About Cynical Wisdom
Cynical Wisdom is a no BS Self-Development Guide for Aspiring Polymaths.
If you don't know what a "polymath”1 is, this newsletter may not be right for you... However, if you are a lifelong learner, you will benefit from the knowledge presented.
Why does that matter?
Benefits
The conventional wisdom is to specialize. Educational institutions and the industrial world are organized for specialists. Specialized knowledge and skills equaled higher income. This worked for many decades - but a shift is occurring.
In the digital world, technology is challenging the specialist. If your specialization is built on knowledge, it is easily supplanted by AI. Once AI is trained in your specialized knowledge, it can dispense it as accurately and quickly!
Many industries and professions will be impacted by AI in the coming decades.
A broader base of knowledge and skills is the foundation for transitioning to the future of AI Overlords!!!
How do you transition?
Polymath Competence Model
The Polymath Competence Model consists of four levels.
The foundation level, upon which everything rests, is FACTS.
Facts are what is true in the world. They can be measured and proven to be true.
The cornerstone of facts is science. From these first principles, everything else can be derived.
The second level is understanding YOURSELF.
You are the manifestation of your history. If you do not understand how you became who you are and what influenced you, you will remain enslaved by your brainwashing.
Only by assessing, understanding, and challenging your programming will you be able to control your life.
The third level is understanding OTHERS.
Everything is easy if it weren't for people.
- Gary Bozek (1985)
We are interdependent on other people. Understanding human motivation and behavior is a prerequisite to accomplishing anything in our current world. The ability to appreciate, communicate, and motivate others is a mandatory skill to thrive.
The final level is understanding THE WORLD.
Comprehending the complexity of the first three levels allows you to appreciate the world's holistic nature. You can observe and leverage the "butterfly effect" for your benefit.
So how do I learn to be a polymath?
Human Nature
People are motivated by two general emotions: Desire and Fear.
Desire is a strong wish FOR something to occur. Fear is a strong wish AGAINST something occurring.
Since I don't know which emotion you are predisposed to (and is your personal motivator), I frame knowledge considering both aspects.
Cynical Wisdom is the knowledge you WANT. (When I use the word "cynical,”2 it is synonymous with "selfish.”3 (So if you have an emotional reaction to the word "cynical," think "selfish.") Cynical Wisdom is an articulation of the good things you should aspire to understand and emulate to improve your life.
Opposing Stupidity is mistakes you DON'T WANT. Learning from the experience of others is beneficial - you don't have to MAKE the mistake to LEARN the lesson.
You benefit more from improving what is wrong than what is right.
- Gary Bozek (1984)
Next Steps
While everyone can benefit from additional knowledge, only lifelong learners and polymaths invest the time and effort to improve themselves.
I sincerely hope you can benefit from the Cynical Wisdom newsletter.
You can also visit TL;DR (brief overview of benefits) or Read More (for more detail).
Be Cynical,
TCG
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