Things, meaningful things, and Home Depot
There are things (burgers), there are things that make things (grills), and there are also rare meaningful things. Things that transcend because they share something that binds: a special quality, vibe, value, purpose or a promise.
When building products, builders build for many people that potentially share the same problem. Builders often use the common lowest denominator strategy to satisfy the most for the least. And the least on their mind is quality as it's hard to measure, it's hard to count. What counts is what can be counted: time or arbitrary dates. Yielding yawns, mild satisfaction, and in the best cases utility.
There are two paths towards meaningful things.
Emergent. It starts with acquisition (free or paid) and if the thing works reliably for a while- maybe, it has the possibility to transcend. Those old ass jeans, dirty shoes or lame shorts with too many pockets that many or you wear (I don't get it but I don't judge- ok maybe a bit). You make those things yours by molding them overtime.
Foundational. Thats when we are involved in the creation process. When we decide on the trade offs that will end up shaping the product. That creates an immediate binding. A skin in the game. Like the game my skin plays every winter with my custom made yellow leather gloves.
Yellow Leather Portolano Gloves
Made in Italy, they wrap my hand with a superb soft cashmere. You see, I like to wear things short
Made in Italy, they wrap my hand with a superb soft cashmere. You see, I like to wear things short. I love that tension and contrast that emerges in the overlap of the seam of the garment (jacket, gloves) and the undergarment (shirt, socks) or the skin. The trade-off is that the glove utility drops because it fails to cover that intentional gap. Intentionally stupid many think and say- and yes, from that perspective the yellow gloves are definitely dumb. But guess who cares? No one. No one can make me feel as good as my short yellow leather gloves. Ok. That's a bit of an exaggeration- but almost.
Enter Generative AI. A trendsetter on our journey towards meaning. Empowering us all to participate in the dance of creation, they challenge the mundane monotony of generic products. Offering us the tools to sculpt our own destiny, they stand as the modern-day embodiment of Home Depot, a beacon of possibility in the sea of sameness.
Enter Generative AI
Offering us the tools to sculpt our own destiny, they stand as the modern-day embodiment of Home Depot, a beacon of possibility in the sea of sameness.
Why does this matter? I want to see new kind of things people care about. I want to use products that value purpose over profit. I would like to bind with new kinds of things- that makes us, people, a bit better.
Like the neighborhood lemonade stand, unprofitable yet magnetizing, drawing children into sunshine and camaraderie. Presence over Productivity!
Much like the makeshift bench, humble yet inviting, offering rest and fellowship to passersby.
Just as that inimitable, delectable taco from the stadium's food truck, unscalable yet irresistibly satisfying.
Generative AI tools are wild and free. They echo the Home Depot's secluded corner where power tools hum in invitation. Just as one might dare to wield a chainsaw, we too can harness the raw, untamed potential of artificial intelligence. Power up, plunge in, and pioneer into the uncharted.
Generative AI tools are wild and free.
They echo the Home Depot's secluded corner where power tools hum in invitation. Just as one might dare to wield a chainsaw, we too can harness the raw, untamed potential of artificial intelligence. Power up, plunge in, and pioneer into the uncharted.
What are you going to build?
Make meaningful things. Cherish your creations, their compromises too; for in my own, I find triumph- even with cold wrists as my yellow leather gloves push me forward. Each trade-off, a bold stroke on our canvas of endeavor. Let's do this.