fyi.etc

It’s his birthday today, so I wanted to share notes from a 1949 talk he gave at UCLA called “Advice to Students.” It’s masterful, and I think of the last line often.

Make a list of books Develop a curiosity Look at things as though for the first time Think of things in relation to each other Always think of the next larger thing Avoid the “pat” answer — the formula Avoid the preconceived idea Study well objects made past recent and ancient but never without the technological and social conditions responsible Prepare yourself to search out the true need — physical, psychological Prepare yourself to intelligently fill that need The art is not something you apply to your work The art is the way you do your work, a result of your attitude toward it

Design is a full time job It is the way you look at politics, funny papers, listen to music, raise children Art is not a thing in a vacuum — No personal signature Economy of material Avoid the contrived

Apprentice system and why it is impractical for them No office wants to add another prima donna to its staff No office is looking for a great creative genius No office — or at least very few — can train employees from scratch

There is always a need for anyone that can do a simple job thoroughly

There are things you can do to prepare yourself — to be desirable orderly work habits ability to bring any job to a conclusion drawing feasibility lettering a presentation that “reads” well willingness to do outside work and study on a problem…

the primitive spear is not the work of an individual, nor is it a good tool or utensil.

Philippe Petit, who made history by walking on a wire between the Twin Towers in 1974, brings his wisdom to NPR’s TED Radio Hour and speaks from experience to what psychologists now know – grit is the key to success.

Petit is the author of the excellent Cheating the Impossible, 

Unions were a fixture of the 20th century, serving as a stabilizing force against corporate and investor interests in business, creating deeply influential voting blocks for elections, and creating community among individuals who otherwise might not have known each other, or been close.

Want to become a billionaire? Then help a billion people.

The world’s biggest problems are the world’s biggest business opportunities.

That’s the premise for companies launching out of Singularity University (SU).

Allow me to explain…

I’m very pleased to introduce Fast Forward Labs.

Fast Forward Labs is an independent data technology research lab. We focus on taking technologies that are just becoming possible, and making them useful.

But here is the important thing about all of that product goodness — it didn’t come at a cost that breaks the magic of Twitter.