Breaking Product

* Steve Jobs' quote "We're here to put a dent in the universe. Otherwise, why even be here?" as a call to live a purposeful life* The role of mortality in driving us to achieve and leave a legacy* How the tension between our symbolic and biological entities creates a fear of insignificance and drives us to find meaning through work and symbolic creations* The role of culture in providing meaning and helping us cope with the fear of death* The importance of finding a balance in harnessing our intrinsic motivation without getting overwhelmed* The benefits of accepting mortality and finding meaning in the present moment rather than trying to achieve immortality through our work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit breakingproduct.substack.com

Bill Gates once remarked that “The idea that innovation is slowing down is one of the stupidest things anybody ever said.” But today, I want to convince you of the exact opposite. That not only is technological innovation slowing down, but it has been doing so for decades. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit breakingproduct.substack.com

Designing an argument to inspire a change of perspective.With the exception of genuine injustice (where your view needs to be unconditionally stated), aiming to outright win an argument is rarely the best outcome. "Winning" is a destructive exercise. I argue it is more likely to be counterproductive to your goals of persuasion.Ideas explored: Are you are having the same argument? Listening for trigger words Use questions rather than statements Making your opponents argument better than they can Sabotaging your own winsWe each have our own miniature models of the world, and the ideas we defend in argument should help us test the assumptions those models are built from. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit breakingproduct.substack.com