Hamster Wheels

@talraviv talraviv.org hamster wheels

@talraviv talraviv.org the modern world is a weird place

@talraviv talraviv.org I’m told it’s made surviving past 30 easier
than before

@talraviv talraviv.org I’m told it’s made surviving past 30 easier
than before for some people at least

@talraviv talraviv.org the rest has been confusing

@talraviv talraviv.org Here’s one question: after safety and health, what
should I do with my time?

@talraviv talraviv.org I’ve given this a lot of thought

@talraviv talraviv.org and I drew an intricate diagram   to
explain everything

@talraviv talraviv.org

@talraviv talraviv.org ha it’s a hamster

@talraviv talraviv.org on a hamster wheel

@talraviv talraviv.org that’s my diagram that explains life

@talraviv talraviv.org that’s my diagram that explains life wait.

@talraviv talraviv.org that’s my diagram that explains life wait. wait!

@talraviv talraviv.org that’s my diagram that explains life wait. wait!
WAIT

@talraviv talraviv.org our time can be spent

@talraviv talraviv.org running on the hamster wheel

@talraviv talraviv.org or just being a hamster

@talraviv talraviv.org here’s what each means

@talraviv talraviv.org running on the hamster wheel means Innovation being
a hamster means

@talraviv talraviv.org running on the hamster wheel means Innovation Solving
problems being a hamster means

problems Providing being a hamster means

problems Providing Doing commerce being a hamster means

problems Providing Doing commerce Figuring out how the world works being a hamster means

problems Providing Doing commerce Figuring out how the world works being a hamster means Enjoying being alive

problems Providing Doing commerce Figuring out how the world works being a hamster means Enjoying being alive Loving fellow hamsters

problems Providing Doing commerce Figuring out how the world works being a hamster means Enjoying being alive Loving fellow hamsters Family friends time

problems Providing Doing commerce Figuring out how the world works being a hamster means Enjoying being alive Loving fellow hamsters Family friends time Expressing yourself

problems Providing Doing commerce Figuring out how the world works being a hamster means Enjoying being alive Loving fellow hamsters Family friends time Expressing yourself Hanging out and laughing

@talraviv talraviv.org running on the hamster wheel means Achievement being
a hamster means

@talraviv talraviv.org running on the hamster wheel means Achievement Self-expression
being a hamster means

Pushing yourself being a hamster means

Pushing yourself being a hamster means Community

Pushing yourself being a hamster means Community Faith

@talraviv talraviv.org both are fantastic

@talraviv talraviv.org both are us

@talraviv talraviv.org buuuut

@talraviv talraviv.org buuuuuuuuuuuut

@talraviv talraviv.org buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut

@talraviv talraviv.org we take hamster wheels quite seriously

@talraviv talraviv.org the reason is asymmetry

@talraviv talraviv.org when youre on the hamster wheel visible markers
vs when youre just being a hamster invisible joy

it’s easy to showcase accomplishments vs when youre just being a hamster invisible joy it’s hard to showcase love & family & friendship

it’s easy to showcase accomplishments salary vs when youre just being a hamster invisible joy it’s hard to showcase love & family & friendship ?

it’s easy to showcase accomplishments salary house size vs when youre just being a hamster invisible joy it’s hard to showcase love & family & friendship ? ?

it’s easy to showcase accomplishments salary house size title vs when youre just being a hamster invisible joy it’s hard to showcase love & family & friendship ? ? ?

@talraviv talraviv.org I mean, have you ever gotten an intro
like this?

@talraviv talraviv.org I mean, have you ever gotten an intro
like this? (I made this up)

@talraviv talraviv.org or a public profile that highlighted this?

@talraviv talraviv.org or a public profile that highlighted this? or
gamified this?

@talraviv talraviv.org or a public profile that highlighted this? or
gamified this? nerds, please don’t build this startup you’ll ruin everything

@talraviv talraviv.org when youre on the hamster wheel society awards
prestige vs when youre just being a hamster no award ceremonies needed

@talraviv talraviv.org when youre on the hamster wheel stuff goes
in your twitter/fb/linkedin/ corporate bio vs when youre just being a hamster no need to document this publicly

@talraviv talraviv.org when youre on the hamster wheel stuff goes
in your twitter/fb/linkedin/ corporate bio (people realize the narrative is more important) vs when youre just being a hamster no need to document this publicly (people who document this are missing the point)

@talraviv talraviv.org when youre on the hamster wheel we compare
ourselves vs when youre just being a hamster nothing to compare on

@talraviv talraviv.org when youre on the hamster wheel we compare
ourselves we get competitive vs when youre just being a hamster nothing to compare on we can’t compete

@talraviv talraviv.org they say… “what gets measured gets improved”

