Advice is like hats. If it doesn’t fit try another.
May 18, 2021 12:15 PM   Subscribe

Kevin Kelly has 99 bits of unsolicited advice. Kelly is behind the cooltools website, and before that he worked on the seminal Whole Earth Catalogs. Also see 68 bits of unsolicited advice.

...That thing that made you weird as a kid could make you great as an adult — if you don’t lose it.

• If you have any doubt at all about being able to carry a load in one trip, do yourself a huge favor and make two trips.

• What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals. At your funeral people will not recall what you did; they will only remember how you made them feel.

• Recipe for success: under-promise and over-deliver.

• It’s not an apology if it comes with an excuse. It is not a compliment if it comes with a request.

• Jesus, Superman, and Mother Teresa never made art. Only imperfect beings can make art because art begins in what is broken.

• If someone is trying to convince you it’s not a pyramid scheme, it’s a pyramid scheme.

• Learn how to tie a bowline knot. Practice in the dark. With one hand. For the rest of your life you’ll use this knot more times than you would ever believe.

• If something fails where you thought it would fail, that is not a failure.

• Be governed not by the tyranny of the urgent but by the elevation of the important.

• Leave a gate behind you the way you first found it.

• The greatest rewards come from working on something that nobody has a name for. If you possibly can, work where there are no words for what you do.

• A balcony or porch needs to be at least 6 feet (2m) deep or it won’t be used.

• Don’t create things to make money; make money so you can create things. The reward for good work is more work.

• In all things — except love — start with the exit strategy. Prepare for the ending. Almost anything is easier to get into than out of.
posted by storybored (35 comments total) 49 users marked this as a favorite
 
I read a similar piece last summer, titled "33 Things I Stole From People Smarter Than Me" by Ryan Holiday.

He cites the source for all of them (except one?), which is nice.
posted by wenestvedt at 12:41 PM on May 18, 2021 [5 favorites]


I love KK's stuff and have been following Cool Tools since around 2005 and through all its subsequent incarnations and editors. I got a submission accepted once and it was a High Point for me.

Another time we exchanged email after he put out a sort of challenge along the lines of "Could you find out any of the following things from the Internet?" One of them was what watershed you were currently in and I send along an early EPA (I think) site for looking it up. I wish I could find the emails now but I can't. He's always seemed like a genuinely decent guy.
posted by jquinby at 12:50 PM on May 18, 2021 [4 favorites]


Mmm. That thing that made me weird as a kid has also made me weird as an adult. Consistent though not successful.
posted by Grangousier at 1:33 PM on May 18, 2021 [5 favorites]


Learn how to tie a bowline knot. Practice in the dark. With one hand. For the rest of your life you’ll use this knot more times than you would ever believe.

I wish had I practiced in the dark. Haven't needed to use it with one hand, yet, but I've years ahead of me still.
posted by Quasirandom at 1:35 PM on May 18, 2021 [2 favorites]


A lot of these are good, some of them should be on Facebook illustrated with Minion jpg, but he is absolutely, 100% right about the bowline.
posted by bondcliff at 1:36 PM on May 18, 2021 [14 favorites]


A problem that can be solved with money is not really a problem.
...if you have money.
posted by CheapB at 2:06 PM on May 18, 2021 [21 favorites]


I hate Cool Tools. IT MAKES ME WANT TO BUY THINGS.
posted by Bee'sWing at 2:16 PM on May 18, 2021 [6 favorites]


Kevin Kelly is definitely an example of "the weird thing" and in a great way.
posted by craniac at 2:35 PM on May 18, 2021 [1 favorite]


A problem that can be solved with money is not really a problem.
...if you have money.


Yeah fuck that advice.

Another bit of wisdom: “Money is overrated. [...] Being poor is an advantage in innovation.”

What does someone more down to earth say? How about a list of advice from marginalized people who aren’t getting their posts on Hacker News?
posted by Monochrome at 3:30 PM on May 18, 2021 [11 favorites]


Learn how to tie a bowline knot. Practice in the dark.

Was in a mixed group once and one powerboater/diver and with an arrogant tone asked if we (sailors) could tie a bowline behind our back, almost before he finished asking we put a rope and tied the knot.

Bowline is a great knot because it "breaks" - many good knots if put under a load will tighten to the point that it needs to be cut. The bowlin can always be untied.

Tying one handed is kinda a trick and I can't imagine practicing it steadily enough to remember how in the canonical situation (dangling from a ledge by one hand while the rescuers send down a line without a loop :-)

But yes, excellent advice, a reminder, the rabbit goes up the hole, around the tree and back down the hole!
posted by sammyo at 4:18 PM on May 18, 2021 [5 favorites]


They're a bit trite: lots of brightsiding and "of course ordinary people get to travel and stay in hotels in interesting places". That would be nice.

