I can completely relate to your first two answers. I can't provide easy answers to those questions, either.
If anyone were to examine my "career," the obvious conclusion he or she would reach is "this boy can't keep a job" and, on the surface, he or she would be correct.
I had to get to be 50 years old before I had enough information to be able to look back and see that, what I was REALLY doing, was picking up one job skill after another. Then, I found what I thought was something that brought all of those skills together.
"This is it!" I thought.
Wrong.
At the age of 64, God revealed to me that my particular collection of job skills and experience meant I had at least one more thing to do with my life.
Now, at the age of 71, I'm not sure what that number of things will be. I'm pretty confident it will be more than one.
And, that's okay with me. I don't believe I will ever retire. That's how much I see before me--which I find exciting. Why would I want to spend the rest of my days at the old folks' home playing shuffleboard and gin rummy?
Like the song says, "The future's so bright I gotta wear shades."
Very interesting and enlightening read! I'm only a little disappointed that the question I submitted wasn't included-"Why does the gentleman artistically depicted in the TED GIOIA header resemble Saddam Hussein surveying the rubble of Iraq outside his window?"
> So the incentives are all wrong. These companies will punish a billion people in order to reward a single advertiser. That’s not how markets are supposed to work.
cf. enshittification (Cory Doctorow)
> You don’t need to eliminate capitalism to get rid of this.
No, but if we want to really evolve as a species, we need to get rid of all economic systems built on foundations of Lack and Competition.
Just last week, my business partner and I developed a twelve-rung “ladder” of increasing energy on which any organization can operate. It was not in any way surprising to us that most organizations never get above Rung 3, nor that in order to exceed Rung 8 an organization must abandon the capitalist system entirely.
"I care about people—about their hearts, their souls, their dreams, their aspirations. You can come up with a fancy label for that, and define it as a new worldview. But it’s actually the oldest worldview of them all."
Nice. Very nicely written. Words like this keep me pushing back on the BS.
Hi Ted, I am not a subscriber yet but considering it....just wanted to pass on this youtube of the Saint Andreu Jazz Band from Barcelona, Spain and their performance of the Jobim tune Triste: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiJlAE2sfQc
As a rather dedicated reader of Ted's column, I can't help but notice that the origin of the commenters thus far deviates from the Usual Suspects. I wonder what it is about this particular post that has drawn the lurkers from the woodwork.
In any event, TG's ethos is front and center here, the figurehead on the prow that Substack sailors can cling to in event of a storm.
And for those who haven't yet noticed--the storm has already begun.
I really enjoyed this Q&A and appreciate your approach to life Ted as well as your thoughts on cultural subjects. I wouldn't of found you if not for Rick Beato on YouTube, such an odd way of making connections these days.
Wisdom is timeless and in short supply. AI gathers an amazing amount of material but how much garbage is in there and how much gold?? There’s a reason they’re called “classics”.
I can completely relate to your first two answers. I can't provide easy answers to those questions, either.
If anyone were to examine my "career," the obvious conclusion he or she would reach is "this boy can't keep a job" and, on the surface, he or she would be correct.
I had to get to be 50 years old before I had enough information to be able to look back and see that, what I was REALLY doing, was picking up one job skill after another. Then, I found what I thought was something that brought all of those skills together.
"This is it!" I thought.
Wrong.
At the age of 64, God revealed to me that my particular collection of job skills and experience meant I had at least one more thing to do with my life.
Now, at the age of 71, I'm not sure what that number of things will be. I'm pretty confident it will be more than one.
And, that's okay with me. I don't believe I will ever retire. That's how much I see before me--which I find exciting. Why would I want to spend the rest of my days at the old folks' home playing shuffleboard and gin rummy?
Like the song says, "The future's so bright I gotta wear shades."
Very interesting and enlightening read! I'm only a little disappointed that the question I submitted wasn't included-"Why does the gentleman artistically depicted in the TED GIOIA header resemble Saddam Hussein surveying the rubble of Iraq outside his window?"
> So the incentives are all wrong. These companies will punish a billion people in order to reward a single advertiser. That’s not how markets are supposed to work.
cf. enshittification (Cory Doctorow)
> You don’t need to eliminate capitalism to get rid of this.
No, but if we want to really evolve as a species, we need to get rid of all economic systems built on foundations of Lack and Competition.
Just last week, my business partner and I developed a twelve-rung “ladder” of increasing energy on which any organization can operate. It was not in any way surprising to us that most organizations never get above Rung 3, nor that in order to exceed Rung 8 an organization must abandon the capitalist system entirely.
Timeless & timely advice!
"I care about people—about their hearts, their souls, their dreams, their aspirations. You can come up with a fancy label for that, and define it as a new worldview. But it’s actually the oldest worldview of them all."
Nice. Very nicely written. Words like this keep me pushing back on the BS.
Hi Ted, I am not a subscriber yet but considering it....just wanted to pass on this youtube of the Saint Andreu Jazz Band from Barcelona, Spain and their performance of the Jobim tune Triste: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiJlAE2sfQc
Great interview!
Do you like Stan Kenton?
As a rather dedicated reader of Ted's column, I can't help but notice that the origin of the commenters thus far deviates from the Usual Suspects. I wonder what it is about this particular post that has drawn the lurkers from the woodwork.
In any event, TG's ethos is front and center here, the figurehead on the prow that Substack sailors can cling to in event of a storm.
And for those who haven't yet noticed--the storm has already begun.
A Ted Gioia interview by Sam Kahn? Get Scott Alexander and Jeff Maurer in here and it'll be the Avengers of Substack.
I really enjoyed this Q&A and appreciate your approach to life Ted as well as your thoughts on cultural subjects. I wouldn't of found you if not for Rick Beato on YouTube, such an odd way of making connections these days.
This was great. I love to hear you talk about your overall value system and how it motivates your approach to everything.
Ted, you are a joy. Please keep writing.
Wisdom is timeless and in short supply. AI gathers an amazing amount of material but how much garbage is in there and how much gold?? There’s a reason they’re called “classics”.
Beaurifully written. Thank you.
I never ask people what they do for a living, figure if it's important to them they'll let me know.