@talraviv talraviv.org they say… “what gets measured gets improved” and
never mention… “what gets measured is what we irrationally fixate on and feel bad about, regardless of our values”

@talraviv talraviv.org as a result

@talraviv talraviv.org we take hamster wheels quite seriously

@talraviv talraviv.org the hamster wheel gets priority vs just being
a hamster first thing sacrificed

@talraviv talraviv.org the hamster wheel gets priority …but rather endless
vs just being a hamster first thing sacrificed …but the point of it

@talraviv talraviv.org buuuut

@talraviv talraviv.org buuuuuuuuuuuut

@talraviv talraviv.org buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut

@talraviv talraviv.org From Wikipedia: “Like other rodents, hamsters are highly
motivated to run in wheels…”

@talraviv talraviv.org “..it is not uncommon to record distances of
9 km (5.6 mi) being run in one night.”

@talraviv talraviv.org “Hypotheses to explain such high levels of running
in wheels include a need for activity, substitute for exploration…”

@talraviv talraviv.org “However, free wild mice will run on wheels
installed in the field…”

@talraviv talraviv.org the hamster wheel problem solving adaptation evolution just
being a hamster susceptibility passivity stagnation

@talraviv talraviv.org the hamster wheel growth strength just being a
hamster atrophy weakness

@talraviv talraviv.org the hamster wheel self-expression assert ones self just
being a hamster fading into group swept around

@talraviv talraviv.org we like our hamster wheels

@talraviv talraviv.org theyre damn FUN

@talraviv talraviv.org its the human condition

@talraviv talraviv.org its the human condition I mean uh, hamster
condition?

@talraviv talraviv.org Chip on shoulder Status/Ambition Self distraction Intense personality
people run hard for all sorts of reasons

people run hard for all sorts of reasons Mission Love of the game Mastery Curiosity

people run hard for all sorts of reasons Mission Love of the game Mastery Curiosity Identity

@talraviv talraviv.org ironically

@talraviv talraviv.org on the hamster wheel wins are short-lived vs
when youre just being a good hamster long-term fulfillment

@talraviv talraviv.org (When you’re 21, going to Penn, and into
startups, Josh K is your hero) the linked essay, by Tony Schwartz, is excellent: https://www.nytimes.com/ 2015/05/02/business/dealbook/the-enduring-hunt-for-personal-value.html

@talraviv talraviv.org ~2,300 years earlier

@talraviv talraviv.org …

@talraviv talraviv.org aaaaand in our modern world, we manipulate each
other to run harder:

other to run harder: ✅ make behaviors countable

other to run harder: ✅ make behaviors countable ✅ make success visible

other to run harder: ✅ make behaviors countable ✅ make success visible ✅ assign prestige to irrational choices

@talraviv talraviv.org ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

@talraviv talraviv.org ✅ ✅

@talraviv talraviv.org but don’t worry

@talraviv talraviv.org I’m an overachiever

@talraviv talraviv.org so I’ve spent time dealing with hamster wheels

taking them too seriously

taking them too seriously & comparing myself to others

@talraviv talraviv.org here are three tactics that help me

@talraviv talraviv.org REMEMBER HAMSTER WHEELS SPIN IN PLACE

@talraviv talraviv.org REMEMBER HAMSTER WHEELS SPIN IN PLACE HANG WITH
PEOPLE WHO KNOW ITS A HAMSTER WHEEL

PEOPLE WHO KNOW ITS A HAMSTER WHEEL HANG IN PLACES THAT HAVE MORE THAN JUST HAMSTER WHEELS

@talraviv talraviv.org …which of these gives you a pang in
your gut…

@talraviv talraviv.org they wrote a book and you didnt

@talraviv talraviv.org they got your title 3 years younger

@talraviv talraviv.org they went to a college you didnt get
into

@talraviv talraviv.org their business did better than yours

@talraviv talraviv.org they published more papers than you

@talraviv talraviv.org their salary is higher than yours

@talraviv talraviv.org they live in a bigger house

@talraviv talraviv.org they read more books on goodreads

@talraviv talraviv.org they have 10x more twitter followers

@talraviv talraviv.org more people report to them than to you

@talraviv talraviv.org they got a bigger grant than you did

@talraviv talraviv.org they are having more fun on instagram

@talraviv talraviv.org they have lots of trophies

@talraviv talraviv.org they have lots of trophies (it just dawned
on me why awards are metallic and shiny)

@talraviv talraviv.org feel it?

