When Saudi Arabia revealed their plans for “The Line”, a 105 mile long skyscraper city, a lot of people scoffed. I have to admit I didn’t think much of it either, and may even have laughed it off. But now, as they are actually building it and making progress, I’m wow-ed by both how unique the idea is, and the audacity and conviction to pursue such a huge and innovative project. 9 million people in one connected complex in the middle of the desert, mirrored exterior and other features for clever temperature control, 100% renewable, underground water desalination, no cars, everything you need within 5 mins, a train that can go end-to-end within 20 mins, and a whopping $1T budget. That’s straight out of a science fiction novel, and I’d love to visit or even live there for some time! What a cool and interesting experiment for humanity! When people propose and pursue bold ideas, we need to default to cheering them on; not criticism or mockery. We want to live in a world of wonder and a...
Most capable and healthy people enjoy their autonomy and boundaries - a way to exercise their own way of being and creativity. It tends to bring out their best and make them feel good. Conversely, most people have a visceral reaction to domination and authority. Demanding and commanding may be apt when the situation is dire and answer is somewhat clear; like during a war. Or with a low-trust and low-agency audience where you have some leverage, power, or authority. But in most cases, asking and influencing well will have higher ceiling and longer-term outcomes. It’s also more pleasant for everyone involved. “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.”
Roman politicians had a clever formula for controlling political unrest: panem et circenses—“bread and circuses.” By offering free food and entertainment, they kept the population distracted, too preoccupied to think or challenge the status quo. Sadly, this same tactic is alive today, but on a much grander scale. Both adults and children have fallen into a cycle of constant distraction, filling every spare moment with mindless phone scrolling or TV watching. We consume sloppy, superficial content and are stuck in an incessant stimulus-response loop that leaves no room for fertile boredom, mind wandering, deep exploration and work—the very conditions that lead to connection with self, original thought, deeper understanding and unique insights, inner peace, meaningful action, and exceptional outcomes. Even life’s essentials—sleep, exercise, hobbies, chores, and relationships—have been displaced by screens. We have become half-present zombies, with foggy brains and attention spans re...