The Third Layer of the Union

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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