@talraviv talraviv.org so if someone is visibly doing more than
you

@talraviv talraviv.org just imagine their lil’ hamster wheel

@talraviv talraviv.org and they’re a cute hamster running furiously

@talraviv talraviv.org while staying in place

@talraviv talraviv.org PS: not even mentioning survivorship bias, randomness, or
inequality If you want to read about some math and numbers: 1) A cool computer simulation of skill & chance: https://www.technologyreview.com/s/610395/if-youre-so-smart-why-arent-you- rich-turns-out-its-just-chance/ 2) Fooled by Randomness by Nasim Taleb will make you look differently at the “brilliant visionaries” of Wall Street. 3) Numbers that question the “meritocracy” of tech: https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2014/10/12/silicon-valley-diversity-tech- hiring-computer-science-graduates-african-american-hispanic/14684211/ and pretty much the rest of US and World history

@talraviv talraviv.org and also remember, it stays in place

@talraviv talraviv.org running on the hamster wheel 2x more doesn’t
make you 2x more loved

@talraviv talraviv.org running on the hamster wheel 2x more doesn’t
make you 2x more loved “I know many people who have a lot of money, and they get testimonial dinners and they get hospital wings named after them. But the truth is that nobody in the world loves them.” Warren Buffett

@talraviv talraviv.org My dad is a great dad. I got
really lucky.

@talraviv talraviv.org The other day I watched him give a
lecture And remembered the cool stuff he pioneered Like self-driving vehicles, 30 years ago

@talraviv talraviv.org and I noticed something: as much as I
tried to cast him differently and see him as a pioneer etc. it was kind of hard and didn’t register

@talraviv talraviv.org and I noticed something: as much as I
tried to cast him differently and see him as a pioneer etc. it was kind of hard and didn’t register …cause he’s just my dad

@talraviv talraviv.org So, it’s just a funny wheel

@talraviv talraviv.org HANG WITH PEOPLE WHO KNOW ITS A HAMSTER
WHEEL

@talraviv talraviv.org If I meet someone who injects their successes
out of context into conversation

@talraviv talraviv.org If I meet someone who injects their successes
out of context into conversation The house(s) they bought Their career Their business success

@talraviv talraviv.org Or if I meet a new person socially
who steers the conversation to be about our jobs

@talraviv talraviv.org Or if I meet a new person socially
who steers the conversation to be about our jobs Or their first or second question is “what do you do?”

@talraviv talraviv.org It’s not impossible we’ll get along But I
keep my distance

@talraviv talraviv.org It’s not impossible we’ll get along But I
keep my distance Even though (perhaps because) I love my work

@talraviv talraviv.org Looking back I’ve noticed

@talraviv talraviv.org Looking back I’ve noticed the people I’ve respected
the most

the most and friends I’ve kept in touch with the most

the most and friends I’ve kept in touch with the most are friends who don’t define themselves by their hamster wheel

@talraviv talraviv.org it helps if you

@talraviv talraviv.org HANG IN PLACES THAT HAVE MORE THAN JUST
HAMSTER WHEELS

@talraviv talraviv.org I minimize my social media aside from being
addictive and soulless they’re full of weirdly visible counts of success ✅

addictive and soulless they’re full of weirdly visible counts of success and carefully crafted feeds and bios (& literal checkmarks) ✅

addictive and soulless they’re full of weirdly visible counts of success and carefully crafted feeds and bios (& literal checkmarks) regardless of what matters ✅

addictive and soulless they’re full of weirdly visible counts of success and carefully crafted feeds and bios (& literal checkmarks) regardless of what matters (if it makes you money, enjoy) ✅

@talraviv talraviv.org Or at work

@talraviv talraviv.org Or at work People higher up in the
org chart talk in a way to make you think you aspire to be higher up in the org chart

@talraviv talraviv.org Or at work People higher up in the
org chart talk in a way to make you think you aspire to be higher up in the org chart Though objectively, past a certain salary, it’s not worth the money, title, stress, etc.

@talraviv talraviv.org Or when people brag about how little they
sleep, how focused they are, etc.

@talraviv talraviv.org Or when people brag about how little they
sleep, how focused they are, etc. I just imagine them on their little hamster wheel and go talk to someone else

@talraviv talraviv.org Geographically, SF, DC, NY, LA… are all cities
where you can easily believe the hamster wheel is all there is in life

@talraviv talraviv.org so…

PEOPLE WHO KNOW ITS A HAMSTER WHEEL

PEOPLE WHO KNOW ITS A HAMSTER WHEEL HANG IN PLACES THAT HAVE MORE THAN JUST HAMSTER WHEELS

@talraviv talraviv.org Paul Buchheit is this tech-famous dude who did
a bunch of early important things at Google like create Gmail and Adsense. He later became an investor in a bunch of companies, etc. etc.

