it ok for people to disagree and debate
It is important to talk about controversial issues because controversial issues are controversial because they are important issues. I have strong opinions and will say exactly what I mean and be very direct. I am not an expert on everything. I can be wrong and you can disagree with me. I might also change my mind, this is just what I believe right now.
Outro goal:
Get them thinking deeper
Get engagement
What came up for you during this video? What is your hot take? Add to the conversation in the comments sections below. I read everything.
I saw an ad on Facebook. It was talking about making money as an introvert and making money without giving up your inner peace.
I immediately signed up. It was about 20 dollars.
Now I have done a bunch of the exercises for the prework of the challenge and here are my reflections.
Some major questions that I have right now:
What am I willing to give up and how will I go about giving it up?
How do I live my values every day in a way that is in flow and not forced or mechanical?
I have some initial ideas.
First, I was thinking originally about what I wanted to give up in terms of things like YouTube, or socializing. But recently it made a lot more sense for me to think about time. Specifically, I wanted to dedicate my entire morning to succeeding at these goals.
From the time I wake up, I usually am doing what JT Franco calls “buffalo brain” (the idea of being one of the herd that moves without thinking). I listen to audiobooks, and watch YouTube videos. I don’t eat breakfast or drink water. I keep the blinds closed. I feel awful and I don’t feel the feelings.
Someone once said (might be Melinda Gates) that the first few hours of the day are the most important because they set the stage for the entire day to come. If I want to give up anything, I want to give up my mornings to getting up, drinking water, feeling my body, and going downstairs into the lounge to write on my blog and work on achieving my dreams.
Middle of the day has to be reserved for work and for talking to my girlfriend. End of the day has to be reserved for me time. Being alone, taking time, creating art, and letting the magic of nighttime take over.
This is what I’m thinking roughly:
7/8 AM – 9/10 AM: Dedicated to living the magical life
9/10 AM – 12 PM: Dedicated to doing the impossible at work
12 PM – 1/2 PM: Lunch, meditation
1/2 PM – 5 PM: Work, performing at the highest levels
5 PM – 7 PM: Misc time
7 PM – 11 PM: Alone time, creativity, play
During the weekend, work will be removed, leaving more time for dedication to my magical life. I think it will look something like this:
7/8 AM – 12 PM: Dedicated to living the magical life
12pm – 7 PM: Misc time
7 PM – 11 PM: Alone time, creativity, play
With this balance, it seems that my breakdown is this:
Weekday
1-3 hours per day on living magical life
5-7 hours of work
4 hours of alone-time/play
2 hours of miscellaneous time
Weekend
4-5 hours per day on living magical life
4 hours of alone-time/play
7 hours of miscellaneous time
I suspect, I will have to do careful planning during the weekend, in order to perform at the absolute highest levels of work and potentially spend less time there.
In terms of living out my beliefs of empathy, intuition/following feelings, creativity/imagination, and honesty. I’m not entirely sure what actions I need to take to feel that I am in congruence with my values.
My main thought right now is about taking risks, breathing through difficult emotions and sensations, and following connection theory.
50% of YC focused on AI, but not because they focus on AI, but because they focus on smart good founders, and many smart people are focusing on AI
Tarpits are things that seem really exciting for a lot of founders, but actually isn’t that great…might be hard to solve the real problem
Example tarpits for AI: copilot, chat interfaces
Use UX and software, and instead of chat interface, add in LLMs in background
Boring is often good
Example of boring: AI that is able to search government contracts and apply for relevant ones
If someone doesn’t want to buy your AI product, try to compete with the market itself
For example: if you develop a product for a industry and they won’t buy it, see if you can build your own company in that industry and see if you can beat them
I think this is KEY for consulting for big ideas like I want to do (solve their biggest issue) I need to think of ideas that would run them out of business if I made a company enhanced with AI
Specific is important: don’t do a catchall, include a lot of business logic
Prompting and GPT wrappers is the future: SAAS is basically a MySQL wrapper
I have been struggling with making videos for some time. I feel that a video isn’t perfect, I immediately get very stressed out. I don’t know whether to refilm or not, I don’t know what to do with the existing footage.
Here is a process that I came up with when sitting with the feelings for a bit:
Acknowledge that part of you that feels that things are missing or could have been said better by coming up with ideas for a new video to shoot (that might be almost the same or different)
Feel the feelings of discomfort in feeling not perfect, slow down, nothing else is important
Search for what the video wants to be, just like searching for beauty in the world to paint
Focus on the areas that are most clear or exciting to you.
Paint in broad brushstrokes, you don’t need the best takes at first, just focus on laying down the footage so you can see the context of how everything relates to each other
Develop the video around the areas that are most clear and start to fill out the details
Focus on the transitions
While we are at it, maybe I can think of ideas for how I can approach filming a video:
Come up with a short writeup on what feels like the right flow
Come up with some concepts of what the shoot will look like
Set up the shoot and lighting
Do three takes, first take is a direct recitation of the script, but as the takes go on, let the video become what it wants to become
Or just do step 4 and call it a day. You don’t need a script, you don’t need a plan.
I wonder a lot sometimes on when I should make a video and when I should just restart (like in art). I think there is no right answer, but making a “mediocre” video is not for the artform of Youtube, it is because I am learning Youtube. Anything you want to learn will have many imperfect tries to succeed.
Make people understand why I’m doing what I’m doing
Make it ok for people to disagree and debate
It is important to talk about controversial issues because controversial issues are controversial because they are important issues. I have strong opinions and will say exactly what I mean and be very direct. I am not an expert on everything. I can be wrong and you can disagree with me. I might also change my mind, this is just what I believe right now.
Outro goal:
Get them thinking deeper
Get engagement
What came up for you during this video? What is your hot take? Add to the conversation in the comments sections below. I read everything.
