Ranting against AI. Retirement considered dangerous. But would you read it? AI can't do wisdom. Finding fulfillment. High-value skills. Truth, what a concept. Dive into some books.
“Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.”
– Aldous Huxley
1. “Don’t confuse rejection with virtue”
The luxury of saying no. – Greg Storey – (Brilliantcrank)
Plato was of the opinion that writing would rob us of our memory as we relied on paper (or whatever) to remember for us. There are those who believe AI will rob us of our creativity. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Using an AI tool to brainstorm, summarize, rephrase, or kickstart an idea doesn’t rob you of your voice.
The piece goes beyond that to examine the very privileged position that those ranting against AI are in. Unlike the people who’ve been thrown into the deep end and told to use AI or lose their jobs, these naysayers have the luxury of saying no. And it’s often done out of smug superiority.
There’s a difference between thoughtful skepticism and condescending distance.
This resonated because I see that condescension and superiority in comments on any of my tech articles that happen to touch on AI.
Do this: Criticise the tool, sure, that helps make it (and our future) better. Just don’t reject something out of hand, out of ignorance, or out of some sense of moral superiority. That helps no one.
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2. “Rest without work isn’t satisfying.”
What No One Tells You About Early Retirement – Darius Foroux – (Blog)
What got my attention most was this statement:
My hobby is my work. Just saying that makes me realize how lucky I am.
Me too. It’s something I’ve said for a long, long time. And I know that this makes me very, very lucky, and puts me in a position of extreme privilege. My vocation and my avocation are the same.
Foroux’s main point is not to stop. Never “retire”, in the traditional sense. Particularly if you’re lucky enough to consider some form of early retirement.
But when you dedicate your life to making yourself useful to your community or society in general, you always have something to do. You will never be bored or restless.
“Being useful” can look like a job for which you get paid, or it can be many, many other things.
Do this: Be useful. Add value.
#avocation #retirement #vocation
3. “Make something you would actually like”
My advice on (internet) writing, for what it’s worth – (Dynomight)
The advice, encapsulated in the takeaway above, is not to “write for yourself”, but to create something that you would like to read had you not actually written it. In so doing, you’re writing for an audience, of course, an audience of one. The difference is subtle, but interesting.
It’s not like writing for someone else.
Go write a few thousand words and give them to someone who loves you. Now, go through paragraph-by-paragraph and try to predict what was going through their heads. It’s impossible! I tell you, it cannot be done!
Personally, I think this is because nobody really understands anyone else.
Not that writing something you would like implies you really understand yourself, but it’s likely the closest you’re going to get to understanding an audience.
The piece goes on to have several additional thoughts and quirky writing advice tidbits. It’s fun.
Do this: Write. I know, I’ve been saying it a lot lately, and maybe I’m writing it for myself, but … write.
4. “You can get answers from AI, but how you use those answers takes wisdom.”
Knowledge Work Is Dying—Here’s What Comes Next – Joe Hudson – (Every.to)
Let’s assume AI is inevitable. Whether you believe that to be good or bad is irrelevant, it’s coming.
What skills, then, become important as AI takes on more roles? People skills. Hudson calls out three:
Emotional clarity: Learn how to take your emotions seriously, not literally
Discernment: You can’t see the world clearly if you can’t see yourself clearly
Connection: Vulnerability, impartiality, empathy, and wonder
These are things employers are already looking for. These skills only real humans can do will continue to become more and more valuable.
I appreciate articles that, rather than bemoaning a (generally inaccurate) “they’re gonna take our jobs!” mentality, focus on what you and I can do to ride the coming wave rather than be swept under.
Do this: Embrace your humanity. As a job and life skill.
5. “Fulfillment isn’t something you find. It’s something you make.”
How to Find Fulfillment When Your Job Doesn’t Provide It – Nir Eyal – (Nir and Far)
The article is about feeling fulfilled at work; enjoying a job that means something, and that gives you a sense of accomplishment and even meaning. There are two problems: a) a depressing number of people are most definitely not getting that, and b) that we would expect our jobs to fill that role in our lives in the first place.
Eyal doesn’t go back that far, but when you think about it, the educational system is designed with that very focus: to find, and then become adept in, a career that will bring us fulfillment for the rest of our lives.
My take is that it’s not limited to jobs or careers. We latch on to so many things — work, hobbies, relationships, and more — with the expectation that they will make us whole. That side-steps the responsibility or power we have to make it happen for ourselves.
Do this: If your vocation or avocation fulfills you, fantastic. But if not — and statistically that’s most — it might be time to consider what would.
6. “Learn high-value skills.”
21 Big Ideas That Will Change Your Life – Darius Foroux – (ebook)
It’s almost in conflict with the previous takeaway, but that simply points out the challenges of the choices we make. Many people choose pursuits because they enjoy them, regardless of their ability to add value to society or even pay the bills.
Learn high-value skills. Money follows value. The best way to get ahead is to build skills that increase your earning potential. Writing. Coding. Sales. Marketing. Anything that the market rewards.
The challenge? Finding and learning high value skills that also have the potential to bring you joy and fulfillment. Focus only on the first and you might find yourself perhaps well paid and miserable. Focus only on the latter and, happy as you might be, you risk those bills being even more of an issue as time goes on. The good news is you can experiment along the way.
Do this: Be good at something other people value.
7. “Humans produce delusion like cows produce methane.”
The Truth is a Niche Interest for Human Beings – David Cain – (Raptitude)
It’s tempting to believe that our relationship with the truth is deteriorating, particularly with all the political and societal events of the last few weeks/months/years.
Being seen as right has more survival value than actually being right, most of the time. You’re far better off being wrong with a tribe backing you than being correct but unpopular.
Like everything else that’s on instant and constant 24/7 display, that there are those manipulating our relationship with reality is more apparent than ever. But it’s always been thus. The fact is that, as a species, truth is secondary to many, many other aspects of our existence.
Human beings do value the truth, just not as much as other things.
Like, perhaps, power. Or money. Or comfort. Or acceptance.
It’s a fascinating read into our relationship with truth.
Do this: Maybe value truth just a little more.
8. “Dive deeper than you’re diving today”
Read More, Read Wider, Read Better, Read – Leo A. Notenboom – (Blog)
I believe that reading more, and reading more broadly, is a critically important aspect of becoming a successful person. Of course 7 Takeaways has been an valuable incentive for me.
Since I’ve been doing 7 Takeaways for over four years(!) now, it’s very common for me to recall items I’ve come across as I’m having casual conversations with people. “Oh, yeah, I read that ….” followed by something relevant dredged up from the recesses of my reading. I don’t remember it all (and I often later try to figure out exactly where whatever that factoid was came from), but it makes conversations more interesting.
And it’s changed me.
Do this: Read. More. Better.
Random links
- Encyclopedia Britannica Chatbot
What I’m reading now
- Mistborn: The Final Empire – Brandon Sanderson
- Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World – Anne-Laure Le Cunff
- Nudge: The Final Edition – Richard H. Thaler, Cass R. Sunstein
- Messengers: Who We Listen To, Who We Don’t, and Why – Stephen Martin, Joseph Marks (Audio)
My Reading List – everything I’ve read since 2021.
My Sources Page – the common sources I scan/read regularly.
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