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Beware generic advice about achieving success: http://mustapha.svbtle.com/tfs http://mustapha.svbtle.com/tfs (This is just off HN frontpage)

by praptak 13y ago

tannerc 13y ago
Yes, this article falls well within those bounds, but I can't help but feel we'll never cease to encounter similar write-ups (or books, or videos, or lectures, or how-to guides). I think the best thing we can do right now is educate one another to be mindful of the advice and guidance we encounter. It can be motivational to hear about another's success, but unless we're willing to find what works for ourselves, it's useless. Regardless, Adams is a remarkably interesting person and hearing about his approach to success is on par with reading a really great biography. Entertaining at the very least, something to build-up personal momentum at best.
- yajoe 13y ago
  I completely agree :) Success-styled self-help is a lot like the lottery. There are millions of analytical, intellectual, objective issues with each (e.g. YMMV, survival bias, terrible odds, etc.). What they have in common is they allow users to dream "what if" and have fun (e.g. "escape") with those dreams. Both advertise this fantastical thinking in terms of "how you can" -- either buy the lottery ticket or buy my book -- but they still mostly boil down to entertaining people with dreams. And heck, I love dreaming as much as the next person and love articles (or his comics) like this for that very reason... but I don't get hung up on trying to predict whether the content is strictly perfect just as I can't predict whether a random number printed on cheap paper will be life-changing.
vladimirralev 13y ago
Your advise is just as generic :)
rajivtiru 13y ago
This is a great point. Especially because as I read the article, I could tell the title was sensationalized to indicate that the article would tell you how to be successful. I like the content of the article though. It was a thought provoking argument for a system based approach to motivation rather than a goal oriented approach. I also liked the autobiographical parts. Its kind of sad to see that even people with something genuine to say need to dress it up to be generic so that they will get more exposure.
Synaesthesia 13y ago
The article says just that! "Beware of advice about successful people and their methods. For starters, no two situations are alike. Your dreams of creating a dry-cleaning empire won't be helped by knowing that Thomas Edison liked to take naps."
- marincounty 13y ago
  It says that to cover the fact he's still giving advise. The rich have been giving out advise to the poor forever. The one little act they alwys leave out is the amount of support they received along the way. It's always conviently left out.
  - Synaesthesia 13y ago
    He also mentioned what a huge role luck plays. I found the article's honesty refreshing personally.

Beware generic advice about achieving success: http://mustapha.svbtle.com/tfs http://mustapha.svbtle.com/tfs (This is just off HN frontpage)

by praptak 13y ago

Beware generic advice about achieving success: http://mustapha.svbtle.com/tfs http://mustapha.svbtle.com/tfs (This is just off HN frontpage)

tannerc 13y ago

Yes, this article falls well within those bounds, but I can't help but feel we'll never cease to encounter similar write-ups (or books, or videos, or lectures, or how-to guides). I think the best thing we can do right now is educate one another to be mindful of the advice and guidance we encounter. It can be motivational to hear about another's success, but unless we're willing to find what works for ourselves, it's useless. Regardless, Adams is a remarkably interesting person and hearing about his approach to success is on par with reading a really great biography. Entertaining at the very least, something to build-up personal momentum at best.

yajoe 13y ago
I completely agree :) Success-styled self-help is a lot like the lottery. There are millions of analytical, intellectual, objective issues with each (e.g. YMMV, survival bias, terrible odds, etc.). What they have in common is they allow users to dream "what if" and have fun (e.g. "escape") with those dreams. Both advertise this fantastical thinking in terms of "how you can" -- either buy the lottery ticket or buy my book -- but they still mostly boil down to entertaining people with dreams. And heck, I love dreaming as much as the next person and love articles (or his comics) like this for that very reason... but I don't get hung up on trying to predict whether the content is strictly perfect just as I can't predict whether a random number printed on cheap paper will be life-changing.

vladimirralev 13y ago

Your advise is just as generic :)

rajivtiru 13y ago

This is a great point. Especially because as I read the article, I could tell the title was sensationalized to indicate that the article would tell you how to be successful. I like the content of the article though. It was a thought provoking argument for a system based approach to motivation rather than a goal oriented approach. I also liked the autobiographical parts. Its kind of sad to see that even people with something genuine to say need to dress it up to be generic so that they will get more exposure.

Synaesthesia 13y ago

The article says just that! "Beware of advice about successful people and their methods. For starters, no two situations are alike. Your dreams of creating a dry-cleaning empire won't be helped by knowing that Thomas Edison liked to take naps."

marincounty 13y ago
It says that to cover the fact he's still giving advise. The rich have been giving out advise to the poor forever. The one little act they alwys leave out is the amount of support they received along the way. It's always conviently left out.
- Synaesthesia 13y ago
  He also mentioned what a huge role luck plays. I found the article's honesty refreshing personally.