The worst of the lot is: Over the long term, the future is decided by optimists. Which means we are so fucked.
posted by scruss at 4:34 PM on May 18, 2021 [6 favorites]


Just find your purpose in life, bro.
posted by paper chromatographologist at 4:44 PM on May 18, 2021 [3 favorites]


A few fit, to continue the hat theme, but a lot of them seemed like "rich guy advice" to me.
posted by maxwelton at 5:37 PM on May 18, 2021 [5 favorites]


These are great! He should post them on LinkedIn.
posted by thelonius at 5:39 PM on May 18, 2021 [13 favorites]


I can tie a bowline with my eyes closed and it's a skill I've literally never needed as an adult. I learned how in the Scouts and went to competitions where we had to tie timed knots so we were all FAST and it's a skill I'll likely remember the rest of my life. I need square knots, slipknots, even the occasional sheepshank (mostly as a flex) but I'm just not living a life where I ever need a bowline.

On the other hand, learning to make an origami box is a skill I'd recommend to anyone. It's so nice to be able to start from a plain piece of paper and end with a fairly sturdy little box to keep assorted odds and ends in.
posted by potrzebie at 5:48 PM on May 18, 2021 [7 favorites]


because art begins in what is broken

No. Just no.

It's this belief that allows toxic assholes to leave a swath of destruction in their wake for decades because they're "great artists" and their toxicity is what everyone thinks makes them great.
posted by soundguy99 at 6:07 PM on May 18, 2021 [18 favorites]


I can tie a bowline and I use it pretty often. Not behind my back or in the dark, but I was a Girl Scout and I usually have a flashlight.

Kevin Kelly's Asia Grace photos are gorgeous, he's an interesting person to follow, and Cool Tools is handy.
posted by theora55 at 6:46 PM on May 18, 2021 [1 favorite]


In Navy boot camp I was up for the "Academic excellence award" and went to be interviewed by some lieutenant or another. He asked me some questions from the test I had aced to get this far in the process, then he handed me a little piece of rope and told me to tie a bowline. I handed back the tied knot and he dismissed me.

As I was walking out, I passed by the other guy who was also up for the award and waiting his turn. "How was it?" he whispered.

"I hope you know how to tie knots," I whispered back. His eyes got as big as dinner plates. I got the award.
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 6:47 PM on May 18, 2021 [9 favorites]


No. Just no.

It's this belief that allows toxic assholes to leave a swath of destruction in their wake for decades because they're "great artists" and their toxicity is what everyone thinks makes them great.


I have heard that what makes great art is grappling with the things that are broken, but you do actually have to grapple with them.

I agree we probably shouldn't celebrate those who heroically fail to defeat their own brokenness. But there is something to the idea that comfortable people make for banal art. George W Bush's insipid paintings, for instance, or how standup comics who get too comfortable end up having sets entirely about airports and hotel rooms.
posted by Merus at 7:10 PM on May 18, 2021 [2 favorites]


• The greatest rewards come from working on something that nobody has a name for. If you possibly can, work where there are no words for what you do.

This cuts both ways (mostly the second part). When the new C-Suite can not be explained to as to your purpose, things get not-good.
posted by zengargoyle at 7:18 PM on May 18, 2021 [1 favorite]


Jesus, Superman, and Mother Teresa never made art. Only imperfect beings can make art because art begins in what is broken.

- Jesus was a carpenter. He may well have made art, if he wasn't fictional.
- Superman absolutely is fictional but in his decades of stories he almost certainly made art. He probably carved Lois Lane out of diamond or something with his laser eyes.
- Mother Teresa was far from perfect - there were numerous criticisms of her, including but not limited to forced conversions.

art begins in what is broken.

bleh. Citation needed and also bullshit.

Anyway, this one doesn't fit, try another hat.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 7:21 PM on May 18, 2021 [10 favorites]


If you have any doubt at all about being able to carry a load in one trip, do yourself a huge favor and make two trips.

This is one of the most useful things I have learned.
posted by medusa at 9:02 PM on May 18, 2021 [6 favorites]


Yeah I should not be so dismissive; there are some good items in there, and some that I would do well to think on pretty hard.
posted by thelonius at 9:24 PM on May 18, 2021 [1 favorite]


Bowline is a pretty good knot but the knot I've used most in my life is taut line hitch.
posted by hypnogogue at 9:31 PM on May 18, 2021 [2 favorites]


I'm 60 years old, I've been a husband and a father and a few other things besides, and I've never had cause to even consider learning a bowline knot.

