Hacking Your Way to Success

Originally published on Cleopatra's Worldwide — November 27, 2019

All over the internet people are looking for productivity hacks; tips and tricks to help you do more, faster. Successful writer and marketing authority Seth Godin offers one simple trick to making everything faster and easier. That secret is:

"Stop chasing shortcuts." – Seth Godin

We look for shortcuts, or hacks, all the time. In marketing, careers and relationships, we want a quick success plan; to jump forward rather than shuffle. People cried when various blockchains failed because they thought they could hack their way into being rich. Diet books start with: "you've been trying all this time missing the one simple trick to weight loss…" but they never finish that sentence simply with… "eat less processed food."

We want to get promoted fast, thinking we can make it happen through the right conversations. In reality, the best way to get promoted faster is to be worth more faster — which means learning more in the time you have.

"If the shortcuts worked as promised, they wouldn't be shortcuts, would they? They'd be the standard." – Seth Godin

So what does it really mean to be a hacker and hack your way to success? Well, hackers are nerds. They are people who spend hours and hours focusing on a very specific thing. Hackers don't shortcut their way into security systems. They outwork their way in. They out-focus and outsmart their way in. They put consideration into understanding platforms and they use their unique position as an outsider to spot flaws which may not be seen in the echo chamber of development teams.

So to be a great hacker in life? Commit, focus, and be prepared to stand slightly on the outside.

"Sooner is not better." – Ryan Holiday