Marc Andreessen’s blog has been making waves all over the internet. Which marks the second time in 6 months that tech bloggers have been played and manipulated into a frenzy (Tim Ferriss being the first) Don’t get me wrong, the blog is astoundingly good and Andreessen is an all-start–he literally invented the world-wide-web. It is the way he went about launching his blog that is so indicative of his creative and innovative way of addressing situations.

Today, Valleywag wrote that Marc was “late to the blogging game and caught in the throes of newbie enthusiasm..” That is a profound misread of the situation. Clearly, Marc decided to start a blog 6-12 months ago and then spent that intermediate time coming up with a plethora of stellar posts. He stocked up on digg worth and potentially viral posts, so when he launched he’d have a quiver of good content. While the rest of us try to come up with a few solid posts a week, Marc is sitting back and uploading what he already wrote. But to the unthinking reader: “This guy is a fucking genius.” Day after day, he is knocking them out of the park. And now he’s one of the most respected bloggers on the net…after a month of being online.

The point is that, yes it really is that easy. Yes, the rest of the world really is stuck in a box. I remember a year or so ago I had an idea for a business venture and I pitched it to a friend. His response was “If your idea is as good as it sounds, someone would have done it already.” Which of course is absurd, and I did it without him, made a good deal of money and solidified a relationship with someone that continues to benefit me enormously. This is what I mean when I say just email the authors or writers you’d like to meet–everyone thinks it but no one does it. We’re inclined to discount the obvious, which means that the obvious is going unexploited.

Back in the early 90’s, the internet was absurdly elitist and tech nerds were trying to keep it that way. Andreessen came in and tore that all down by making Mosiac and Netscape, the first two GUI web-browsers. Hundreds of people had that idea first–BUT NO ONE DID ANYTHING ABOUT IT. Here with his blog, all he did was a slight perception play that scored enormously. In some ways, thinking intuitively requires an almost counter-intuitive way of looking at the world. Being unabsurd is absurd in its own right. I’ll give you an example, every screenplay you’ll read in Hollywood is in the same font and the same format. Why? Because that’s how it used to be on typewriters and almost a century later no one has bothered to update. Thinking ten steps ahead instead of five puts you on a different plane than almost everyone else. Having some foresight makes success a guarantee instead of a pipedream. What he did, what Tim Ferriss did is ridiculously transparent but no one is bothering to look.

What can you learn from Andreeseen? Thinking outside the box is not only easier than following the status-quo, it’s where the money is. The world seems like it is ruled by the uncreative because they cling to the system, but in reality their power is an illusion. With the slightest exposure to the light of innovation it all comes crumbling down. Trust those instinct, use that uncommon, common sense. Most gatekeepers are full of shit. Trust me.

Penelope Trunk has it totally right.

Trying to Keep Young People From Quitting? Keep in mind that training doesn’t have to cost your company a cent. Young people place enormous value on mentoring. They want constant feedback. Offer structured, constant feedback in place of salary increases and promotions. If the mentoring is good, the lack of promotion won’t be a sticking point.

I wrote before on how to maintain these, here and here.

“Not to feel exasperated or defeated or despondent because your days aren’t packed with wise and moral actions. But to get back up when you fail, to celebrate behaving like a human–however imperfectly–and fully embrace the pursuit you’ve embarked on.”

Meditations

Marcus Aurelius

I tend to get depressed and disjointed very easily. I get these little streaks where one slipup will blow itself out of proportion in my head. Worse is that a lack of any consistent results, for me, can and sometimes will induce complete despondency. Of course I know where these issues have their roots but that doesn’t make them legitimate. I do know that my generation is especially susceptible to these fits. Walk on any college campus and you can feel the melancholy weighing everyone down. It’s contagious, epidemic even. The problem truly is that it opens you up to all sorts of distractions that alleviate the symptoms but not the ill. Why the hook up culture? Well on paper it’s the perfect solution to the daunting loneliness that strikes students as they leave their computer screens and head towards campus. And to fight this battle cold-turkey and unarmed is no easy thing.

In work I have the same problem. Like I said if the results aren’t pouring in, I am tempted to lose all faith. Confidence, especially when you’re venturing ahead, can evaporate quickly.

Which is why this quote is so profound. Embrace the pursuit–whatever it might be and don’t let your obsession with unending satisfaction derail you. Your ego is not some power you’re forced to satiate at every turn. It can endure an off week or a set back. It always has. To think you could have made it anywhere without the doldrums is nonsense. To feel you are fit to protect the fruits of your labor if you’re not even strong enough to handle the calluses? Arrogant and delusional.

So when I see one of these cycles begin, I try to intercept, intercede. Isolate the catalyst and counteract it. Not feeling creative? Sit and write–even if it’s about not feeling creative. (What do you think I’m doing now?) No results? Find something you know will provide them and do it, however small, inefficient or temporary. Head it off now to save the time and struggle. But remember the metatheme. Don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s ok if one of them gets away from you every once in a while. There’s no shame in taking a little break and feeling human–it’s always better than bottling it up. But more often then not, step back and regain control. Do not let one emotion feed off another or let small bums throw you wildly off track. For you will find Aurelius’ “fluent stillness” to be a goal well worth striving for.

Remember: