I’ve often wondered, why is external motivation so powerful? Certainly it would be nice if we were purely powered by our own desire for success. I know from personal experience that I would only be half as successful if not for my community. The two examples that come to mind are writing and working out. IContinue reading “Why is external motivation so powerful?”
Tag Archives: game theory
Don’t give up, we’re just getting started.
Everyone has a part to play in the revolution. No one is exempt. This is a full contact spectator sport. There are no “civilians” or “Non-combatants”. Telling yourself that you have chosen to not participate, is a form of participation. This is highlighted in the book trilogy the Hunger Games. Katniss leads the revolution, butContinue reading “Don’t give up, we’re just getting started.”
How to level up your thinking (a quick primer on levels of thinking)
This is a quick primer on “Levels of thinking”. I’ll just spell it out once, and then link back to this post later. Here’s a simple game called “Matching Pennies“: Two people each have a penny. They each (secretly) decide to leave the penny either face up or face down on the table. On theContinue reading “How to level up your thinking (a quick primer on levels of thinking)”
Cooperating with Others, Police, and the Mafia
This is my first attempt at writing fiction based around Game Theory. Mcguinnes sat down at the bar and ordered a bourbon. The bartender slid it over to him. At 2pm, there was no one else there. The somber bartender swatted flies, then made half an effort to clean the mugs. Behind him wasContinue reading “Cooperating with Others, Police, and the Mafia”
How Procrastination Can Be Beaten with Game Theory
Procrastination can be broken down into a game such as the Prisoner’s Dilemma (see diagram below). Imagine Procrastination as your fellow potential prisoner. If the work you have to do, isn’t bad, but it just needs to get done, that’s the equivalent of Prisoner B remaining silent. If you see your work as small andContinue reading “How Procrastination Can Be Beaten with Game Theory”
Sign on the dotted line forever
What does commitment mean? There’s 2 kinds of commitment. The first kind is just words. The second kind is “stake” or wager. The first kind is where you sign on the dotted line. This is the easy kind. Talk is cheap as they say. Humans are pretty bad about understanding consequences and accurately foreseeing theContinue reading “Sign on the dotted line forever”
What can hipsters teach us about game theory?
The Problem How does one stand out, in a crowd that is constantly trying to stand out? If “standing out” is the norm, then “blending in” is the new standing out, because nobody is doing it. This is applied contrariness. It’s being different for the sake of being different. To illustrate There’s a simple coinContinue reading “What can hipsters teach us about game theory?”
Stand Up – What the Flobots Teach Us About Company Culture
We shall not be moved Except by a child with no socks and shoes We shall not be moved Except by a woman dying from a loss of food It is not enough to ask for more. More is not enough. For a sufficient vision to exist, you have to envision the end. Then, andContinue reading “Stand Up – What the Flobots Teach Us About Company Culture”
What’s Your End Game For Life?
I can’t tell you how many games of chess I’ve lost because I was too busy piddling about trying to take the queen. There’s only one way to with the game of chess, and that’s to take the king. There are two life lessons from this: Always know what the end state should look like.Continue reading “What’s Your End Game For Life?”