Nassim Taleb and I corresponded while I was reading Anti-Fragile in 2016. He was as inconsistent and as maddening one-on-one as he was in his sometimes tangled prose. Still, he has some good ideas. Excellent post.
Life is too short to be normal Reginald. I used to think fitting in was a curse because I could never do it. Then the internet made me realize that many of the big rewards in life come from being different instead of #better.
The Obstacle Is The Way is probably my favorite too. I've read all his books. I found his first book about marketing and having to tell lies was interesting.
It is the disrupters that get us evaluating our thoughts, decisions and values. Yeah it's painful at times but that's good! I also lament the current Victimhood Complex that is rewarded in society. We should have compassion but we should also aspire to improve and determine our own view of success. As you've said many times Tim, it's not necessarily wealth but freedom we want
Oct 6, 2023·edited Oct 6, 2023Liked by Tim Denning
but if you are too much out of "normal" you are too awkward and you can't hang out with them, which you need for survival at least. HM I was thinking to delete this, I like being little bit out of things but it is accidentally like that. Hm my message makes me scared but I will leave it, I'll try to forget it :)
MHH I think most people over-calibrate and become too normal. It's rare you see people become too weird. Glad you kept your comment. It's a small act of courage.
I simply wrote to him on Twitter. I asked him if Trump, at the time, was an example of someone who had no skin in the game. Of course he fit the definition completely, but NT said "No." I followed up and he responded one more time. I had Antifragile my hand and open to the relevant section as I tweeted him. It was great to get a response, but the response was... inconsistent. Not that he worries about that. He would just say I was not able t understand his writing.
Hah, got ya. Retirement was when I stopped working for Corporations and started working on myself! I turned 76 this past July. I'm now doing:
Various Exercise routines daily, Fasting two days per week, Wimhof breath Work every day I can 4-6 times per week, practice better sleep routines, Mindful meditation when I become stressed, more reading time. All of this with a better since of present moment awareness 😀 👍
This is awesome Barry. My friend actually works with Wimhof. I haven't done the breathing but hear it works wonders. What convinced you to do fasting? Would you ever go plant-based for your diet?
When I retired in 2010, I forty/fifty pounds overweight, got very little regular exercise, eat all the wrong foods, had a limp labieto and petrified what the hell am I to do?
I now weigh 160lbs, all of the above things went away 😀🙃
What convinced us to try fasting = my wife fell a broke her shoulder, during her recovery I watched PBS a lot a saw the British Dr. Who I think was first to document his own research. We are not total plant based, but restrict meat to twice per week or less.
Doing Wimhof for over two years now reach 4 minute breath holds regularly. It makes me a better person (Bragging)
One last tip when you can't sleep or acknowledge something is bothering you try BOX Breathing it works everytime for me!
Nassim Taleb and I corresponded while I was reading Anti-Fragile in 2016. He was as inconsistent and as maddening one-on-one as he was in his sometimes tangled prose. Still, he has some good ideas. Excellent post.
Fascinating Jim. How did you get a meeting with him?
A great writer distilling brilliance by a great writer. This is the best post I’ve read all year. You could have made this 11 weekly posts. Thank you.
I got chills Bob. Thank you for the feedback. I still need to work on not having so many grammar and spelling errors. What do you think?
You only notice bad grammar when you read something you aren't interested in. Message >Grammar
Love how you put that Reginald.
And no one else talks about "the chills." I get them too, couple times reading this. And any grammar errors prove you're humann.
Okay noted Bob. Being human is important given all the AI writing that's out there.
I love it when deconditioned humans have the microphone. I finally feel like I fit in. I'd hang out with Tim Denning and Nassim Taleb anyday.
We're all on a conveyor belt of 'normal', do yourself a favor and get weird early and you'll turn out just right.
Life is too short to be normal Reginald. I used to think fitting in was a curse because I could never do it. Then the internet made me realize that many of the big rewards in life come from being different instead of #better.
Welcome to the club :)
You know there is one author whose writing I initially resist, and then I'm like, wait I might actually agree with this.
For whatever reason Ryan Holiday books have me perturbed for the first 1/2 of the book and then boom 'epiphanies' 💥.
