Professionally, I focus on creating social benefit startups. In my Saturday morning emails I share what I’m learning and thinking. Topics range from better living and parenting to business and philosophy.
Confidence Sells. In many human endeavors including raising money, politics and predicting the future, confidence sells. Does that mean those who overestimate their abilities have an advantage? As a society, is selecting leaders for confidence the best approach? I would argue that confidence is a necessary ingredient because without it, you will not start important endeavors or overcome obstacles. But confidence should not be the only factor or relied on too heavily. I like Julia Galef’s model of leadership: social confidence and epistemological humility. “We can figure this out. It is worth doing. We’re the people to do it. I’m smart and persevering enough to succeed.” A willingness to learn from reality is a sign of a higher order level of confidence. We should see clinging to one “right answer” and not changing despite evidence as a sign of a fragile ego.
Information is Fundamental. Information is transmitted or something learned to the extent the message could have been otherwise. A profound insight that holds up to quantitative rigor. Susan Blackmore’s work and David Deutsch’s book Fabric of Reality helped me see how the principles of evolution are more fundamental than biology. Deutsch is also known for combining computer science with quantum theory. Now Chiara Marletto and others are pushing forward constructor theory which among other things claims that information theory is deeply tied to thermodynamics, the direction of time and quantum dynamics. After reading The Science of Can and Can’t, I feel I’m only beginning to understand the connections. What else should I read?
Be Yourslef. Kevin Kelly is the techno-optimist prophet. If you haven’t read his books, you’re in for a treat. On his latest book tour, he is talking about the goal of life to be more truly yourself. One clue: what made you weird as a kid? You should do more of that. But it's hard to truly know yourself and therefore you need others to help you see. I’ve thought part of being myself is sparking dreams into reality. For those that know me, tell me how could I be more authentically myself? And don’t say that I should be more “myslef” with my “cute” misspellings from when I was a kid.
Until next week,
Miles
P.S. Tune in for my latest podcast conversation with Funding U founder Jeannie Tarkenton. We discuss: Is college worth it? And how to harness impact capital to build a fintech.