Now advice on communication, that I damn sure could have used, but..."not found in page". Feh.
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:18 PM on May 18, 2021 [3 favorites]


The 68 Items one misquotes
Experience is overrated. When hiring, hire for aptitude, train for skills. Most really amazing or great things are done by people doing them for the first time.

I'd heard it as "Hire for attitude, train for skills." This hat fits me better.
posted by k3ninho at 11:38 PM on May 18, 2021


Most of those might not seem terribly original, but I find them quite valueable anyway and it's useful to remind oneself on occasion about simple truths. ( Even a foolish person can still be right about most things. Most conventional wisdom is true.)

My favourites:

The purpose of a habit is to remove that action from self-negotiation


The foundation of maturity: Just because it’s not your fault doesn’t mean it’s not your responsibility.


Compliment people behind their back. It’ll come back to you.


But yeah, he really doesn't seem particularly perceptive about money.

When you are young spend at least 6 months to one year living as poor as you can, owning as little as you possibly can, eating beans and rice in a tiny room or tent, to experience what your “worst” lifestyle might be. That way any time you have to risk something in the future you won’t be afraid of the worst case scenario.


I think Pulp had a song about that...
posted by sohalt at 12:10 AM on May 19, 2021 [8 favorites]


Jesus, Superman, and Mother Teresa never made art.

Sermon on the Mount?
posted by BWA at 4:44 AM on May 19, 2021


I'm pretty sure as a kid I saw a panel in which Superman paints a huge picture of a bizarre alien world scenery, using his super sight to look at the real thing. I seem to remember the alien landscape had levitating crystals and swamps?

I'm unclear about the context though. Perhaps he was dangerous or vulnerable from Kryptonite exposure and was forced to spend time in solitude until the effect wears of?

Maybe it was in 'Superman's Achilles' Heel'? I have no idea.
posted by Ashenmote at 6:00 AM on May 19, 2021


If nothing else, the idea about porches and balconies needing 2 meters of depth to be useful is spot on. Japan by and large doesn’t *do* clothes dryers. Most people hang their laundry out to dry to the point that many weather segments on news shows include a “should you do laundry tomorrow” corner. Yet, most balconies here are barely a foot or two wide at best. Some of the crappiest apartments have vestigial balconies, like a six inch space to stand on so you can hang the laundry, but nothing more.

On the other hand, our house has two balconies, one along the side, standard size, maybe half a meter wide. Nothing but laundry ever goes there. In the front, though, we’ve got a space that’s roughly 3m x 1.5m. We’ve covered it in fake grass, and when we’re both home in time, it’s fantastic for a beer at sunset, or when it’s warm enough, for a couple more after dark. On the other hand, our porch is less than a meter deep, and is literally just for going into and out of the house.

What I’d give for a solid, covered wrap around balcony as seen in most Midwestern towns in the 90s. A good six feet deep, space for tables and chairs… damn.
posted by Ghidorah at 6:29 AM on May 19, 2021


Jesus was a carpenter. He may well have made art, if he wasn't fictional.

He was known to write in the dirt occasionally.
posted by jquinby at 6:59 AM on May 19, 2021 [1 favorite]


Having spent a fair amount of time on boats with various crew, being able to tie a bowline'
(behind your back, one handed) has only ever been useful for shutting up the twit who thinks he's special because he... oh. that was fast, uh, yeah, yeah, that's a bowline... and it is a useful knot, no doubt. but it's far from the only one.

A good question to ask yourself today is “What might I be wrong about?” This is a good question.
posted by From Bklyn at 8:06 AM on May 19, 2021


If nothing else, the idea about porches and balconies needing 2 meters of depth to be useful is spot on.

He totally stole that one from Christopher Alexander, it's one of the patterns in the book A Pattern Language.

I actually like that so many of these are contradictory. That way I get to pick and choose which sage wisdom to follow, and any path I choose I win!
posted by The_Vegetables at 8:28 AM on May 19, 2021 [3 favorites]


"If you can't tell what you desperately need, it's probably sleep."

This is the thing I needed to be told today. And most days. I should probably get it tattooed.
posted by vytae at 6:43 PM on May 19, 2021 [1 favorite]


hire for aptitude ... Hire for attitude

Or hire for altitude. Tallest person you can get. Can't hurt unless you're hiring jockeys or Victorian chimney sweeps.
posted by Grangousier at 1:54 PM on May 20, 2021 [2 favorites]


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