Ten tips from futurist Kevin Kelly
The long term future is shaped by optimists
Kevin Kelly is a forward thinker, speaker and author. He founded Wired magazine and writes with great insight. Six years ago he turned 68. For each year of his life, he gifted a piece of advice to his children; things he wished he had known at their age. Each year since, on his birthday, he has added to that initial list. Below are ten pieces of advice from Kevin’s 74th birthday update, relating to happiness, habits and progress.
Happiness
Where you live (what city, what country) has more impact on your well-being than any other factor. Where you live is one of the few things in your life you can choose and change.
In my biased option, Bath is a beautiful city. It’s been my home for the last 30 years and brings me great joy.
The highest form of wealth is deciding you have enough.
My instinct is to believe that if I had more money, I’d be happier. However, those richer and wiser than me have persuaded me otherwise.
You’ll never meet a very successful pessimistic person. If you want to be remarkable, get better at being optimistic.
I can choose how I interpret the world. I chose to be optimistic with a dose of realism.
Asking “what-if?” about your past is a waste of time; asking “what-if?” about your future is tremendously productive.
I can’t change the past, but I can influence the future.
Habits
What is important is seldom urgent and what is urgent is seldom important. To get the important stuff done, avoid the demands of the urgent.
I try to ensure that activities with longer term benefits are addressed.
If you are out of ideas, go for a walk. A good walk empties the mind and then refills it with new stuff.
My daily walk gives me space to think and reflect. A life changer for me.
You have 5 minutes to act on a new idea before it disappears from your mind.
If I have an idea, I note it down in my mobile notes app.
Progress
The best way to criticise something is to make something better.
I love building things and seeing others use them.
The more persistent you are, the more chances you get to be lucky.
I find the concept of increasing one’s luck surface area to be an empowering idea. I try to position myself to take advantage of lucky breaks.
Decisions like to present themselves as irreversible, like a one-way door. But most deciding points are two-way. Don’t get bogged down by decisions. You can usually back up if needed.
Few things in life are permanent. While hard to comprehend, this reality is liberating.
Other resources
101 Additional Advices by post Kevin Kelly
Kevin Kelly Advice for Geeks (and others) post by Phil Martin
How 3 Books Rewired my Brain post by Phil Martin
I agree with Kevin Kelly when he suggests, Your behaviour, not your opinions, will change the world.
Have fun.
Phil…
