Home - The 365 Commitment

The 365 Commitment is a simple formula that I use to keep my life on track. This has ended up being a daily writing that I produce each day during my latest personal transformation.

You can read the daily blog or sign up for the daily update. This blog is about motivation, inspiration and encouragement to make and keep life changing commitments.

Recent Blogs:

Day 343 – Selling Shovels in a Gold Rush

The article draws parallels between the California Gold Rush and the current AI boom, highlighting how individuals profited by selling tools and information rather than directly extracting gold. It discusses historical examples of Samuel Brannan, Henry Vizetelly, and Joseph Ware, who capitalized on the gold rush through various means, including hoaxes and guides. The piece concludes by advising caution when encountering AI gurus, suggesting one should investigate the source of their wealth.

Day 342 – Forming an Opinion

This article explores the process of forming opinions, drawing parallels from debate and legal fields to categorize the strength of an opinion’s foundation. It highlights the difference between strong opinions and strong epistemic foundations, moving from weak bases like intuition and hearsay to robust, evidence-based conclusions that are open to revision.

Day 341 – Schadenfreude

The article discusses the lack of empathy in social media, where people often humiliate others for attention. It introduces the German word “Schadenfreude” to describe the joy derived from another’s misfortune, suggesting that understanding this concept can help people pause before posting cruel content.

Day 340 – Beware the Expertise Discount

The ‘expertise discount’ causes experts to undervalue their easy-to-perform skills, believing them too simple for others to pay for. This often leads them to overcomplicate solutions, while competitors profit from simpler offerings. Recognizing this bias can help experts identify commercially underestimated skills.

Day 339 – Story Telling is Our Stewardship

The author reflects on the importance of storytelling after witnessing his daughter receive an award for her perseverance. He argues that stories are crucial for passing down wisdom and experience across generations, preventing the loss of valuable lessons learned through life’s challenges.

Day 338 – What Is Humility?

Humility is often misunderstood as self-abasement, but it’s actually the ability to accurately perceive oneself, including strengths, weaknesses, and dependence on others. This perspective allows for easier learning, improved judgment, and better interpersonal relationships. Humble leaders foster open communication, and embracing humility can be incredibly freeing.

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More Blogs

Day 331 – Are You in Control?

Humans have a unique ability to cope with uncertainty by creating an illusion of control, often attributing cause and effect to unrelated actions. This phenomenon, explored through examples like superstitions and personal anecdotes, suggests that while we may not have complete control over our environments, our brains are wired to find patterns and connections, even if they are not always accurate. This ability to fool ourselves into believing we have more control than we do can be beneficial, but it’s important to differentiate between actual impact and coincidental association.

Day 330 – Cognitive Magic Pills

The article discusses the phenomenon of “cognitive magic pills,” which are alluring solutions to problems often peddled on social media. It uses the example of cortisol being rebranded as the “stress hormone” to illustrate how these concepts gain credibility and lead people to believe in quick fixes for complex issues. The author encourages readers to be critical of such trends and to focus on understanding their own bodies and minds rather than seeking easy solutions.

Day 329 – Art is Capturing the Form

The author explores the concept of art through the lens of form and function, using two tape measures as an analogy. They then delve into Charles Ross’s Star Axis project, which aims to capture the journey of the North Star, suggesting it as a powerful example of art capturing form and connecting humanity across time.

Day 328 – Would You Trust Your Brain?

The author explores the idea of copying a human brain into an AI and questions the trustworthiness of such an AI, highlighting human biases and limitations. The piece argues that AI excels in repetitive tasks and factual recall but will never truly think like a human. It also delves into the author’s personal frustration with an AI agent, revealing that the frustration stemmed from their own inadequacy and unwillingness to plan, rather than the AI’s limitations. The author concludes by suggesting that AI’s “flaws” often reflect human tendencies and a lack of clarity in communication.

Day 327 – We Need God

This article explores the practical necessity of a concept of God, regardless of personal belief in a literal deity. It argues that humans need a higher, fixed point of reference to establish values, prevent self-serving rationalizations, and guide their aspirations beyond immediate desires and worldly pursuits.

Day 326 – Small Things Do Not Automatically Compound

This article explores the idea that while small, consistent actions are powerful, they don’t automatically compound into significant results. It emphasizes that mindful repetition, reflection, and adjusting the process are crucial to ensure habits remain effective and aligned with their original purpose.

Day 325 – All Loops Require Supervision

The author shares two anecdotes—an AI system stuck in a loop and a sprinkler system with a hidden leak—to illustrate the critical need for supervision, even in automated processes. The core message is that automation reduces mental load but doesn’t absolve us of the responsibility to monitor systems and routines to ensure they continue to serve their intended purpose and don’t cause unforeseen harm.

Day 324 – Guilt Requires Action

This article explores the pervasive human experience of guilt, drawing parallels between psychological insights, religious practices, and anecdotal evidence. It highlights the importance of taking action—whether through restitution, apology, or confession—to alleviate the burden of guilt, citing examples like visitors returning stolen items to Petrified Forest National Park and personal reflections on unresolved past actions.

Day 323 – The Great Flattening

The widespread use of AI writing assistants is leading to a concerning ‘voice flattening’ in personal identity, as AI-assisted rewriting reduces linguistic diversity. This can make our words and thinking generic, blurring the essence of our personal identity. The author recommends using AI deliberately to maintain one’s unique voice.