Comment by nyx | Hacker News Reader

Comment by nyx | Hacker News Reader

Wait... so this isn't satire? I read all the way through expecting a reveal, but when I got to the bottom all I found was a link to other chapters of "How to Productize Yourself"... which, again, I thought was a joke but upon clicking that I got a list of articles like this one and zero indication that the author is joking.

I know this person is capable of sarcasm and irony and so on, because I remember seeing their "how to be a -10x engineer" article[0] before... if they're intentionally riding the line of believability here, then props to them, because this is hilarious and definitely sounds like something in the top quartile of unhinged LinkedIn-influencer-posting.

> Create arbitrary rules and rituals. Ask your clients to participate in your personal process. Lead people on journeys.

What's wrong with unassuming and consistent competence? Has the author ever actually worked with another one of these high-output culture-hacker people? It's possible to leave a great impression with nothing but technical excellence and solid communication, and I'd personally take that any day over someone who tries to turn a client meeting into some kind of spooky grindset seance.

[0] https://taylor.town/-10x

Author here!

It's not satire, but it's definitely not serious :)

Like, I actually believe "do unforgettable work" is great advice.

But it's hard to get people to stop and consider what "unforgettable work" looks like.

Same with the other "productize yourself" stuff. I've been seeing a lot of it lately, and I thought it would be fun to make an over-the-top guide. Here's an example:

[0] https://www.productizeyourself.co

I guess I enjoy flirting with extreme beliefs, even if I'm not committed to them haha

> But it's hard to get people to stop and consider what "unforgettable work" looks like.

I always liked the Richard Hamming approach (that made him super unpopular with colleagues).

You sit down for lunch with some folks and ask: “What is the most important problem in your field?”. They answer. Then you say “Why aren’t you working on it?”

Hamming: "What is the most important problem in your field"

Me: "It is administrated/directed by uninformed individuals who get paid more than me and have more authority than me (they call them managers)"

Hamming: "Why aren't you working on that?"

Me: "Are you seriously rhetorically inciting me to "get rid" of people? You know that could make you an accomplice in a court of law..."

If you don't think your org is working on important problems, why are you working there and not elsewhere?

You need a job, I get it. Why are you applying to jobs you don't think are important?

Because my identity isn't defined by my work? I mainly prioritize my friends, family, and community. I'm happy to take a boring, pointless job if it pays well and I'm never working overtime.

Cool. Then you will never do work that is important to you. Which is totally fine if that's what you want, but to me spending 40h/week on things I consider pointless sounds hard.

The brilliance of Hamming's question is that you, the person being asked, define "important". There is no judgement attached. It's purely a question of your personal fulfillment.

So more like hyperbole?

Before reading the piece I thought you were being dismissive and rude.

But no, it's genuinely unclear. "Customers must think you are superhuman." "Create arbitrary rules and rituals." "Become a caricature of yourself." But mixed in with genuinely good (though bland) advice.

My guess is the piece is self-aware but sincere. "Riding the line," as you say.

I do think there's been a pendulum swing so far AGAINST unattainable expectations and the negatives that come from rockstar mentalities that some have overcorrected. Sincere calls for greatness and achievement can be good, actually. I try to do the "consistent competence" thing but I think I probably should shoot higher, sometimes.

Yeah difficult to say! I assume it's satire on the grounds it just surely can't be real, but I'm not sure.

The only tells for me that this is satire are

(a) Remembering the -10x post

(b) "Create arbitrary rules and rituals"

(c) "If a client mentions that they collect spoons, visit a local antique store and mail them some local finds" combined with "Hand-written notes and flowers and donuts are cute but completely forgettable." So on one side you should send them stuff, on the other side you shouldn't.

(c) could be re-written as “If you’re going to give gifts, make them personally meaningful and not generic.” I think this advice is most relevant when you’re doing personal, one-on-one concierge or consulting. When you have lower contact rates with people, small things such as this reassure that they are not “out of sight, out of mind”. Your mileage may vary based on your role, employer, and field :)

haha yeah, the https://taylor.town/-10x post made me think this might be satire

"become a caricature of yourself"

this is definitely comedy

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