CDOQ

I just finished reading a fantastic book, Damn Right ! It is about the life of one of my heroes, Charlie Munger . Since the search of happiness is causing a lot of misery in the world, I am writing this post to share Munger's four simple practices for a happy life. In most cases, the best way to solve a problem is to invert it. So, looking at the problem in reverse, the four things that would ensure an unhappy life are:   1. Be unreliable  2. Learn everything from your own experience rather than learning from others 3. Give up trying after your first, second, or third reverse of fortune 4. Give in to fuzzy thinking  Munger further shares Johnny Carson's speech explaining three things a person should do to ensure a miserable life. These are:  1. Ingesting chemicals in an effort to alter mood or perception  2. Allowing oneself to indulge in envy 3. Wallow in resentment  If you just don't exhibit the Carson's ...

Everyone looks more attractive with the sunglasses on. 

The ability of humans to entertain themselves without technology is on decline and will continue to do so. 

What you think is your problem and it is probably the biggest problem you have. 

I often think about how to create new things and why and how people adopt new things. The core of why people acquire new things can be narrowed down to four basic human attributes (to see how adoption occurs click  here ). These attributes have been with us for centuries. And, if we really understand these attributes well then not only we can position products well in the market but also design products which have better chance of being adopted. The four attributes are:  1.  S ex (evolution)  2.  A ttachment  3.  I dentity  4.  L aziness  Let's call it the SAIL model and let's dig deeper into each SAIL attribute.  1. Sex:  Most people are genetically programed to be attracted to the opposite sex. Evolutionarily speaking, reproduction is one of the main  purposes  of life. We see how the dynamics of sex-appeal work in advertising and movies. Just think why do we have supermodels? Why...

I buy fresh flowers every week. I see them blossom and die. They change form, smell, and the environment they are part of. Flowers remind me of beauty and temporariness of life. 

I must lie down where all the ladders start in the foul rag and bone shop of the heart. - Yeats  

Behaviors which maybe natural in one culture are artificial in another. What is natural behavior? Should a behavior repeated over a few thousand years be considered natural? 

Never wrestle with a pig because if you do you'll both get dirty, but the pig will enjoy it. - Charlie Munger 

The rabbit runs faster than the fox, because the rabbit is running for his life while the fox is only running for his dinner. - Richard Dawkins  

What moves the world forward is a man's passion for his idea and his ability to ignore all sound advice. 

Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. - George Bernard Shaw