The Greatest Life Hack of All Time Might Be To Avoid Life Hacks Altogether

To start, tell us a little bit about yourself

I’ve been a professional technologist for multiple decades, but in recent decades I’ve become more of a recovering technologist. I’ve become more fascinated by systems thinking and the gardening approach to the emergent world over the watchmaking approach of engineering a deterministic world that will never stand. Exploring that convergence between extrinsic systems and intrinsic ideas and actions is my primary focus these days.

Describe the life hack(s) you use on a regular basis

The idea of life hacks comes from software. In a software context, a hack may be clever, but it’s often a mere quirk of flawed code or a disposable bandage placed upon on open wound. It is neither deep nor systemic, and it betrays a “script kiddie” sense of amateurishness and superficiality. Hacks presume a simple trick that requires no learning, no wisdom, no inner transformation. Like AI, it is getting a quick answer to a problem without ever being bothered to address a faulty system or developing your own mental prowess to learn, know, and grow as a human. Hacks are mindless.

What interests me more are “anti-hacks”. There questions matter more than answers. Living the questions even moreso. Meaning-making emerges from these explorations, leading to insights about the self and our relationship with the world around us, the universe, and what our existence provides as opportunity.

Which part of life has it/they helped you with?

It’s helped break me out of an endless consumption cycle of more-more-more that drives our ceaseless optimization culture for consumerism. It allows my brain to slow down and absorb and be mindful of what I am doing. What my intentions are. And it breaks me from a sense of urgency that wants me to remove things from my vision or thoughts as something that I am no longer aware of, merely vanishing into the background and enabling me to remain oblivious.

Where did you first hear about it/them?

There isn’t a single origin event. It began exploring a minor in philosophy as an undergraduate engineering student, evolved into an exploration of metaphysics, and added a more global cultural awareness of historical practices such as meditation and mindfulness. It meant making the time for long walks for introspection and to create fertile ground for generating new ideas. And rather than a singular Big Bang event, it too evolved over a long period of time with regular practice. An anti-hack of hearing, as it were.

Is there a time that stands out to you when not having this would have negatively affected your life?

Being able to silence all my mobile notifications, to observe all the ways in which modern society tries to frack your attention for profit so you see it coming, allows you to witness the rabbit holes you are about to leap into before it’s too late to get out of them.

So for a singular time, I would say once I was leading a project of 160 people with multiple interruptions coming my way. Taking a deep breath, pausing, and actively resisting the temptation to get wrapped up in the reactionary chaos around me saved not only my sanity, but it allowed me to make better decisions with a clearer thought process.

Who are your favorite motivational speakers, online lecturers, and/or tinkerers?

From a systems thinking perspective, I’m a big fan of Nora Bateson, Dave Snowden, L.M. Sacasas, even Otto Scharmer.

Which podcasts, books, and movies do you like and why?

I hate podcasts. While there’s the warmth of the human voice, I would rather use my idle time walking or driving for thinking. That and listening to podcasts feels to much to me like listening to someone else’s voice mail.

Books and movies are ok, but I am probably more engaged with shorter form thought pieces in blogs, substacks, etc. I also appreciate more human gatherings and discussions and debates to make the consumption of content more interactive and less passive.