notes #15: on the transition to working adult and anti-goals

This week was the week I officially transition from a student to a working adult. Officially because I wasn’t really a good student — and that university was more of a time and place for me to figure stuff out.

That being said, I love learning — just that my interests are not always aligned with the school’s timeline.

As with all big transitions, a new phase requires some extensive reflection of the past and planning for the future…

Currently there are three things that I’m working on.

• My full-time job as a software engineer

• Business projects with my friends and the best team I ever had (joblessclub)

• Creating content on my interests

In today’s review, I want to apply a mental model that Charlie Munger calls ‘Inversion’, which was further elaborated in Sahil Bloom’s The 5 Types of Wealth, to think about what I want to avoid in the three things above.

Software Engineer

While I don’t aspire to be the top of this field, I want to become a better engineer than I am today — and at the very minimum, keep up with the pace of technology so that I’m knowledgeable enough to manage teams and build tech products.

I want to avoid being stagnant in my coding and software design skills and knowledge.

To do so, every week I’ll review my growth in this area, and be very intentional about what I’m improving on.

Jobless Club

I’m happy and proud to be part of this team, comprising highly capable individuals who I know will go on to achieve amazing things on their own (should they wish to do that) — and there’s still so much I have yet to learn from them. While the most important aspect of this to me is the friendship and the journey, it is crucial for us to find some success to make our work sustainable in the long run.

I want to avoid the team breaking up and not see any exponential progress in our projects.

To do so, we need to be more focused and consistent in our efforts, so that the compounding effects on relationship and business will never cease to work in our favour. Specifically for me, I need to get much better at creating videos that will generate ripple effects for our growth.

Creator

Having created content for three years, I have mixed feelings on it. A part of me takes pride in sharing ideas with others, and another part of me is embarrassed at the lack of conventional success in this area. I spent a lot of time here just figuring things out, especially since it overlaps a lot with my identity — which makes things ripe for more confusion. But having made nearly every mistake one can, I feel that I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel…

I want to avoid focusing too much on conventional metrics, and also avoid creating videos that stay stagnant in quality.

To do so, I’m going to invest more time in learning how to create better videos, both in knowledge and mindset — and focus on following the vision I’ve set out: to integrate the world’s best ideas in our lives.

If it appears that I’ve got everything in control, you couldn’t be further from the truth.

There were many things that were unexpected. Just a few months ago, I wouldn’t think working a full-time job as a software engineer was in the cards for me — until my good friend Sean referred me for a role that turns out to be a crucial pillar now.

And with growing uncertainty around the world, I’m trying my best to focus on what’s within my circle of control and figure out how I can contribute positively to those around me.

I’m also still figuring out how to better lead discussions amongst people, in particular to be:

• More clear and concise in instructions

• Less anxious about what people think and focus on our common objective

I’m currently reading Expert Secrets by Russell Brunson to learn more about building credibility and shaping a movement through content which will greatly help with JoblessClub and my content.

Also I’m taking a video course to create better videos — and a gentle nudge on my side to balance taking action and learning.

Oh yes and I have to work on my health. Currently I’m in crazy bad shape that has been affecting my life and preventing me from doing things I love.

Have planned my day around exercising — especially first thing in the morning (as Stephen Covey says ‘put first things first’). Now, I’ve got to push through with better discipline around eating, which has always found its way past my determination.

And that’s it. Thanks for reading.

Cheers,
Joesurf

p.s. focusing on making this newsletter more personal and in a documentation narrative.