I liked this issue for a simple reason: it analyzed an important principle in depth and reiterated the key points very clearly, thanks for sharing. I think persisten is really underrated. Along with this, I think the ability to interact with many people, constantly, within one's field is important. Of course, platforms like Substack make this much easier. Finally, on Gladwell, he himself stated in his Masterclass course that naturally it was not a precise number, but a concept simply concerning the constant and lasting application in order to be able to know something in depth and become an outlier or a expert. But thanks for providing this example!
The problem of lack of persistence doesn't lie in people's inherent "weakness" or "laziness", or whatever, tho'; it lies in the intangible quality of "energy transfer".
When you are putting in work or energy that no one is responding to, you are exhausting yourself of more of that energy than you would be if you were getting a medium- or high- level of response to that work. It, in a sense, is a total loss of both the basic energy you put in, plus the additional energy you also throw in in the belief that you haven't raised the intensity up enough for anyone to notice.
That's a large cost, of something most people only have a limited amount of to spare from necessary survival-tasks and use upon something they like and want to do.
You pile those incidents of cost up over a year, or 2 or 5 years, + you begin to feel like a horse-player who always loses.
Do you persist; and throw more "good energy" after the void(+ risk "sunk-cost fallacy"), or do you change tack into something which may feed you even a little for what you're laying out?
This is a legitimately thorny question; especially bc we know that "merit" in the modern day is largely a convenient chimera based from who gets to define it, and "response" is one way it gets defined.
Thus, "persistence" is in no way the straightforward quality it's portrayed to be.
I do agree most things you should quit if not paying off, huge amount of value in knowing when to walk away. But in at least some aspect of life you should learn to proceed without needing to be pet or get a biscuit.
This is great! As someone who’s very new to sharing what I do (art and photography) via newsletter, I find myself getting hung up in the “as long as you’re providing external value to the WORLD.” I feel like every post should end with, “and that’s how you can help cure cancer.” I’m exaggerating, but how do you not overthink stuff and just write?
Imo, *Buying the dip* on Wall Street applies here re persistence.
If you have confidence, you continue to invest - even thru the dips; taking advantage of the dips.
It's unrealistic to think there will be a single slope of the line on the Project graph.
You have to expect there will be a (next) dip, confront it and learn from it when it occurs. Then strategically use that new knowledge, make the decision to stay the course, pivot as required.
Over 12 years of too many dips to count, and many pivots, I have learned to appreciate the smallest kernels of victory that (self)reinforces my persistence.
I liked this issue for a simple reason: it analyzed an important principle in depth and reiterated the key points very clearly, thanks for sharing. I think persisten is really underrated. Along with this, I think the ability to interact with many people, constantly, within one's field is important. Of course, platforms like Substack make this much easier. Finally, on Gladwell, he himself stated in his Masterclass course that naturally it was not a precise number, but a concept simply concerning the constant and lasting application in order to be able to know something in depth and become an outlier or a expert. But thanks for providing this example!
The problem of lack of persistence doesn't lie in people's inherent "weakness" or "laziness", or whatever, tho'; it lies in the intangible quality of "energy transfer".
When you are putting in work or energy that no one is responding to, you are exhausting yourself of more of that energy than you would be if you were getting a medium- or high- level of response to that work. It, in a sense, is a total loss of both the basic energy you put in, plus the additional energy you also throw in in the belief that you haven't raised the intensity up enough for anyone to notice.
That's a large cost, of something most people only have a limited amount of to spare from necessary survival-tasks and use upon something they like and want to do.
You pile those incidents of cost up over a year, or 2 or 5 years, + you begin to feel like a horse-player who always loses.
Do you persist; and throw more "good energy" after the void(+ risk "sunk-cost fallacy"), or do you change tack into something which may feed you even a little for what you're laying out?
This is a legitimately thorny question; especially bc we know that "merit" in the modern day is largely a convenient chimera based from who gets to define it, and "response" is one way it gets defined.
Thus, "persistence" is in no way the straightforward quality it's portrayed to be.
I do agree most things you should quit if not paying off, huge amount of value in knowing when to walk away. But in at least some aspect of life you should learn to proceed without needing to be pet or get a biscuit.
Those "some aspects" should deliver some value concomitant to the effort then.
Communication in with others is a thing of value, not "a biscuit".
yes that's fair!
Yes, but energy has a key role.
Remember the Shackleton family motto: "Fortitudine vincimus": By endurance we conquer.
https://www.timelesstimely.com/p/leadership-style-resistance-vs.html
Persistence persists! This Farnam Street article on persistence always stuck with me: https://fs.blog/adversity/
This is great
Thanks for the link
This is great! As someone who’s very new to sharing what I do (art and photography) via newsletter, I find myself getting hung up in the “as long as you’re providing external value to the WORLD.” I feel like every post should end with, “and that’s how you can help cure cancer.” I’m exaggerating, but how do you not overthink stuff and just write?
Build the habit by doing it daily, eventually you stop thinking about it so much and the muscle memory and process is built
Thanks!
This is the second time "The Dip" by Seth Godin has come up today for me. I'm taking it as a sign to read it.
Imo, *Buying the dip* on Wall Street applies here re persistence.
If you have confidence, you continue to invest - even thru the dips; taking advantage of the dips.
It's unrealistic to think there will be a single slope of the line on the Project graph.
You have to expect there will be a (next) dip, confront it and learn from it when it occurs. Then strategically use that new knowledge, make the decision to stay the course, pivot as required.
Over 12 years of too many dips to count, and many pivots, I have learned to appreciate the smallest kernels of victory that (self)reinforces my persistence.
Signed,
An Outlier
Also a David
(Iykyk)
Reputation IS persistente, but I do not agree in the case of blogging.
Good advice for artists as well as despotic Third World military strongmen. You can do it.
Bingo