I Learned

Archiving the most interesting things I learn.

The hottest Substack posts of I Learned

And their main takeaways

#15: Nuanced communication is hard; On Seriousness; Rorschach; How to become the best in the world

3 HN points • 03 Feb 22

Nuanced communication is challenging in larger organizations due to conflicting messages.
Seriousness in American culture has been replaced by irony and mockery.
Becoming the best in the world involves mastering a combination of skills instead of focusing on excelling in just one.

#13: On Competition and Monopolies; Feynman on Genius; Steve Jobs's insights from the mid-90s

2 HN points • 07 Nov 21

Monopolies can lead to innovation and positive impact, as monopolists have the freedom to focus on improving products and making a difference.
Cartels, often unnoticed, can lead to inequality and restrict innovation; they need government and public support to sustain.
To be a genius, focus on a few problems persistently, testing new knowledge against them constantly to find breakthroughs.

#10: Think Different; Big Pair Trade; Work on Important Problems; Models > Beliefs

2 HN points • 08 Aug 21

Thinking differently can lead to good ideas
Consider working on important problems that can make a meaningful impact
Focus on creating and updating models over personal beliefs

#14: Expectations move slower than reality; Reality is moving faster than ever; Variance dampening and the Internet; Margins are slim at the top

1 HN point • 24 Dec 21

Expectations move slower than reality
Variance dampening by institutions meets Internet chaos
Margins in success are thinner than commonly perceived

#18: How to make people happy; Theory of Mind; On sarcasm; Kind vs nice

0 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24

⛪ Faith & Spirituality Happiness Leadership Communication Kindness Feedback

Express gratitude, give genuine compliments, and reach out to old contacts to make people (including yourself) happier.
Having a strong theory of mind is important for efficient collaboration and decision-making in a team or leadership role.
Sarcasm may not contribute positively to discussions and problem-solving, while aiming to be kind rather than just nice can lead to more constructive feedback and growth.

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#17: Expected value vs hit rate; The necessity of a positive failure rate; Winner's curse; Copenhagen interpretation of ethics; Searching for outliers

0 implied HN points • 05 Nov 22

Maximize expected value, not hit rate in a power law world.
Failure is necessary for a thriving ecosystem like startups.
Be cautious of the Winner's curse in auctions to avoid overpayment.

#11: Dunbar's limits; Questioning traditions; The Tail End; Redpilling and the Regime

0 implied HN points • 07 Sep 21

Maintaining more than 150 social relationships is cognitively demanding
Questioning traditions can reveal hidden flaws and benefits
Prioritize spending quality time with loved ones as you near the end of your time with them

#12: Predicting tech; Lessons from China's Internet companies; Technological shifts; How to sound "deep"

0 implied HN points • 05 Oct 21

Predicting important technologies is tricky and can't be done by dismissing new ideas right away.
China's Internet companies offer innovative trends that the West may eventually adopt.
As technology evolves, older systems may become obsolete and companies need to adapt for digital transformation.