#long-term-thinking

#long-term-thinking

Stewart Brand thinks big and long. He thinks on a planetary scale as suggested by the title of his celebrated Whole Earth Catalog and on the longest of timeframes, as with his Long Now Foundation, which looks forward to the next 10,000 years of human civilisation. He has had a lifelong fascination with the future, and anything that could get us there faster, from space travel to psychedelic drugs to computing.

I used to think it was just good manners drilled in by strict parents, but after interviewing behavioral researchers for a recent piece on social dynamics, I've discovered there's something much deeper at play here. This seemingly small gesture-waiting for others before diving into your meal-actually reveals a fascinating cluster of personality traits that psychologists link to both personal and professional success. The research suggests these patient diners aren't just being polite; they're demonstrating qualities that make them exceptionally good friends, partners, and colleagues.

The first is The Thinking Game (free on YouTube) - a five-year portrait of Demis Hassabis, co-founder of DeepMind. On one level, it's a fascinating account of how a small group of researchers pushed the limits of artificial intelligence and produced genuine breakthroughs. Beneath the surface, the film is really about long-term thinking. AI can feel like it appeared out of nowhere sometime around 2022. This documentary shows how misleading that impression is.

Dave Ramsey is known for keeping his advice simple and clear, offering the kind of tough guidance many people need to get their finances on track. His perspective is not the final word on money, but it is rooted in wanting to help listeners make better choices. A big part of his appeal is that he often puts himself in his audience's position, which makes his advice feel personal and relatable.

For Anders Braso, chief marketing officer at Monocle magazine and one of our Rebel 50, rebellion is about discipline, not chaos. For Berit Block, head of marketing at WeTransfer, it's about remembering your creative roots and supporting a community that thrives when the rules are bent. Together, their perspectives highlight how rebellion isn't about rejecting everything; it's about knowing what to reject, what to double down on and when to zag while everyone else zigs.

Feld offers a quieter kind of wisdom. He's a systems thinker, a long-term optimist, and one of the rare people in the industry who treats business as a philosophical practice. His philosophy emphasizes the importance of mentorship and relationships that transcend financial metrics.