How to Maximize Serendipity
Metadata
- Author: David Perell
- Full Title: How to Maximize Serendipity
- Category:articles
- Published Date: 2018-06-07
- Document Note: Serendipity is a state of mind that can be maximized to accelerate progress. Opportunities that arise do so unexpectedly out of the blue. Networking can happen in unconventional settings, like at a basketball court instead of a formal professional event. Building relationships based on trust, joy, and mutual respect are the foundation of serendipity. Like ambient music, relationships thrive on subtle, regular connection, pandemic or not.
- Summary: Serendipity is a state of mind that can be maximized to accelerate progress. Opportunities that arise do so unexpectedly out of the blue. Networking can happen in unconventional settings, like at a basketball court instead of a formal professional event. Building relationships based on trust, joy, and mutual respect are the foundation of serendipity. Like ambient music, relationships thrive on subtle, regular connection, pandemic or not.
- URL: https://perell.com/essay/serendipity/
Highlights
- “The real enemy is the man who tries to mold the human spirit so that it will not dare to spread its wings.” – Abraham Flexner (View Highlight)
- The best opportunities are the ones you never expected. (View Highlight)
- By making it easy for people to find you online, you’ll create a vehicle for serendipity. (View Highlight)
- If you publish content (blogs, podcasts, videos, etc.) regularly, people will discover you and initiate unexpected opportunities. They’ll open doors you didn’t even know existed. (View Highlight)
- Maintain a website so people can find your bio, share your work, and describe you in a favorable light. (View Highlight)
- When you connect other people, tons of value will eventually flow back to you. (View Highlight)
- Eat healthy food, get enough sleep, and break a sweat every day. It’ll boost your mood and fuel your curiosity. (View Highlight)
- People who sweat together stay together. (View Highlight)
- Work on many things at the same time. Surround yourself with eclectic people (View Highlight)
- Note: wide-ranging/selective
- Cross-pollinate ideas from different industries, disciplines, and places. Surround yourself with a diversity of people and develop a variety of skills. The space between ideas will give you a fresh perspective that you can use to problem solve and come up with new ideas. (View Highlight)
- Because of your unique set of skills, lucrative deals will flow through you and other people will open doors for you. (View Highlight)
- This advice comes from Jim Watson, who’s famous for co-discovering DNA. Watson says: “Avoid Boring People.” (View Highlight)
- Avoid Boring People.” Three words, two meanings. The trope is a reminder to (1) stay away from people who aren’t interesting and (2) to be interesting and avoid boring people when you’re speaking with them. (View Highlight)
- The world is becoming more casual. But if you dress too casually, it looks sloppy and careless. (View Highlight)
- Always dress well enough to walk into a bathroom at a hotel you’re not staying at and get away with it. (View Highlight)
- If you remember the “Hotel Bathroom Principle” you’ll always look sharp enough to capitalize on a serendipitous encounter. (View Highlight)
- Lucky people move with life, not against it. (View Highlight)
- Lucky people bathe in the reverie of adventure. They surround themselves with people who motivate and inspire them. People who maximize serendipity balance the humility of not knowing where their next big break will come from with the arrogance of knowing that it will come from somewhere.³ (View Highlight)
- Ambient music is gentle and repetitive. It’s soothing and generates a sense of calmness. It plays in the background, and when you want to listen to it, all you need to do is shift your attention. Relationships are like ambient music. Staying in touch with people isn’t about being loud and aggressive. It’s about subtle, regular connection. (View Highlight)
- If Facebook connects you with people from your past, Twitter connects you with people in your future. (View Highlight)
- Sometimes, it helps to have a little nudge — some activation energy. I’m inspired by a simple mantra: “Go First.” Talk to your crush. Send that email. Dish a compliment. The upside is limitless; the downside is just a sprinkle of embarrassment. For example, I’m ruthless about following up with people.⁵ I set strict reminders for myself and I always follow-through. (View Highlight)
- When you ask for favors, follow these three guidelines: (1) be specific and precise, (2) tell the other person why you’re asking for their help, and (3) after they’ve helped you, follow up with them thank them or provide an update. (View Highlight)
- Networking events are over-rated: As a general rule, the people you want to meet don’t go to networking events. Instead, I recommend small invite-only gatherings, parties adjacent to prestigious conferences, and casual events like pick-up basketball (View Highlight)
- Don’t “Pick Somebody’s Brain”: Help them instead. Whenever I want to meet somebody, I ask to interview them. Doing so makes the time much more productive for the other person. (View Highlight)