3 ms·

I think #8 is silly at best. I'm not even sure I know what is meant by "cooler," but whatever the definition the statement does not seem like sage advice from a

by dfc 14y ago

I think #8 is silly at best. I'm not even sure I know what is meant by "cooler," but whatever the definition the statement does not seem like sage advice from an elder. I am 32 now; I got over thinking about who was cool and who was not when I was 15. I would add something about not burning bridges.

lengarvey 14y ago
I read that point more as: "You end up being like the people you hang out with". So if you want to be a successful programmer, hang out with other successful programmers. If you want to be a successful businessperson hang out with other successful businesspeople. It's just a different way of saying: Your network matters and is way more important than most geeks would like to think.
cferwin 14y ago
It probably has something to do with the "don't waste time being shy" one. Spending time with outgoing ("cool") people could help with that.
- pyre 14y ago
  I think it has to do with not being average/mediocre. Basically hang out with people that are pushing the envelope (for various definitions of envelope), and hopefully you will be lifted up too.
crusso 14y ago
Far from silly. The characteristics he mentioned on this one: (by doing cooler things, being more laid back, accepting, ambitious, etc.) Those are mostly about developing the characteristics of a leader -- someone others admire and want to follow.
- dfc 14y ago
  How many adults talk about Alice being cooler than Bob? Furthermore ambitious and laid back? am·bi·tious (adjective) 1. Having or showing a strong desire and determination to succeed. 2. Intended to satisfy high aspirations and therefore difficult to achieve. laid back (adjective) 1. Relaxed or unhurried. 2. Free from stress; easygoing; carefree.
  - prophetjohn 14y ago
    Regardless of who talks about them, I think these are both desirable qualities in a human.
  - crusso 14y ago
    That apparent contradiction is really what makes cool so hard. It's not just about being amped up at 10 or being a bump on the log at 0. It's about being a 10 at where you're going while you make it look like you're at 0. You kick ass, but you make it look like it's easy and you're not trying. One of the best entrepreneurs I've ever worked with had that quality. The guy was focused like a laser on where he was going, but I never saw him get upset or look like he wasn't in control of himself and the given situation. He exuded "cool" and he attracted people like a magnet.
    - dfc 14y ago
      I guess one of the reasons that being a "cool kid" does not appeal to me is that I'm not as interested in appearances/image.
      - Cd00d 14y ago
        Can't one be cool without being concerned about appearance? I think coolness is about how one responds to situations, esp those unexpected. Think about how people talk to gate agents when their flight gets cancelled. Those that are reasonable and rational are cool (as in cool headed). Those that yell are not. They also tend to get more of what they desire while not making enemies. The definition of cool should not be stuck in a 15 year old's perspective of jocks vs. nerds.
    - meiji 14y ago
      "Cool" is undefinable and you also need to consider one thing. Look a the number of cool people you've known who are unsuccessful because they view being cool as a priority rather than other things in their lives. A lot of people I went to school with 20 years ago are in basically the same jobs they got when they left school. They earned money at that time which seemed amazing to people with no income, got to do more fun stuff because they had the money etc. Fast forward 20 years and they're in the same place. Just the "uncool" kids have overtaken them by a long way. It's about finding the RIGHT people to hang out with not just ones who seem cool. If you're 20, your idea of cool is different to when you're 35. MY advice would be to hang around with people that challenge you because that is really what people need.

by dfc 14y ago

lengarvey 14y ago

I read that point more as: "You end up being like the people you hang out with". So if you want to be a successful programmer, hang out with other successful programmers. If you want to be a successful businessperson hang out with other successful businesspeople. It's just a different way of saying: Your network matters and is way more important than most geeks would like to think.

cferwin 14y ago

It probably has something to do with the "don't waste time being shy" one. Spending time with outgoing ("cool") people could help with that.

pyre 14y ago
I think it has to do with not being average/mediocre. Basically hang out with people that are pushing the envelope (for various definitions of envelope), and hopefully you will be lifted up too.

crusso 14y ago

Far from silly. The characteristics he mentioned on this one: (by doing cooler things, being more laid back, accepting, ambitious, etc.) Those are mostly about developing the characteristics of a leader -- someone others admire and want to follow.

dfc 14y ago
How many adults talk about Alice being cooler than Bob? Furthermore ambitious and laid back? am·bi·tious (adjective) 1. Having or showing a strong desire and determination to succeed. 2. Intended to satisfy high aspirations and therefore difficult to achieve. laid back (adjective) 1. Relaxed or unhurried. 2. Free from stress; easygoing; carefree.
- prophetjohn 14y ago
  Regardless of who talks about them, I think these are both desirable qualities in a human.
- crusso 14y ago
  That apparent contradiction is really what makes cool so hard. It's not just about being amped up at 10 or being a bump on the log at 0. It's about being a 10 at where you're going while you make it look like you're at 0. You kick ass, but you make it look like it's easy and you're not trying. One of the best entrepreneurs I've ever worked with had that quality. The guy was focused like a laser on where he was going, but I never saw him get upset or look like he wasn't in control of himself and the given situation. He exuded "cool" and he attracted people like a magnet.
  - dfc 14y ago
    I guess one of the reasons that being a "cool kid" does not appeal to me is that I'm not as interested in appearances/image.
    - Cd00d 14y ago
      Can't one be cool without being concerned about appearance? I think coolness is about how one responds to situations, esp those unexpected. Think about how people talk to gate agents when their flight gets cancelled. Those that are reasonable and rational are cool (as in cool headed). Those that yell are not. They also tend to get more of what they desire while not making enemies. The definition of cool should not be stuck in a 15 year old's perspective of jocks vs. nerds.
  - meiji 14y ago
    "Cool" is undefinable and you also need to consider one thing. Look a the number of cool people you've known who are unsuccessful because they view being cool as a priority rather than other things in their lives. A lot of people I went to school with 20 years ago are in basically the same jobs they got when they left school. They earned money at that time which seemed amazing to people with no income, got to do more fun stuff because they had the money etc. Fast forward 20 years and they're in the same place. Just the "uncool" kids have overtaken them by a long way. It's about finding the RIGHT people to hang out with not just ones who seem cool. If you're 20, your idea of cool is different to when you're 35. MY advice would be to hang around with people that challenge you because that is really what people need.