Visakan Veerasamy, a writer and entrepreneur, shares insights on the often-overlooked significance of seriousness in life and career. He discusses balancing high standards with self-compassion and the art of handling criticism. The conversation touches on the interplay between earnestness and playfulness, emphasizing their importance in forging deep connections. Visakan also explores navigating the emotional needs of others while maintaining one's authenticity, and how success intertwines with self-validation and the challenges of procrastination.

Visakan Veerasamy is a prolific thinker, writer & creator. As well as being the author of the books ‘Introspect’ and ‘Friendly Ambitious Nerd’, he is known for weaving huge, interconnected Twitter threads and for his mission to build “the greatest social graph of friendly, ambitious nerds that the world has ever seen.” Important Links: Visa's Website Visa's Twitter  Visa's Youtube Show Notes: The origins of Friendly Ambitious Nerd “The most heroic thing you can do is not hate yourself” Confronting the minotaur Introspection & Maslow’s hierarchy of needs Overriding human OS Humor is the cure How to demonstrate the power of humor Dealing with judgment & criticism Responding to requests for help Enforcing a no-assholes rule "Focus your time and energy on what you want to see more of” “School is bullshit” Question defaults & screw around MUCH more! Books Mentioned: Friendly Ambitious Nerd; by Visakan Veerasamy Introspect; by Visakan Veerasamy The Science of Storytelling; by Will Storr The Status Game: On Social Position and How We Use It; by Will Storr The Hero with a Thousand Faces; by Joseph Campbell Shantaram; by Gregory David Roberts The Art of War; by Sun Tzu The Tao Te Ching; by Laozi The Lord of the Rings; by J. R. R. Tolkien

Visakan Veerasamy is an internet creator and writer, he is passionate about the future of the internet, ideas, and how people can be bolder on their creative journeys.  His mission is to build the greatest social graph of friendly, ambitious nerds that the world has ever seen.This is our second conversation and dives much more into his current work and how he thinks about the internet. 🎥🍿 YOUTUBE: WATCH HERELinks:Twitter: @visakanvWebsite: visakanv.com Buy Introspect: On Gumroad⌛TIMESTAMPS(0:00) Audio intro(2:27) Long-orbit friendships(7:34) Can rooting for people be learned?(8:54) Preemptive defensiveness vs live and let live(12:55) Agreeing with the letter but not the spirit(14:11) The conformist culture of the US(15:53) Having a positive vision vs just being against something(20:04) Posting trajectories, long-term engagement(28:38) Trying to replace income, burnout, and learning patience(36:22) Micro-existential crises(40:07) How is Visakan making money these days?(44:31) Charging based on value, not on prestige(46:41) "A homeostatic impulse" to always make the same amount of money, limiting beliefs(52:19) Pricing books and managing your expectations(58:10) How did it feel to get $1000 for a book?(1:00:36) People Visakan is following, shoutouts(1:13:52) Understanding the scale of the Internet and having low expectations(1:20:31) Persistence and heart is all you need(1:26:25) The Internet as a spiritual practice - dealing with negative comments📕Buy Paul’s Book (Published Jan 2022): The Pathless Path📲Connect + Follow PaulTwitter: @p_millerdPaul’s Newsletter: Subscribe to BoundlessPaul’s YouTube: Subscribe🙏Further Ways To Support The Podcast:I use Transistor to host this podcast. It rocks. Launch Your HereI record high-quality video using Riverside: Sign Up HereBecome a sponsor of the Podcast / NewsletterWant to upgrade your Zoom studio? Check out Kevin Shen’s Dream Studio CourseWant to launch a course? Podia or Teachable are both greatWeb Hosting: Skystra Fast WordPress HostingHost your own community" Circle 14-day free trial 📘 GOOD WORK: LIVE! => Learn More📕 Buy Paul’s Book (50k+ Sold): The Pathless Path😁 Join Hundreds On Unconventional Paths: Pathless Path Community📲Connect + Follow PaulTwitter: @p_millerdInstagram: @pathlesspaulPaul’s Newsletter: Subscribe to Pathless (23k+ People)Paul’s YouTube: Subscribe🙏Further Ways To Support The Podcast:Accounting, Taxes, And Payroll For Your S-Corp (Ideal for $60k+ income): CollectiveLooking for alternatives to traditional health insurance in the US? Check out CrowdhealthI use Transistor to host this podcast. It rocks. Launch Yours HereI record high-quality videos using Riverside: Sign Up Here