Re:A Word to the Resourceful
by markkat on Thursday January 19, 2012 @02:59PM
(#3486339)
This just crystalized something for me. I like to create stuff with people. Once I find that someone is thoughtful, reflective, or whatever you want to call it, I like to talk with them in a manner that prods the abstract. It now makes sense to me that my most successful collaborations have happened with people with whom I can easily speak in the abstract. Details and competence are real things, but they are not the most important things by a long shot. Details can't be accounted for except for the fact that they will arise and they will have to be dealt with in one manner or another. Also, besides a reticence to talk in the abstract, one thing that puts serious doubt in my mind about people is self-help books.
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Re:A Word to the Resourceful
by jodrellblank on Thursday January 19, 2012 @06:24PM
(#3487435)
Also, besides a reticence to talk in the abstract, one thing that puts serious doubt in my mind about people is self-help books.
Any particular reasons?
Well, I am sure that some will disagree, but what I've seen, most of what is in self-help books is common sense, although the best wrap it in amusing or counter-intuitive anecdotes. I think self-help allows people to convince themselves that there's formulae to life, when it's really just a matter of doing things in earnest and learning as you go.
So, basically I see self-help books as a sign that someone over-values impersonal advice. Not a sign of confidence, IMHO.
So you're saying the formula is to do things in earnest and learn as you go?
Hardly a formula. But sure, even if you consider it to be one, it's not book worthy. It's common sense.