I think a life of ambition is like existing on a balance beam. As a child, there is no fear, no sense for the danger of falling. The beam feels wide and stable, and natural playfulness allows for creative leaps and fast learning. You can run around doing somersaults and flips, always testing yourself with a love for discovery and new challenges. If you happen to fall off—no problem, you just get back on. But then, as you get older, you become more aware of the risk of injury.
How often does our perception of the conditions affect our performance under those conditions—and how often is that perception (a) accurate and (b) helpful? Like Sivers says, aim for “not true but useful.” Whatever makes it more fun, do that.
