Note: This is a framing I find helpful, though it's not strictly rigorous or precise.
The potential gauge points to a key relationship: when our overall human system has higher potential, on average we perform better at all tasks—even seemingly unrelated ones. For example: after 30 minutes of cardio exercise, your thinking becomes clearer.
- A common failure mode occurs when a system’s potential is low, and instead of reassessing, one repeatedly attempts the same task with more effort. A better approach would be to ask how to raise the system’s overall potential by making improvements elsewhere.
- To achieve high potential, one needs to maintain balance across entire systems. Even excellent nutrition and exercise won't be sufficient if mental health is neglected.
- Some activities, for example exercise, have a significantly higher influence on the entire system.
- Evidence: Positive manifold—cognitive abilities and intelligence-related tasks show positive correlations with each other, even when the tasks appear unrelated in nature.
- Personal example: a long bike ride that made my thinking a lot clearer
- Nick Cammarata on this