What triggers lead you to max-out personal effort or some other resource like money in an activity? When do you go all out and give it everything you’ve got? (Answers citing examples in your past particularly appreciated)
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rage at facebook injustice has led me to typing out many long essays that i'd never have written otherwise. there's a clarity of focus when the "wow, fuck that guy" moon rises
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that damn simulation i just did i spent probably an extra week on it because if i didn't it probably wouldn't have been compelling enough
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The only answer for me is "when I try to stop thinking about it but find myself unable to".
If I find that my brain is still trying to work on some problem even when I'm asleep, then there's nothing to do but work until it's solved.
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1. someone i care about really needs my help 2. something somehow promises to unify disparate things...there is nothing more rewarding than the creation of intuitive understanding 3. something suddenly changes my mind.. answering: why was I invested in the wrong understanding
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I’ve put substantial % of savings/near-term earnings in play, and issued a call on banked social capital (ie strong requests for support) twice so far: to get into a competitive accelerator (to start a company) and to win a State Senate seat. Bc in both, success = game change.
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Large amount of money being at stake with a well-defined binary outcome based on work done in a restricted amount of time. It's worked out a couple times. Getting distracted by bunny trails (technical or biz) can also end up consuming a lot of time... you know about one of them.
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Opportunities to meaningfully escape poverty and join or rejoin the middle class after years of underemployment are good for a couple years of steady all out performance for those with confidence in their unrealized potential. Doesn't always last tho.
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When I can
1) See a direct path to the end (20-30 steps)
2) Direct a team of people (4-6, incl me) to do it
Then I drive hard, regardless of deadlines - simply because we can do it.
But not just me or me+1 other. Enough people where momentum really matters, can’t lose it.
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1)Being consumed by the thing (typically creative endeavors) Working on an art piece and even as a hack I 'm putting alot into it for really no big.payoff .
2)competition with onlookers I hold in high esteem. Crossfittish stuff but also Refurbishing vintage electronics stuff.
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