@talraviv talraviv.org Paul Buchheit is this tech-famous dude who did
a bunch of early important things at Google like create Gmail and Adsense. He later became an investor in a bunch of companies, etc. etc. but that’s not why I’m quoting him

@talraviv talraviv.org his brother Steve Buchheit passed away from cancer
at 33 years old and Paul later wrote this:

@talraviv talraviv.org “Sometimes, when I write about startups or other
interests of mine, I worry that perhaps I'm communicating the wrong priorities. “Investing money, creating new products, and all the other things we do are wonderful games and can be a lot of fun, but it’s important to remember that it’s all just a game.

@talraviv talraviv.org “What's most important is that we are good
too each other, and ourselves. “If we ‘win,’ but have failed to do that, then we have lost. Winning is nothing.

@talraviv talraviv.org “This doesn't mean that we can't push ourselves
or stretch our own limits. Those things can be very healthy, but only when done for their own sake.

@talraviv talraviv.org “Please be good to each other, and yourself.”

@talraviv talraviv.org the modern world is a weird place

@talraviv talraviv.org after safety and health, what should I do
with my time?

@talraviv talraviv.org All of the above.

@talraviv talraviv.org However much I want.

@talraviv talraviv.org the end

@talraviv talraviv.org whew

@talraviv talraviv.org you can stop here

@talraviv talraviv.org go to the bathroom

@talraviv talraviv.org stretch

@talraviv talraviv.org i have a small epilogue

@talraviv talraviv.org theres a question that kept popping up in
my mind

@talraviv talraviv.org which is

@talraviv talraviv.org what about good causes that help people or
save people

@talraviv talraviv.org like medical research

@talraviv talraviv.org like government policy

@talraviv talraviv.org like competitive markets

@talraviv talraviv.org like mission driven organizations

@talraviv talraviv.org like aid to developing countries

@talraviv talraviv.org like “justified wars”

@talraviv talraviv.org sigh

@talraviv talraviv.org so

@talraviv talraviv.org They are all important forms of problem solving
even urgent

@talraviv talraviv.org but

@talraviv talraviv.org how do I say this

@talraviv talraviv.org theyre really really big hamster wheels

@talraviv talraviv.org capitalism tribalism industrialization

@talraviv talraviv.org capitalism tribalism industrialization all those big forces I
try not to think about

@talraviv talraviv.org all hamster wheels

@talraviv talraviv.org I thought about it and realized that no
matter how pure the cause

matter how pure the cause antibiotics

matter how pure the cause antibiotics aiding poverty

matter how pure the cause antibiotics aiding poverty defending the homeland

matter how pure the cause antibiotics aiding poverty defending the homeland or insert your fav noun: “the war on _____”

@talraviv talraviv.org Two things are true 1) The problem was
caused by other people’s smart-at-the-time solutions

@talraviv talraviv.org Two things are true 1) The problem was
caused by other people’s smart-at-the-time solutions 2) The faster/harder we solve it, the more new problems we’ll create

@talraviv talraviv.org the only real solutions are marathons not sprints

@talraviv talraviv.org the only real solutions mean slowing down the
hamster wheel

@talraviv talraviv.org the only real solutions mean slowing down the
hamster wheel a little bit

@talraviv talraviv.org not entirely just a little bit

@talraviv talraviv.org that to me is the lesson of Martin
Luther King Gandhi Thich Nhat Hanh

@talraviv talraviv.org that to me is the lesson of Martin
Luther King Gandhi Thich Nhat Hanh and all the less famous people like teachers and clergy and kind strangers who do the same

@talraviv talraviv.org and the only way to slow down the
enormous wheels is to run a bit less on our own

enormous wheels is to do things person to person

enormous wheels is to do things frustratingly gradually

enormous wheels is to have a strong back and soft front https://onbeing.org/programs/brene-brown-strong-back-soft-front-wild-heart-feb2018/ HT Buster

@talraviv talraviv.org “I have seen ecologists who are very angry.

There’s a lot of pollution in them. Anger. Impatience. Hate. What happens?

There’s a lot of pollution in them. Anger. Impatience. Hate. What happens? “They cannot serve the cause of the environment with that kind of energies within them.

There’s a lot of pollution in them. Anger. Impatience. Hate. What happens? “They cannot serve the cause of the environment with that kind of energies within them. “The activist should change himself first.” Thich Nhat Hanh youtube.com/watch?v=Xvtig8Fm6eU

@talraviv talraviv.org dont ask me how to do this in
practice

@talraviv talraviv.org this is a hard concept

@talraviv talraviv.org i can write about it but i dont
know how to do it

@talraviv talraviv.org like the next war or medical discovery or
election or heated issue

@talraviv talraviv.org wtf do i do to slow the down
wheel

@talraviv talraviv.org wtf do i do to slow the down
wheel maybe its what I dont do

@talraviv talraviv.org all i know

@talraviv talraviv.org is its all hamster wheels

Hamster Wheels

Hamster Wheels

More Decks by Tal Raviv

Other Decks in How-to & DIY

Featured

Transcript