Month: May 2023

The Value of Persistence


In the realm of creative pursuits, the feeling of being stuck can be disheartening. It’s that moment when inspiration seems to dwindle, and doubt starts to creep in. However, recent research sheds light on the power of persistence, suggesting that pushing through these moments of uncertainty can lead to unexpected breakthroughs. This article explores the value of persistence, emphasizing the importance of disregarding the instinct to give up and instead forging ahead in pursuit of better solutions.

Persistence

1. Defying the Feeling of Stagnation:When faced with a creative challenge, it’s common to reach a point where ideas appear to have dried up. According to studies, this feeling is often deceptive and shouldn’t be taken as a sign of actual creative depletion. Researchers suggest that disregarding this instinctual urge to quit can be pivotal in discovering new possibilities.
2. Challenging Assumptions:
The research emphasizes the need to challenge assumptions about creative limits. By persisting beyond the point where one might assume all ideas have been exhausted, individuals can tap into reservoirs of creativity they never knew existed. This mindset shift opens doors to innovative thinking and alternative solutions.
3. Short-Term Persistence Yields Results:
Although the study participants worked on their tasks for relatively short periods, the findings offer valuable insights. It remains unclear whether the results apply to longer timeframes, but the implications of persistence are evident. The act of persisting, even in short bursts, can lead to enhanced outcomes and greater satisfaction with the final results.
4. Applying the Lessons in Everyday Life:
The researchers themselves find practical applications for their findings in their own work. For instance, when faced with a meeting that generates mediocre ideas, they refuse to surrender. Instead, they evaluate the quality of the existing solutions and recognize the potential for improvement. By persisting, they believe better solutions can be found and implemented.
5. A Journey Without a Formula:
While persistence is vital, there is no one-size-fits-all formula to determine when the best solution has been reached. Each creative endeavor is unique, and progress is often subjective. The key lies in evaluating the current solutions and acknowledging their shortcomings. This process propels individuals forward, instilling confidence that better alternatives lie ahead.


The value of persistence in creative endeavors cannot be understated. Pushing through moments of stagnation and resisting the urge to give up can lead to unexpected breakthroughs. It’s crucial to remember that feeling stuck does not equate to running out of ideas but rather signals an opportunity for growth and exploration. By persisting, we open ourselves up to new solutions, unleashing our full creative potential and achieving greater heights of success. So, the next time you feel stuck, embrace persistence as your ally and discover the limitless possibilities that await.

Mastering the Delta

The world of work is in constant flux. With technology advancing at an unprecedented pace, skills once considered indispensable can quickly become obsolete. To stay ahead, it’s crucial to continually evolve, to have a “delta” that is always in positive territory. This concept inspired from Victor cheng, can be broken down into three fundamental levels: your career skills delta, your employer’s delta, and your industry’s delta.

The ideal situation in this fast-paced landscape is to maintain a hierarchy where your career skills delta surpasses your employer’s delta, which in turn surpasses your industry’s delta. Let’s delve into these concepts further:

Your Career Skills Delta

Your career skills delta is the rate at which you’re improving and gaining new skills compared to the rate at which your current skills are becoming obsolete. In other words, it’s the difference between the skills you’re gaining and the skills you’re losing.

It’s about adopting a growth mindset, seeking out learning opportunities, and actively pursuing professional development. This could mean attending workshops, pursuing additional qualifications, or simply staying abreast of the latest trends in your field.

The key is to ensure that your skills delta remains positive, that you’re always learning more than you’re forgetting or letting become outdated. This personal growth, in turn, allows you to bring new perspectives, ideas, and methods to your workplace, contributing to its success and your own.

Your Employer’s Delta

Your employer’s delta, on the other hand, is the rate at which your organization is evolving and improving its practices and processes compared to the rate at which its current practices are becoming outdated.

Companies that fail to innovate and adapt to changing circumstances risk being left behind. Those with a positive delta – who innovate faster than they become outdated – are in a much stronger position. They can retain talented staff, attract new talent, and stay competitive in the market.

As an employee, you want to be part of an organization that has a positive employer delta. This provides opportunities for growth and development, and allows you to apply and expand your own skill set.

Your Industry’s Delta

The industry’s delta is the rate of change in the industry as a whole, including the emergence of new technologies, shifts in consumer behavior, and regulatory changes. The industry’s delta can serve as a benchmark against which to measure your own delta and your employer’s delta.

Staying ahead of the industry’s delta requires vigilance and foresight. It involves keeping an eye on industry trends, understanding the implications of emerging technologies, and adapting to shifts in the market. This not only provides a competitive edge but also ensures you’re well-positioned to seize new opportunities as they arise.

The Ideal Ratio

The ideal ratio, therefore, is:

Your Career Skills Delta > Your Employer’s Delta > Your Industry’s Delta

This means you’re learning and evolving faster than your company and your industry. This puts you in an advantageous position, ready to seize new opportunities and face challenges head-on.

The key is to keep pushing yourself, to never stop learning and growing. When your personal skills delta is larger than your employer’s and your industry’s, you become an invaluable asset, a driving force behind your organization’s success, and a leader in your industry.

In conclusion, embracing the delta hierarchy allows you to stay one step ahead in a fast-paced world. By keeping your skills, your employer’s practices, and your industry’s changes in mind, you can ensure that you’re always in a position to succeed, no matter what the future brings. So, here’s to cultivating a high delta – and to a bright, dynamic future!

The Warren Buffett Way – Book Summary

“The Warren Buffett Way” by Robert G. Hagstrom is a book that delves into the investment strategies and principles of the legendary investor, Warren Buffett. Through a careful examination of Buffett’s approach, the book offers valuable insights for both seasoned investors and those new to the world of finance. In this blog post, we will provide a concise summary of the key takeaways from this influential work.

Key LearningHow do I apply?ConceptAction
Value InvestingConduct fundamental analysisIntrinsic ValueIdentify undervalued companies with strong fundamentals and long-term growth potential.
Focus on Intrinsic ValueDetermine a company’s worthCompetitive AdvantageAssess the underlying value of a company based on its financials, competitive advantages, and growth potential.
Long-Term PerspectiveAdopt a patient investing approachMargin of SafetyTake a long-term view, avoid short-term fluctuations, and purchase stocks at prices significantly below their intrinsic value to protect against unforeseen risks.
Moat AnalysisIdentify companies with a moatCompoundingSeek companies with sustainable competitive advantages that protect them from competitors.
Margin of SafetyInvest with a margin of safetyContrarian ThinkingBuy stocks at prices below their intrinsic value to provide a cushion against risks. Be independent and go against the crowd when investing.