There is just a simple 2-step formula to awesomeness. Now this applies to everything that you do, but if you have a specific and measurable goal, it works out even better.
Here are the 2-steps:
Separate signal from noise.
Find patterns.
Separate signal from noise.
This is a skill that you have to master in. Just because something is coming from someone you admire it isn’t always right. And just because something is coming from someone you hate, doesn’t make it wrong. You need to learn from everywhere and everything, but also learn to separate what’s important and relevant vs. what’s not. Also, even when things seem correct, situation and circumstances matter. The same thing that is correct in one situation is also extremely wrong in another. If there is something that I learned about separating signal from noise over the years, it’s simply that everything has to be analyzed with a bullsh** filter. How refined is your bullsh** filter is the thing that matters the most. The more refined it is, the finer the signal. It’s an art — the art of separating signal from noise, and the sooner you master it, the better your life will become.
Find patterns.
Patterns are everywhere. Most people are already good at finding patterns. Stereotyping people or countries is an example that readily comes to mind. If not for patters, stereotyping wouldn’t exist. In fact, without one’s ability to recognize patterns, society would collapse. You recognize patterns in traffic, patterns in competence of people working with you, patterns in relationships, patterns in politics, and in markets. Without realizing, you might already be a pattern expert. But here’s the problem — the world is ever changing, which means, that the world today is not the world tomorrow, which means, that the patterns of today won’t be relevant tomorrow. That’s where your next skill lies. How effectively can you unlearn your patterns and learn new ones that matter. The only constant is change. The only real test is whether you can hold strong opinions loosely.
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