Control Archives - 7 Takeaways

An over-the-shoulder view of a computer screen displaying a YouTube comment section, with a comment: "You s*ck! Get to the point or give up, already!" with another comment below: "Thank you for this! Your video was exactly what I needed." The setting is a bright home office, and we're looking over the shoulder of an individual pulling their hair out in frustration.

An Ignorant Comment by Some Random Dude – 7 Takeaways No. 298

Do hard things. Getting taken advantage of. Your work can be practice. Calmness, ELI5 version. Letting go of the past. Ignorant comments. There’s more than one way to use AI.

A sunny beach in saturated blues and golds. A person stands with a hand held out like a traffic cop toward a small wave coming in from the ocean that's about to wash over a sandcastle.

Reality Always Wins – 7 Takeaways No. 297

Listen more. Was Goldilocks curious? Fooling yourself about the future. Bending reality to your will. Bending your will to reality. Comfort is a trap. Exercise might not be as bad as you think.

a young boy at a desk with a computer, books, and notepad in front of him while he stares out a nearby window at a bird on a tree branch.

Made to Be Distracted – 7 Takeaways No. 240

Stop complaining. What, me worry? Who your work is really for. No plan survives. Squirrel! Grabbing your attention. Beliefs vs. truths (fight!).

A carved wooden relief art of a collection of circus monkeys.

Not My Monkeys – 7 Takeaways No. 217

Circus monkeys. Technology as mirror. Fixing things. Good enough. Boredom FTW. Learning FTW. Complaining FTW.

A chimpanzee standing upright on its hind legs, with a confident expression, throwing a shiny metallic dart with a bright green flight at a wooden dartboard hung on a rustic, earth-toned concrete wall in the distance, the board's surface worn and scratched, surrounded by a subtle gradient of shadows, with the chimpanzee's fur a mix of dark brown and lighter tan hues, its facial features defined by a prominent forehead, almond-shaped eyes, and a small nose, its skin tone a warm, golden brown, the entire scene illuminated by a soft, natural light with a hint of warmth, capturing the dynamic movement of the dart in mid-air and the chimpanzee's focused intensity, with a shallow depth of field to blur the background and emphasize the subject.

Poorer Predictions Than Dart-throwing Monkeys – 7 Takeaways No. 192

Confidence means little. We’re all just making it up as we go. New technology is scary. Depression is scary. Being wrong is scary. Phone calls are scary. Personal change is scary.

Two individuals in animated discussion, one interrupting the other.

Cooperative Overlapping – 7 Takeaways No. 179

Computers are tools. Interupting. Becoming interesting. Not all (whateever). Humor is funny. We are still not OK. Pants on fire.

A photorealistic image capturing the moment 'One Saturday morning last October, my friend Greg and I were running down the North Kaibab Trail in the Grand Canyon, close to halfway through 26 miles of trail.' The image shows two runners, Greg and the narrator, in mid-stride on a rugged, picturesque trail within the Grand Canyon. The vast canyon landscape stretches around them, with its iconic red and orange rock formations and a deep blue sky overhead. The runners are depicted with expressions of joy and exhilaration, emphasizing the awe and beauty of the moment. The scene conveys a sense of adventure, friendship, and the grandeur of nature.

Everything is Cool – 7 Takeaways No. 161

Sure, there’s other stuff, but let’s not overlook how amazing things are.

A digital painting of a person in a chaotic environment, symbolizing the embrace of chaos. The person stands confidently in the center, with a relaxed posture and a slight smile, indicating their acceptance and control amidst the chaos. Around them, a whirlwind of abstract, swirling colors and shapes represent chaos. The colors are vibrant and intense, with reds, blues, and greens clashing and blending in a dynamic and disorderly fashion. Papers and objects appear to be caught in the tumultuous wind, adding to the sense of disarray. The background is a blur of motion and energy, further emphasizing the theme of chaos. The composition is dynamic, with a sense of movement and fluidity.

Learn To Embrace Chaos – 7 Takeaways No. 160

Thinking, boredom, choices & uncertainty, Tolstoy’s thoughts on social media, and more.