Generational Cultural Context and Naive Agency. Boomers were tragically lucky.

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Generational cultural context plays a crucial role in shaping naive agency. Growing up during India's transition from a socialist planned economy to a modern liberal market economy significantly influenced personal agency for individuals of certain generations. The influence of global events, such as the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the introduction of computers and programming, also contributed to shaping attitudes and perspectives. The impact of generational experiences is evident in the way different generations perceive the world and form their attitudes. Boomers, despite their counterculture image, were fundamentally lucky in having their expectations met, whether growing up in the military industrial complex or as part of the hippy movement. As a result, they often exhibit a certain naive and self-certain attitude due to their fortunate generational context.

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