Nabeel S. Qureshi

Nabeel S. Qureshi's Substack features a diverse range of essays exploring topics from decision-making in puzzles and sales strategies to philosophical musings on understanding and ethics in AI. It discusses the educational potential of video games, literature reflections, and practical advice on productivity and social media.

Decision-Making Art and Culture Sales and Marketing Productivity Ethics in Technology Education Literature Social Media Philosophy Knowledge and Learning

The hottest Substack posts of Nabeel S. Qureshi

And their main takeaways

Principles

1506 implied HN points • 12 Jan 25

Don't be afraid to ask for what you want. If you can handle rejection, you can open up new opportunities for yourself.
Move quickly and take action. Procrastination slows you down and can make tasks seem harder than they really are.
Surround yourself with positive, energetic people. They can inspire you and help you achieve your goals.

Reflections on Palantir

1678 implied HN points • 15 Oct 24

💼 Business Tech Companies Data Integration Software Development Corporate culture Entrepreneurship

Palantir focuses on solving tough problems in important industries like healthcare and manufacturing. The company aims to tackle complex issues that others often ignore, offering a unique opportunity for engineers who want to make a real impact.
The role of forward deployed engineers (FDEs) is key at Palantir. They work closely with customers to understand their needs and integrate data effectively, helping to create software solutions that solve real business problems.
The culture at Palantir is intense and promotes open communication, where criticism and debate are welcomed. This environment encourages employees to think deeply and cultivate a unique set of skills that can lead to successful startups.

Notes on Puzzles

222 HN points • 11 Jul 23

🚌 Education Chess Problem Solving Learning Techniques Critical Thinking Memory

Skilled chess players spend more time falsifying their ideas than amateurs do.
In real life, trying to falsify your ideas can help with decision-making, but there are scenarios that require you to 'try it and see'.
Having the conviction that there is an answer can drive problem-solving, but real-life problems can be more complex and uncertain.

Films + Books, Q1 2023

49 implied HN points • 06 May 23

🎭️ Culture Film Literature Books Movies Writer

Films from different decades and countries can offer unique perspectives on American culture
Exploring classical literature and scientific writings can provide valuable insights and inspiration
Engaging with different genres and styles of books and films can broaden your perspectives and appreciation for art

May Updates + New Essay On Moral AI

18 implied HN points • 30 May 23

🕹 Technology AI Ethics Blogging Travel Literature

Debate on AI ethics and regulations is happening, largely on Twitter.
Writing about AI morality for a broader audience can be challenging.
Technical solutions like Constitutional AI are being explored for AI alignment.

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Advice That Actually Worked For Me

19 HN points • 04 Jul 22

Maximize your baseline energy levels to boost productivity throughout the day
Do the most important thing first in the morning before checking social media
Tell yourself positive stories about your abilities to improve your energy and performance

Video Games are the Future of Education

21 implied HN points • 21 Jun 20

The things you learn by yourself stick; the things that are 'taught' to you do not stick.
Video games provide a much deeper understanding of most subjects than classical education does.
Video games will become a core component of education.

The Serendipity Machine

2 HN points • 20 Jan 24

🕹 Technology Social media Networking Content creation Information Sharing

Twitter can be a valuable tool for learning, networking, and having fun.
Curating a good Twitter feed takes time and effort, but it can be worth it for the insights gained.
When using Twitter, focus on following insightful accounts, engaging positively, and sharing valuable content.

How To Sell

21 implied HN points • 18 Jan 20

Your job in sales is to qualify, not just to sell.
In a sales call, listen more than you talk (80% listening, 20% talking).
Every sales call should have a structured format with clear next steps.

Reading Notes on “Lost Time: Lectures on Proust in a Soviet Prison Camp”

15 implied HN points • 15 Dec 19

Jozef Czapski gave lectures on Proust in a Soviet prison camp to fellow officers
Czapski reconstructed Proust from memory without references, making the content more engaging
Proust's attention to detail and memory superpowers were crucial to his writing process

Notes on Karl Popper

12 implied HN points • 26 Jan 20

Karl Popper's philosophy emphasizes fallibilism, stating that all knowledge is provisional and subject to potential falsification.
Popper views the growth of knowledge as an evolutionary process, where theories are critiqued and improved over time.
Popper's ideas have implications in various areas like politics, education, and creativity, stressing the importance of error-correction, problem selection, and idea generation.

How To Understand Things

2 HN points • 02 Jul 20

Intelligence is not just about raw intellect but also about virtues like honesty, integrity, and bravery.
To deeply understand something, go slow, ponder, and ask questions. Direct experience and fresh seeing beats repeating what you've heard.
Understand that understanding is not a binary concept; there are layers of depth to knowledge.