It's a weird feeling.
His books are great. I keep in touch with Ryan's research assistant and love what they're doing. What's your favorite book of Ryan's?
Well I love what you're doing too man!! The masterclasses are super helpful and your substack is 🔥 Keep going!!!
Cheers Reginald. We try our best with the masterclasses.
So far the Obstacle is the Way..it seriously changed my brain.
The Obstacle Is The Way is probably my favorite too. I've read all his books. I found his first book about marketing and having to tell lies was interesting.
It is the disrupters that get us evaluating our thoughts, decisions and values. Yeah it's painful at times but that's good! I also lament the current Victimhood Complex that is rewarded in society. We should have compassion but we should also aspire to improve and determine our own view of success. As you've said many times Tim, it's not necessarily wealth but freedom we want
but if you are too much out of "normal" you are too awkward and you can't hang out with them, which you need for survival at least. HM I was thinking to delete this, I like being little bit out of things but it is accidentally like that. Hm my message makes me scared but I will leave it, I'll try to forget it :)
MHH I think most people over-calibrate and become too normal. It's rare you see people become too weird. Glad you kept your comment. It's a small act of courage.
That's true. You have to be weird in the most edifying ways. And, you have to keep searching for your 'belonging'. It may just take a while.
Longevity is the cure for awkwardness.
Screw being normal as they say
Yup reading diverse opinions is what it's all about, especially as the polarization of the internet only seems to being getting stronger.
It's getting stronger because that's how one gets attention. Not always a good thing but I prefer to live with reality.
I'll eat carbohydrates though
I probably will too MHH :)
Sometimes we need to be slapped upside the face with facts of our human condition, keep slapping Tim and I'll keep reading.
Cheers David and thanks for subscribing. I'll try to slap gently. Okay?
Love it :)
Thanks!
This is so good, Tim!
And with each quote, I found myself thinking!
Thanks so much for sharing 🙏
Glad I met the promise in the headline Bookie. Which was your favourite quote?
My favourite has to be quote #4
Got to believe Simone Biles’ was in her flow state big time. What a beautiful example she gives to everyone 😍
Bravo, again!
Thanks Joseph.
Thanks Tim. It worth a week of content.
Wow that's a big call Afendi. Thank you.
Love this. Great read, Tim! I need to read more Taleb.
Cheers David. I recommend you listen to his latest podcast with Tim Ferriss.
Antifragile and The Black Swan.
Ahhh yes. Such a classic Carlos.
I simply wrote to him on Twitter. I asked him if Trump, at the time, was an example of someone who had no skin in the game. Of course he fit the definition completely, but NT said "No." I followed up and he responded one more time. I had Antifragile my hand and open to the relevant section as I tweeted him. It was great to get a response, but the response was... inconsistent. Not that he worries about that. He would just say I was not able t understand his writing.
What a cool story Jim. Love the hustle here. I can't find you on Twitter. Did you leave because of Elon?
My thought too!
:)
Hah, got ya. Retirement was when I stopped working for Corporations and started working on myself! I turned 76 this past July. I'm now doing:
Various Exercise routines daily, Fasting two days per week, Wimhof breath Work every day I can 4-6 times per week, practice better sleep routines, Mindful meditation when I become stressed, more reading time. All of this with a better since of present moment awareness 😀 👍
Barry
This is awesome Barry. My friend actually works with Wimhof. I haven't done the breathing but hear it works wonders. What convinced you to do fasting? Would you ever go plant-based for your diet?
When I retired in 2010, I forty/fifty pounds overweight, got very little regular exercise, eat all the wrong foods, had a limp labieto and petrified what the hell am I to do?
I now weigh 160lbs, all of the above things went away 😀🙃
What convinced us to try fasting = my wife fell a broke her shoulder, during her recovery I watched PBS a lot a saw the British Dr. Who I think was first to document his own research. We are not total plant based, but restrict meat to twice per week or less.
Doing Wimhof for over two years now reach 4 minute breath holds regularly. It makes me a better person (Bragging)
One last tip when you can't sleep or acknowledge something is bothering you try BOX Breathing it works everytime for me!
So much gold here Barry. You should write more about this on social media.