On infinite games and chasing money.
Edition #059
Hey friends, happy Sunday!
I have a few things to share with you before we get into the filter.
How I'm learning to code: This year I’m working on going from designer/webflow developer to indie maker. In this article, I share what I’m building and how I’m making sure I stay consistent.
Everything I’ve learned in 4 1/2 years of freelancing: This thread distills the important lessons I’ve learned working as a freelancer for the last 4 1/2 years. If you’re interested in making money from freelancing this thread will save you time and stop you from making the same mistakes. You can also read that in article form here.
Ideas from me
I.
Don't chase money to live a good life and forget to live a good life along the way.
II.
Think like an artist.
Train like an athlete.
Work like an accountant.
Build like an entrepreneur.
III.
You're not bad at something.
You're just new to it.
My Favourite Finds
Losers exist. Don't hire them: Losers exist in all walks of life, this article on hiring offers some great advice on avoiding losers. They make the point that it doesn't matter if the person is the best fit for the job, if they are a 'loser' then hiring them is a mistake.
Here are some things you can ask a potential candidate to find out: “Tell me about what you studied in college, and what were some of your favorite classes? A person who spent $120,000 and dedicated four years of their lives to any pursuit better be able to speak eloquently for five minutes on that humongous experience. Or else they are a loser.
“Tell me about your hobbies…” A person who has no hobbies, and can’t even exaggerate one, almost certainly lacks the ambition to make your company valuable. They are probably a loser.
Does Not Compute: Humans are illogical. As Will Durant said, “logic is an invention of man and may be ignored by the universe.”
Most things in life just don't make sense, in this article Morgan Housel explores why. The conclusion? Stories are more compelling than logic or fact.
Wherever information is exchanged – wherever there are products, companies, careers, politics, knowledge, education, and culture – you will find that the best story wins. Great ideas explained poorly can go nowhere while old or wrong ideas told compellingly can ignite a revolution. Novelist Richard Powers put it: “The best arguments in the world won’t change a single person’s mind. The only thing that can do that is a good story.”
What did you expect?: Sometimes things work the way they are supposed to, even if it's not what we want. Seth Godin makes the point that if you attract new freelance business by being the cheapest, those customers will give you a hard time about price. Or if you open a roadside motel your guest will be tired and demanding.
Sometimes things just work the way they are supposed to, so make decisions based on how reality works, not how you want it to work.
Finite and Infinite Games: This oddly written, concise book is thought provoking. Finite games have fixed rules and a clear winner but in an infinite game, the rules change during the course of play. No one can win an infinite game, the objective is to bring as many other people into play as possible.
I recommend giving this book a read.
End note
If you enjoyed this edition of the Sunday Filter then I’d love it if you could share it with a few friends. You can send them over here to sign up or share it on Twitter.
Have a great week!
- Stephen