4 ms·

Why such a needlessly pessimistic view? I think this "paint drip" imagery is a cute way to describe the characteristics of success described therein.

thrashh 3y ago
Well let’s say I find a super successful restaurant that makes its burritos one way. I’m amazed. I’m inspired. I write a book about it and describe the specific ways that they do things that make them successful. Then a few years later, I find another super successful burrito restaurant. They make it completely opposite to what I wrote in my book. It turns out the reasons for success runs deeper than the superficial things that you see people do day to day. For every successful person that reads a book a week, there’s probably 5 that just laze on the couch.
- gottorf 3y ago
  > For every successful person that reads a book a week, there’s probably 5 that just laze on the couch. I understand that not every successful person reads a book a week (or s/a book a week/any other "productive" habit often bandied about in articles like this), but I really doubt that very many successful people habitually laze on the couch.
istjohn 3y ago
There are worse vices than indulging in self-help cotton candy, but we should see it for what it is.
oh_sigh 3y ago
Except the "paint drip" aspect of this successful person might be entirely irrelevant to their success. Imagine if Keith ate oatmeal every day for breakfast, and there was an "Oatmeal people" article describing why eating oatmeal for breakfast is the key to Ken's success. After all, it gives him long lasting energy, having a routine can be useful, it is simple to prepare and you can think about other things while making it, etc. Or, for every "paint drip person", you might find another person who is equally as successful and devoted their entire energy to a single project or idea.

4 ms·

Why such a needlessly pessimistic view? I think this "paint drip" imagery is a cute way to describe the characteristics of success described therein.

by gottorf 3y ago

thrashh 3y ago
Well let’s say I find a super successful restaurant that makes its burritos one way. I’m amazed. I’m inspired. I write a book about it and describe the specific ways that they do things that make them successful. Then a few years later, I find another super successful burrito restaurant. They make it completely opposite to what I wrote in my book. It turns out the reasons for success runs deeper than the superficial things that you see people do day to day. For every successful person that reads a book a week, there’s probably 5 that just laze on the couch.
- gottorf 3y ago
  > For every successful person that reads a book a week, there’s probably 5 that just laze on the couch. I understand that not every successful person reads a book a week (or s/a book a week/any other "productive" habit often bandied about in articles like this), but I really doubt that very many successful people habitually laze on the couch.
istjohn 3y ago
There are worse vices than indulging in self-help cotton candy, but we should see it for what it is.
oh_sigh 3y ago
Except the "paint drip" aspect of this successful person might be entirely irrelevant to their success. Imagine if Keith ate oatmeal every day for breakfast, and there was an "Oatmeal people" article describing why eating oatmeal for breakfast is the key to Ken's success. After all, it gives him long lasting energy, having a routine can be useful, it is simple to prepare and you can think about other things while making it, etc. Or, for every "paint drip person", you might find another person who is equally as successful and devoted their entire energy to a single project or idea.