The Collective Genius

Most of technology is merely a second-order effect. Before your unique idea can come to fruition, the collective intelligence of our species must converge to build the necessary foundations for its existence. Contemplate this for a moment, and you’ll discern that no single company or individual can claim sole proprietorship over any industry’s progress. It’s the amalgamation of countless efforts, each contributing incrementally, that facilitates the emergence of new innovations.

Consider the internet. Tim Berners-Lee couldn’t have foreseen the vast ecosystem of enterprises and services, like Google or Facebook, that would burgeon from his invention. Yet, he didn’t conjure the internet in isolation. It necessitated millions of individuals collaborating to lay the groundwork, creating a platform upon which innovators could build and iterate.

I like to give OpenAI as the gold standard example. For OpenAI to exist today, several prerequisites were indispensable: potent GPUs, ubiquitous internet access, and copious amounts of data. These components, which seem axiomatic now, are the culmination of years of effort by innumerable individuals. It’s a testament to the intricate web of contributions that constitute the bedrock of our modern technologies.

Building the Future

While the collective intelligence of humanity sets the stage, individual innovators must still navigate their own formidable paths. Building a groundbreaking product or company often requires years of indefatigable effort. Success depends not only on timing and locale—finding the right people and resources—but also on tenacity through uncertainty. The journey is protracted and arduous, often necessitating a decade or more of relentless endeavor before witnessing significant results.

Success in innovation is seldom linear. It demands unwavering belief in a propitious future and a commitment to an idea that may initially seem illogical or even quixotic. The most revolutionary thinkers often appear idiosyncratic because they envision possibilities beyond the mundane. Their breakthroughs are not merely products of their own cognition but also of insights drawn from a collective reservoir of knowledge amassed over millennia.

In this odyssey, the initial exhilaration of seeing your product function and garnering user adulation provides a dopamine surge. Achieving product-market fit, where demand outstrips supply and recognition inundates, is an exhilarating milestone. Ben Horowitz aptly encapsulates this phase in “The Hard Thing About Hard Things”:

“The customers are buying the product just as fast as you can make it—or usage is growing just as fast as you can add more servers. Money from customers is piling up in your company checking account. You’re hiring sales and customer support staff as fast as you can. Reporters are constantly calling you because they’ve heard about your hot new thing and they want to talk to you about it. Investors are staking out your house.”

But what transpires before that boost? When the path is nebulous, arduous, and uncertain?

Guiding Principles for Long-Tail Businesses

Building without the immediate boost of success necessitates a different ethos. It’s about trusting in the collective intelligence of our species and the enigmatic workings of the universe. Here are some pivotal factors to consider:

Second/Third Order Effects

Recognize that your innovation is likely a second or third-order effect of numerous other advancements. Understand the broader impacts that might fortify your idea.

Timing and Location

The right time and place are quintessential for your idea’s success. Delve into why now and why here. Contemplate the space-time construct within which you’re operating.

Impact

Strive for an innovation that can redefine the trajectory of our species. If it harbors the potential to engender significant impact, pursue it irrespective of other opinions.

Mystical Sources of Inspiration

Occasionally, revelations emanate from beyond ordinary cognition. Trust in the arcane sources of knowledge that seem to stem from a collective intelligence or divine plan. You’re tapping into a space-time matrix that has witnessed countless generations of knowledge and experience.

Perseverance Without Immediate Reward

Building something groundbreaking often entails laboring without immediate validation. It’s about putting your head down and working for years, potentially a decade or more, with only your vision and optimism as your compass.

Resilience and Adaptability

The journey will be replete with challenges and setbacks. Cultivate resilience and be adaptable to the ever-evolving landscape. Your capacity to navigate the unknown will be paramount.

Collaboration and Network

Harness the collective intelligence and network of like-minded individuals. Building without the boost is a synergistic endeavor, even if the team spans across time and space.

In essence, trust in the collective legacy of human intelligence and the mysterious workings of the universe. By concentrating on these principles, you can navigate the uncertain journey of building something truly transformative. We are dreamers, guided by a higher plan, contributing our part to a continuum of progress that stretches across time and space.

“I ain’t no rider of waves; I create ‘em waves, for I’m a manifestation of the divinity that soars high up to illuminate an otherwise gloomy sky.”

-G Chola

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Glossary

Second-order effect: A consequence of an action that is one step removed from the direct cause.