How to Find Out Where Language Is Being Born

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The greatest rewards come from working on something that nobody has words for. If you possibly can, work where there are no names for what you do. Or where it takes at least 15 minutes to explain to your motherwhat it is. Do you think this is good advice for young people? And by the way, I'll say I have three boys who are 12, 15, 18 and they're more likely to take advice from you than they are for me. It's also a device if you're doing a startup. Because it's much more likely that that area which is ahead of language, that's usually where all the frontiers are.

Kevin Kelly has made a career out of looking to the future. He helped pioneer online social networking all the way back in the 1980s, and he co-founded Wired, the magazine devoted to digital technology, when the internet was still an infant. But in his new book, “Excellent Advice for Living,” he looks backward. It’s a collection of 450 bits of wisdom he wishes he’d known when he was young. Things like “Being enthusiastic is worth 25 IQ points” and “That thing that made you weird as a kid could make you great as an adult—if you don’t lose it.” Today on the show he shares his best advice for building careers, nurturing relationships, solving problems, and finding satisfaction. He also explains why he’s more optimistic than ever about technology (yes, even AI).

P.S. Have you checked out our new audiobook, "Immortality: A User's Guide" by Steven Johnson? Download it today by visiting nextbigideaclub.supportingcast.fm