Our Observations

We are all working on different problems, but at an elemental layer, we are all working on the same problems: Making sense of reality to improve our relative positions within it.

These positions are unique. No two people have the same relative position, although they may share the same absolute coordinates in space and time. Together, we share and "stitch" our distinct perspectives to create a shared understanding of reality.

This is only possible because of our variety of perspectives. It is made possible by our diversity. This variety is a strength. Without it, we would be unable to make sense of reality, and entirely unable to make progress.

A mindset of true appreciation for variety and diversity is a key trait of a successful problem transformer.

The Scope of Time (Growing a Human Being)

Organism lifespans vary wildly. From the biologically immortal Turritopsis dohrnii jellyfish (which can revert to an earlier stage of its life cycle, effectively restarting its life), to ancient glass sponges living up to 15,000 years, or the clonal Pando tree system surpassing 16,000 years.

Relative to these natural forces, humans typically live for 70-80 years. It is a relatively short lifespan to attempt to synthesize the complexity of the problems we face. If we are to achieve meaningful progress within our limited temporal window, we must radically shift our fundamental observations of the societies we inhabit.