From: Michael M. Butler (butler@comp-lib.org)
Date: Thu Dec 14 2000 - 19:51:42 MST
Dear Jeremy:
This is a really important sheaf of question(s). Let me say that I worry
about being up to the challenges of an unknown future, too. Permit me to
say that a degree in business per se is not useless, if you include a
focus on what "eternal truths" can be garnered from it--these may be
things you'll have to figure out for yourself, rather than what some
instructor or dean might tell you.
I have my own game plan, which includes the following:
1) Hone my people skills. Dealing with people is going to be important
even if the most important ones turn out to be artificial; in
particular, *I* am people and I am going to be spending a lot of time
with myself. Be capable of ruthless self-examination without narcissism
or obsession over failures. Self management and growth and belief system
management are far from wastes of time. The least sucky "human
potential" course I've found so far is Avatar. Edward de Bono and
several others I could name can help with practical ways to become a
better learner, listener, thinker and improviser. I'm planning to build
a website on "gumptionology"(--how to get un-stuck) as well.
2) Get better at recognizing what "good enough" is, and where
perfectionism _is_ called for. Jonathan Bach has written a very
effective short article titled "Playing the Expert Game", reprinted at
http://www.satisfice.com/articles/expert_game.pdf. I happen to be
focusing on a career in Software Quality Management, because if "matter
will become software", it better not become <insert successful buggy
software package name form 1984-2000 here>. An excellent bullshit
detector is a bonus everywhere. Keep checking.
3) Master/achieve something, to a degree that satisfies myself, in
parallel with paying attention to the other points I enumerate; "lather,
rinse, repeat". It almost doesn't matter what I choose to master/achieve
next... BUT Don't assume I will have a "career" in the conventional
sense, learn to have justifiable pride in my intellect's resilience and
my capability to grow. Don't assume that any mastery I achieve will
permit me to rest on my laurels; don't count on a pension, don't build a
world view that includes "retirement" in the sense many people my
parents' age did. Build habits of directing and redirecting my
attention. Find people I like who know things I don't. Soak up whatever
I can. Create. Play. Collaborate. Become valuable and valued to others.
Don't define success the way tabloids, magazines, Hollywood seem to.
4) I happen to have a cryonics contract, so:
a) Do my best to help create a world I wouldn't mind being reanimated
in.
b) As a corollary, Do my best to help build a world that wouldn't mind
bringing me back.
And two rules courtesy of me and Terence McKenna:
4) Keep paying attention.
5) Keep breathing.
Good to make your acquaintance. Not everyone has to own an STM to get to
reach the Singularity. Or whatever's really around the corner.
Sincerely,
Mike
Dreamsinbytes@AOL.COM wrote:
>
> I've been tuning into the list which I must say is quite thrilling. I'm now a sophmore in school, and have no clue what I want to do with my life. After reading such books like The Age of Spiritual Machines etc... how can I possibly know what field to go into? Technology is just moving so quickly, and I know I am more aware of this than most (not including extropians of course) but how can I prepare myself for what is to come? Currently I'm in the business school of my University, however, I feel I am wasting my time. Any help is greatly appreciated.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Jeremy Schafer
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