Hello there,
Last week I wrote about a linchpin, a $10,000/hr worker who is capable of walking into a room and offering a few thoughts that are a game-changer. Linchpin is Seth’s vocabulary, our vocabulary might be an “outlier” and in others’ it might be a “superhuman” or in our lingual “yeye ni yule msee.”
Potato. Patato.
Wisdom allows us to go a step further than “yeye ni yule msee”, to pin-point with accuracy what it is that stands them apart from the rest. More importantly, it helps us see and learn what they are optimizing for in life.
If you study successful people, you will realize they consistently focus on 2-3 variables. But within those variables, they see layers of nuances and shades of complexity. They find the differences that make the differences.
The fixed variables are part of the Pareto Principle which entails zeroing in down on 20% of activities that account for 80% of results.
But it is never that easy.
More so because success is an asymmetric constituent of many things. A mix of the right values, mentality, network, work smart, work hard, good health, and so on. Each individual component a worthy subject for a bestseller.
How then, is it possible to cut whereas success is a mishmash of everything? How then, do you bypass the Four Burner Theory? How do we focus on 1 variable in our careers whereas there seem to be tens of variables?
So far I haven’t come across anything closer to a bundled measurable variable of success than HIGH AGENCY.
Here we go!!
High Agency
There is this ‘take it to the bank’ attitude that is a guaranteed winner in the path to success.
It is an attitude seen in every self-made successful person.
Two words that are a constituent of very many things that are the right mix rather than a single trait that is co-dependent on other distant traits.
It is perhaps the most important trait you can foster.
To understand high agency, we must reference the word “agency” from psychology.
Agency simply refers to a feeling that we have control over our lives.
It implies the ability to perceive and change our environment, but crucially it also entails intentionality.
When you have high agency you feel a high sense of control over cultural stories and beliefs not just control over your life.
Cite these examples:
When you’re told that something is impossible, is that the end of the conversation, or does that start a second dialogue in your mind, how to get around whoever it is that’s just told you that you can’t do something? – Eric Weinstein.
OR
After applying for your dream job and receiving a rejection email, how does it make you feel? Do you feel a sense of regret, remorse, external resentment? Does it make you want to try again? Or do you immediately explain it away as a lack of fit and move on swiftly?
It is
No human has run the marathon under 2 hours. I accept the freedom of those who are pessimist. The difference only is thinking: you think it’s impossible – I think it’s possible. The world now is 25 seconds away. – Eliud Kipchoge.
OR
High Agency is a foundational value that doesn’t just allow you to create a grandiose vision and sit on it. It is histamine for action, for progress – from the start, through boundless challenges, through deceit, hopelessness, resourcelessness.
It is a sense of showing up all times. Practicing extreme ownership. A mentality of upwards and onwards. Which speaks of an inner layer of mental fortitude, relentlessness, courage, focus, self-reliance, assertiveness, passion, commitment…
High agentic people don’t buy into stories by other people about what they can and cannot do. That’s just another story. They believe they have control over their story.
You can either be primed to have it since childhood or unlearn to learn it as you go along.
Best Stuff I Read
1. How to Read
From a man who has crossed 450 books read mark over 10 years, Juvoni Beckford sums up 45 lessons on becoming a (better) reader. Some of my favourites are:
- Explore and find what you love. Find books on what you love. Read what you love so that you can love to read. Share what you love to read, so others can find what they love.
- Read Non-fiction for mental models & perspectives on how the world has worked, currently works, and how you can create new works within it. Read Fiction for emotional models on how to feel deeper within yourself and in relation to others.
- Problem Driven Reading makes the value of books more real, the forcing function to take action more sooner & the memorability greater through overcoming the emotional motivation needed to solve a problem.
- Books with Quake Potential rock your belief window & view of the world. The epicenter gets you closer to the source of some truth. Shakes let weak beliefs fall, strong ones remain & room for new supporting pillars to build a stronger foundation to house your thinking.
- Overly complex ideas are fragile, simple ideas are robust, foundational & multi-disciplinary ideas are anti-fragile & useful.
- Book Purgatory is where incoming book recommendations go to await judgment day on whether they are worthy of your time and attention to read.
- Cultivate a Triathlon Reading Pace Learning to see: Flat planes of a book to speed up, Wet hills to climb up slowly with care, as to not fall back to re-reading, Rocky patches with varying shapes for a hop and skip & more dynamic reading speed for the changing terrain.
- Do the work to synthesize the author’s words in your own words to show Proof of Understanding.
2. Farnam Street
We’ve all spent time with someone who talks about all of these amazing things they plan to do. And yet they never seem to do them. They aren’t lying to you, they’re lying to themselves.
Don’t speak about what you’ve done in the past.
Don’t speak about what you’re going to do in the future.
Only speak about what you’re in the process of doing now.
What I’m Watching
New Perspective: Once you overcome the one-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films ~ Bong Joon-ho.
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Always feel free to shoot me an email at muigai@solomonmuigai.com with questions, half-formed ideas with a need of jack to bring to life or just to say hey.
Until next Saturday, have a happy weekend.
Solomon Muigai.