5 ms·

You imply that what makes you happy makes others happy. A programmer who obsessively programms random side projects in his spare time is completely engaged wit

You imply that what makes you happy makes others happy. A programmer who obsessively programms random side projects in his spare time is completely engaged with them and likes to do that because he enjoys it on some level. So if you think that this is worse than watching netflix or wasting time with mundant social interactions...well...I guess that doesn't make you bad. You're just average.

foolmeonce 6y ago
If you are doing whatever makes you happy, what is this style of article for? If you are trying to alter what makes you happy to be successful then maybe that is a recipe for unhappiness.
0x262d 6y ago
Lol this comment is absurdly condescending. I think the issue is more with picking "abnormal" as a goal, from reading this book, and then trying to develop abnormal traits to get there; in contrast to being intrinsically motivated to work hard on and specialize in something, which is obviously fine. Additionally, one could argue that fixating on the "abnormal" language is a surface level reading of this and an unfair criticism, which I think is partially true. But if I were to rephrase "be abnormal" based on this article, it would just end up at "be unusually good", which isn't very insightful.
- JumpCrisscross 6y ago
  > the issue is more with picking "abnormal" as a goal I actually like this language. It’s a different way of asking “what makes you different, and how can you leverage instead of fighting that?”
switchbak 6y ago
The opposite of being singularly driven in the way you describe is not necessarily 'watching netflix or wasting time with mundant social interactions' (sic). Do you really think those are the only two options? You've made a strawman out of his (admittedly short) response. I can imagine someone who pushes themselves outside of work, and also makes time for sports, loved ones, and other intellectual pursuits. Perhaps by cutting down on some of that mundane time wasting you mentioned.

foolmeonce 6y ago

If you are doing whatever makes you happy, what is this style of article for? If you are trying to alter what makes you happy to be successful then maybe that is a recipe for unhappiness.

0x262d 6y ago

Lol this comment is absurdly condescending. I think the issue is more with picking "abnormal" as a goal, from reading this book, and then trying to develop abnormal traits to get there; in contrast to being intrinsically motivated to work hard on and specialize in something, which is obviously fine. Additionally, one could argue that fixating on the "abnormal" language is a surface level reading of this and an unfair criticism, which I think is partially true. But if I were to rephrase "be abnormal" based on this article, it would just end up at "be unusually good", which isn't very insightful.

JumpCrisscross 6y ago
> the issue is more with picking "abnormal" as a goal I actually like this language. It’s a different way of asking “what makes you different, and how can you leverage instead of fighting that?”

switchbak 6y ago

The opposite of being singularly driven in the way you describe is not necessarily 'watching netflix or wasting time with mundant social interactions' (sic). Do you really think those are the only two options? You've made a strawman out of his (admittedly short) response. I can imagine someone who pushes themselves outside of work, and also makes time for sports, loved ones, and other intellectual pursuits. Perhaps by cutting down on some of that mundane time wasting you mentioned.