- I’m really enjoying doing these!
- This is my eighth one, thought I’d share
Alex
I feel like I can never get enough done in a day. Like there's this profound mountain that I need to climb, and I'm moving up it one millimetre per day.
Socrates
Is it true that the most successful people may have been lost at some time?
Alex
I suppose so.
Socrates
Can you give some examples?
Alex
Well, I know David Foster Wallace really struggled at various points of his career. And a blogger I really like, Sasha Chapin, was depressed and lost. And Conan O'Brien said that he was "a grinder" at school and was planning on taking the default path, becoming a lawyer or something.
Socrates
Do you think it's true to say that you have made no progress, in the past 6 months?
Alex
Definitely not. When I zoom out, I've actually done a lot, or at least, made a lot of subtle but profound progress. Like, just in this year, I've gotten clearer on my personal values, learned the basics of rationality, gone down a bunch of fruitful intellectual rabbitholes after a period of intellectual stagnation. I'm currently really excited about Socrates and the Socratic method, and I've been really excited about John Boyd. I've made a few websites, made some great CVs and cover letters. It has been a great year in a lot of ways!
Socrates
Could you have done any of these in one day?
Alex
No, I suppose not.
Socrates
When you look at the arc of the year so far, are you happy with the progress you've made, or do you feel like you're moving much slower than other people?
Alex
No, I think in a way, I've done a lot of stuff, I've tried various ways of living, and I've gotten lots of useful data. And I have lots of fruitful avenues to explore - I don't feel blocked, or depressed, or lost. I feel on the cusp of a bunch of very exciting things.
Socrates
Are you happy with your progress this year?
Alex
Yes.