Superlinear Returns - Paul Graham  ## Metadata - Author: **Paul Graham** - Full Title: Superlinear Returns - Category: #articles - URL: http://www.paulgraham.com/superlinear.html ## Highlights - One of the most important things I didn't understand about the world when I was a child is the degree to which the returns for performance are superlinear. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hdctqr98rd52pem3f61gc9nj)) - It may seem as if there are a lot of different situations with superlinear returns, but as far as I can tell they reduce to two fundamental causes: exponential growth and thresholds. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hdctt2ka0587zxgk9pxn4h9w)) - Are there general rules for finding situations with superlinear returns? The most obvious one is to seek work that compounds. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hdddfvz72dgf8hqbjbysq9ch)) - But don't overoptimize *what* you're learning. Don't limit yourself to learning things that are already known to be valuable. You're learning; you don't know for sure yet what's going to be valuable, and if you're too strict you'll lop off the outliers. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hdddm58vrbn2s21vvk06v9kj)) - if you come across something that's mediocre yet still popular, it could be a good idea to replace it. For example, if a company makes a product that people dislike yet still buy, then presumably they'd buy a better alternative if you made one ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hdddqabd2qp1qhn1ftczrbf7)) - Most people will be better off as part of the pool. So who should shoot for superlinear returns? Ambitious people of two types: those who know they're so good that they'll be net ahead in a world with higher variation, and those, particularly the young, who can afford to risk trying it to find out ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hdddz45yx2n77nf0zw0wn4h6)) - There are many variables that effect how good your work is, and if you want to be an outlier you need to get nearly all of them right. For example, to do something exceptionally well, you have to be interested in it. Mere diligence is not enough. So in a world with superlinear returns, it's even more valuable to know what you're interested in, and to find ways to work on it ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hdde3gsymg30h4bykyhezznt)) - Work as hard as you can without burning out, and this will eventually bring you to one of the frontiers of knowledge. These look smooth from a distance, but up close they're full of gaps. Notice and explore such gaps, and if you're lucky one will expand into a whole new field. Take as much risk as you can afford; if you're not failing occasionally you're probably being too conservative. Seek out the best colleagues. Develop good taste and learn from the best examples. Be honest, especially with yourself. Exercise and eat and sleep well and avoid the more dangerous drugs. When in doubt, follow your curiosity. It never lies, and it knows more than you do about what's worth paying attention to ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hdde83fv1e1fesfgn5yqc8zw)) - Ambition tends to make you climb existing peaks, but if you stick close enough to an interesting enough question, it may grow into a mountain beneath you. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hddejekhwbkwz9a4xzkf5v5g))