Juan David's Newsletter - March 21, 2021
How To Ask For Advice?, The Worth of a Math Formula, and Perfectionism
👋 from the Land of Lincoln,
Classes are picking up, and I need to finish a research project to present at a conference in a month.
Writing essays consistently has been harder. I have finished three essays but they are not “finished” as I have not edited them or gotten quality feedback.
But, if for some reason, you want to read some of my essays, I want to recommend to you three essays:
A short essay on my favorite poetic physicist, Carlo Rovelli.
A medium-form essay on who (and who not) to get advice from.
Reply to this email, if you’d like to read drafts and give feedback on the essays.
Curiosities 👨🏫😩☀️
1. Thinking Deeply About Our Gifts & Talents
In this video, I take on a journey to explore fundamental questions such as why we do what we do, why we’re good at certain things, and how to find our “calling” or “purpose.”
Watch it to find out why I use chalkboards for these spontaneous videos.
2. How To Ask for Advice?
You don’t!!!!
From The Fountainhead
“If you want my advice, Peter,” he said at last, “you’ve made a mistake already. By asking me. By asking anyone. Never ask people. Not about your work. Don’t you know what you want? How can you stand it, not to know?”
3. What Is a Math Formula is Worth?
From the Argentinian physicist, Juan Martín Maldacena:
“It is often said that a picture is worth a thousand words. A formula is worth a million pictures!”
Source: The symmetry and simplicity of the laws of physics and the Higgs boson
If you want to learn more about theoretical physics, I’d recommend reading his simple and beautifully written paper. He’s a master at using simple analogies.
4. Getting Feedback: Perfectionist vs. Non-perfectionist
If you think you aren’t one, you probably are.
A non-perfectionist, when receiving negative feedback, tends to parse it in one of two ways:
1) I get negative feedback -> it’s not from a reliable source, so I don’t take it seriously 2) I get negative feedback -> it’s correct and I figure out how to improve
A perfectionist, on the other hand:
I get negative feedback -> I feel horrible and worthless
The only way they can live with negative feedback is by completely devaluing the person who’s giving it:
This person is a deranged loser. How dare they criticize me?
— From a Great Essay on Perfectionism
This essay impacted the way I see and treat myself but also my perception of those who think differently and whose decisions I do not understand.
5. Summer Programs for High School Students
If you're in high school, these are the summer programs you should be looking at [from a personal list I collected for years]:
Check it out HERE
or
The weather. I’ll get to play more soccer with friends and hang out with the Illini squirrels.
Bye,
Juan David Campolargo