We need a new era of ambitious optimism. Summary: Idea: Convince more ambitious optimists to solve the World’s Biggest Problems. Problem: Too many people now think it’s “cool” to be cynical. Solution: Organize the world’s ambitious optimists! Why: Ambitious optimism is self-fulfilling. Mission: Make Life Utopic For All! History: Kennedy’s “We choose to go toContinue reading “Ambitious Optimists”
Tag Archives: Independents
Pax Internet
Old: Convince governments, and people will follow. New: Convince people, and governments will follow. When President Zelenskyy posts videos online, his audience isn’t just his citizens and his enemies. We’re all his audience. We’re all his potential supporters. The power of enough people supersedes the power of any government. China, India, USA, North Korea, andContinue reading “Pax Internet”
Everyday Activism
Fuck The Cynics
When did it become “cool” to be cynical? I think it started May 1, 2003: A whole generation has grown up expecting their leaders to lie to them. Conspiracy theories have gone mainstream: I’m not saying there are no wolves out here. But please stop crying wolf every time. The worst kind of cynicism isContinue reading “Fuck The Cynics”
The 2 Types of Independents
Part 1 is The 4 Types of Democrats. Part 2 is The 4 Types of Republicans. Part 3 is The 8 Lanes in US Politics. Summary: Moderate Independent: Unify the two moderate Democratic + two moderate Republican lanes. Populist Independent: Unify the two populist Democratic + two populist Republican lanes. Background: 4 Types of Democrats + 4 TypesContinue reading “The 2 Types of Independents”
Hamming Questions
My World’s Biggest Problems project is inspired by one of my favorite quotes: I paraphrase this idea into two questions: Why don’t more people spend their time solving the hardest problems? My personal mission is to convince more people to solve The World’s Biggest Problems. This idea is a work-in-progress. If you’d like to riff on it, hitContinue reading “Hamming Questions”
Founder Accelerator
Best Quotes From Steve Jobs’ 1982 Speech to the Academy of Achievement
Notes: Neil: This speech was given by then 26-year-old Steve Jobs as an acceptance speech to the Academy of Achievement, which is a broader version of the Academy that gives out Oscars. This Steve Jobs is at the top of his first mountain; everything is seemingly going right. (He is fired from Apple just threeContinue reading “Best Quotes From Steve Jobs’ 1982 Speech to the Academy of Achievement”
Art vs. Fame
That’s Art without Fame. Some people romanticize this as ‘true’ art, but it can be a path to madness. Right now there are thousands of people around the world who are stuck in this very spot. I call them ‘Stellar’ — they have all the ingredients to be a Star, but they haven’t blown up yet: IContinue reading “Art vs. Fame”
Best Quotes From Elon Musk’s 2018 Interview With Kara Swisher
Notes: Neil: This is one of my favorite podcast episodes of all time. Elon Musk embodies The Stockdale Paradox throughout this interview, confronting the brutal facts facing his missions while keeping absolute faith that he will eventually succeed. I’ve highlighted my favorite segments below. Book Recommendation: Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for aContinue reading “Best Quotes From Elon Musk’s 2018 Interview With Kara Swisher”