Recent research shows that kids who picked one marshmallow now versus two marshmallows later tended to come from less privileged backgrounds. The narrative people tell themselves of what the risk they're taking actually means is very different from what you might assume just watching a drama unfold out there. There are probably some genetic predisposition, but there's these layers of trauma management, behavioral conditioning and circumstantial assets that creates more risky decisions.
Venkatesh Rao is a writer, consultant, and author. He has been writing about indie consulting for years and has recently published The Art of Gig, Volumes 1 & 2, which together take an in-depth look at the gig economy. Venkatesh joins the show to discuss tragic luck, becoming slightly nonsensical, the advantages of mediocrity, and a whole lot more! Important Links:
Show Notes:
- Origins of The Art of Gig
- Paycheck People
- Learning how to take risks
- Is there a risk-taking gene?
- The case for fixed-point futurism
- Finding meaning
- Personality types, narrative, and becoming a courageous thinker
- Don’t get tragically lucky
- Generational agency
- Sparring, pressure and meaning-making
- Be slightly nonsensical
- Teaching others to appreciate randomness
- Towards infinite games; be mediocre
- Understanding divergentism
- MUCH more!
Books Mentioned:
- The Art of Gig: Volumes 1 & 2; by Venkatesh Rao
- The 4-Hour Work Week: Escape the 9-5, Live Anywhere and Join the New Rich; by Tim Feriss
- Free Agent Nation: The Future of Working for Yourself; by Daniel H. Pink
- The Pathless Path: Imagining a New Story For Work and Life; by Paul Millerd
- Tempo: timing, tactics and strategy in narrative-driven decision-making; by Venkatesh Rao
- The Redemptive Self: Stories Americans Live By; by Dan P. McAdams
- Finite and Infinite Games: A Vision of Life As Play and Possibility; by James Carse
- Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-free Productivity; by David Allen