North Star Labs

Category: Perspective

  • A three-hour workday because of AI

    A three-hour workday because of AI

    In the 1930s, the economist John Maynard Keynes suggested that in a hundred years’ time, we’d all be working 15-hour work weeks or a 3-hour workday because of advances in productivity. Keynes predicted that we’d all have a lot more leisure time due to our material needs being met.

    Interestingly, he also referred to the “Man’s dilemma” of knowing what to do with oneself when you have so much leisure time. A “sense of dread” because people were so busy striving and not used to the “age of leisure”. How does one occupy oneself when working only 3 hours a day? (more…)

  • How to harness true inner direction and ignore ego-driven goals

    How to harness true inner direction and ignore ego-driven goals

    In a previous post, I mentioned how a person’s occupation can be a job, career, or calling. In summary, I said that a job is something you do for money, a career offers recognition and progress, and a calling involves a strong sense of purpose, it lights you up. Read more about the three types here:  https://northstarlabs.co.uk/jobs-careers-callings/. 

    Within these three roles, it’s important to understand the underlying motivation. Psychologists refer to intrinsic and extrinsic motivation about why we are driven towards such work. (more…)

  • Randy Pausch Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams

    This awesome lecture from Randy Pausch has clocked up quite a few views on Youtube (13 million at the time of writing). It’s over an hour long but well worth it.

    Some nuggets that I love from the late Randy Pausch, who is delivering this lecture with 10 tumours in his liver and a life expectancy of 3-6 months:

    • Brick Walls are there for a reason. They let us show our dedication and let us know how badly we want things
    • Don’t bail – The best gold is at the bottom of barrels of crap
    • Get a feedback loop and listen to it
    • Don’t complain; just work harder
    • Find the best in everyone – no matter how long it takes
    • We cannot change the cards we are dealt with – just how we play the hand
    • Luck is where opportunity meets preparation
    • Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted

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