Don't these issues go a lot deeper than just work? We have this quantized, atomized, digitized, monetized culture and we wonder why we have trouble making connections? There is no organic network, because it's all monetized, institutionalized and sterilized. We are these linear goal oriented organisms in a cyclical, reciprocal, feedback generated reality and having reached the edge of the global petri dish, it seems the only solution is for our technological overlords to lead us into colonizing space.
Those rumblings coming from the foundations are only getting louder.
There are a lot of really fascinating things to be drawn from Judaism regarding how we could work, thinking particularly of the ideas of the Year of Julilee, as well as the Sabbath Year. Codified in the religion are these ideas of fallow times, as well as some really neat inferences about what "work" actually is.
I learned about the maramataka – the Māori lunar calendar – in recent years, which seems to have similar concepts. It traditionally guides when to harvest, fish, etc., but also notes times as low energy or for planning. I was really taken by the concept of allowing oneself time to just not do a lot (mandated by a calendar!) – in my nearly 40 years of living in a western, white world, the idea that low energy times are normal and should be abided by absolutely blew my mind.
Oh, for sure! Taking an entire year "off"? Leaving corners of fields un-harvested so that others can just eat freely? Shit's bonksville, and I love it.
Really interesting, Charlie. Thanks. I think looking for pieces of a new model with something like Gumroad makes sense because there's probably not one true answer that cuts across industries, job types and what all people want out of work. And that flexibility can hopefully unlock ways to preserve professions that require unusual levels of dedication (pro sports, symphony players, heart surgeons) but in a healthier way -- and without making that situation the mandate for everyone.
Love it! Charlie did you talk to the basecamp crew? You’re touching some of the same mindspace.
As you point out, there’s a narrow range of things where this works. If you can move to one of those jobs, great. Basecamp has a thing about not planning more than 6 weeks out, which works well for collaboration software and not so well for things like, say, building missions to Mars.
Believe you are in DC, so you know there are tens of thousands of people working in windowless cubes for government salaries that are increasingly way below market for anything tech related. Given the choice between that and remote work... well, it’s not much of a choice.
Don't these issues go a lot deeper than just work? We have this quantized, atomized, digitized, monetized culture and we wonder why we have trouble making connections? There is no organic network, because it's all monetized, institutionalized and sterilized. We are these linear goal oriented organisms in a cyclical, reciprocal, feedback generated reality and having reached the edge of the global petri dish, it seems the only solution is for our technological overlords to lead us into colonizing space.
Those rumblings coming from the foundations are only getting louder.
Good stuff! As soon as I stopped trying to get anywhere (took leaving FT work) then the whole world opened up.
There are a lot of really fascinating things to be drawn from Judaism regarding how we could work, thinking particularly of the ideas of the Year of Julilee, as well as the Sabbath Year. Codified in the religion are these ideas of fallow times, as well as some really neat inferences about what "work" actually is.
I learned about the maramataka – the Māori lunar calendar – in recent years, which seems to have similar concepts. It traditionally guides when to harvest, fish, etc., but also notes times as low energy or for planning. I was really taken by the concept of allowing oneself time to just not do a lot (mandated by a calendar!) – in my nearly 40 years of living in a western, white world, the idea that low energy times are normal and should be abided by absolutely blew my mind.
Oh, for sure! Taking an entire year "off"? Leaving corners of fields un-harvested so that others can just eat freely? Shit's bonksville, and I love it.
Really interesting, Charlie. Thanks. I think looking for pieces of a new model with something like Gumroad makes sense because there's probably not one true answer that cuts across industries, job types and what all people want out of work. And that flexibility can hopefully unlock ways to preserve professions that require unusual levels of dedication (pro sports, symphony players, heart surgeons) but in a healthier way -- and without making that situation the mandate for everyone.
Love it! Charlie did you talk to the basecamp crew? You’re touching some of the same mindspace.
As you point out, there’s a narrow range of things where this works. If you can move to one of those jobs, great. Basecamp has a thing about not planning more than 6 weeks out, which works well for collaboration software and not so well for things like, say, building missions to Mars.
Believe you are in DC, so you know there are tens of thousands of people working in windowless cubes for government salaries that are increasingly way below market for anything tech related. Given the choice between that and remote work... well, it’s not much of a choice.