Quote from Lucio Buffalmano on December 12, 2023, 11:03 am

Thank you for sharing, John!

I do spend considerable time thinking about how to better develop PU.

Especially these days as I'm thinking about upgrade 9 (smaller lessons + alpha male lesson + possible module/lessons restructuring + all the notes of the last months) and upgrade 10 (videos).

PU IS NOT CURSED TO EVER-INCREASING

What you mention here is something that for a time I've seen as a risk to manage:

Quote from John Freeman on December 12, 2023, 9:37 am

The challenge are:

1. You want to keep PU as lean as possible
2. The knowledge base is ever increasing (thanks in part to the forum)

But I'm changing my mind on this.

The knowledge may be ever-increasing indeed.

But the 20% that makes 80% of the difference doesn't increase nearly as fast.
And it also stops, at a certain point.

Even making it to 50% that makes 90% of the difference, the foundations don't have to ever-increase with the knowledge.

Maybe a good comparison could be creating a cathedral.
The more material you add, the more magnificent you can make it.

But at a certain point, there are diminishing returns to making it bigger and bigger, adding more spires and towers outside, more statues, more gold inside, etc. etc.

And at a certain point, you may as well safely say "now it's as perfect as it can be, no more".

Then you can still make it better, but making it better means swapping and improving, not adding.
Sometimes it may be adding. But some other times it may be removing as well.

So it doesn't grow anymore.

So much of the work is in condensing those foundations from all that is available -including what's continuously created-.

Refining knowledge VS additive knowledge

The more power dynamics advances, the more the new knowledge improves what's already existing, rather than creating completely new concepts.

For example, a good chunk of the added knowledge now is:

• Defining
• Linking concepts
• Finding general principles

For example, the recent "what you accept becomes acceptable".

It added a potentially great principle (edit: crazy how sometimes a higher principle can sound so banal and you think "so freaking obvious, how couldn't I see that". But only in hindsight. Adn that's where a tool like the forum can add a lot of value. It's a lot of time that goes into it, but... It may be the only way to do that type of refinement work)
And that can be used as a personal mantra as well to internalize the importance of taking action).

But in terms of adding, it's not much.
In PU, that may be a simple headline or mindset/mantra.
Or a few seconds / highlight mantra in a longer video that explains the applications (and many of the applications are already there).

Edit:
Just to be clear, I don't think that PU is even near that "perfection" point.
That's a lifetime work.
What I described here is the process of getting there -and the fact that PU is in that process-.
And albeit far from the end point, you can already see the signs of what you'd expect for a product on that path (ie.: more and more refining rather than always adding). 

The "Advanced Track"

Still, you're right that if one wants to go down the rabbit hole, one can always add:

• More advanced stuff, even though those may have smaller ROI, they may still be be helpful
• More complex stuff, which one may keep out of PU to avoid making it some sort of "elitist PhD type of course"
• More niche applications, and that was already in mind in long-term development. Ie.: Ali is making a course on networking. Bel may one day make one for the legal profession. And who knows, maybe one day you'll make one for doctors :)
• More examples
• ....

So, yeah, it's a great approach I think.

Not yet right now since I'm still focusing on making the main foundation as good as it can be.

But in the cards, so... Thank you for sharing!

And if you got more ideas on how to structure it/go about it, happy to read.

Quote from John Freeman on December 12, 2023, 1:38 pm

Dear Lucio,

thank you for your answer!

Quote from Lucio Buffalmano on December 12, 2023, 11:03 am

Thank you for sharing, John!

I'm happy you're open to suggestions!

I do spend considerable time thinking about how to better develop PU.

I bet! Kaizen all the way!

Especially these days as I'm thinking about upgrade 9 (smaller lessons + alpha male lesson + possible module/lessons restructuring + all the notes of the last months) and upgrade 10 (videos).

PU IS NOT CURSED TO EVER-INCREASING

What you mention here is something that for a time I've seen as a risk to manage:

Quote from John Freeman on December 12, 2023, 9:37 am

The challenge are:

1. You want to keep PU as lean as possible
2. The knowledge base is ever increasing (thanks in part to the forum)

But I'm changing my mind on this.

The knowledge may be ever-increasing indeed.

But the 20% that makes 80% of the difference doesn't increase nearly as fast.
And it also stops, at a certain point.

I view it like you as well. When there are new development/precisions on a concept on the forum it does feel like it's polishing the final 5-10% of the concept in PU. So I agree there's a stop.

Even making it to 50% that makes 90% of the difference, the foundations don't have to ever-increase with the knowledge.

Totally. It makes sense.

Maybe a good comparison could be creating a cathedral.
The more material you add, the more magnificent you can make it.

But at a certain point, there are diminishing returns to making it bigger and bigger, adding more spires and towers outside, more statues, more gold inside, etc. etc.

Definitely.

And at a certain point, you may as well safely say "now it's as perfect as it can be, no more".

Yep, that's the artist vision. When is the sculpture finished? It is finished when it is finished. Kind of zen approach (seems to be today's theme).

Then you can still make it better, but making it better means swapping and improving, not adding.
Sometimes it may be adding. But some other times it may be removing as well.

Next level. Again in the taoist/zen mindset. That's something I noticed you have the courage to do and it's hard to do. To do it, one must go at a higher level of concept/awareness to say more with less. Give more value with less information. It also goes back to Bruce Lee's quote which has a connection to this:

“Absorb what is useful, discard what is not, and add what is uniquely your own.” - Bruce Lee

 

So it doesn't grow anymore.

So much of the work is in condensing those foundations from all that is available -including what's continuously created-.

Definitely. It's going from the work of art to the masterpiece. This is linked to any artist: Michelangelo, etc. aiming for the "perfect form". That's the goal. No more, no less. Going into the esoteric, a masterpiece becomes its own thing. It acquires a (inanimate of couse) life of its own. It is. The energy and intention that was put into it gives its "life" to it. True for cooking, relationships, etc. That's the creating power of humans (one of the few concepts I agree with the woo-woo New age movement). From nothing to something. Or from pieces to one thing. Or from chaos to order. Any concept like that. Creation basically.

Refining knowledge VS additive knowledge

The more power dynamics advances, the more the new knowledge improves what's already existing, rather than creating completely new concepts.

True. As I already wrote. In my experience, learning this stuff if one would only learn apply the law of social exchanges, then it's already 50%. Then there are ramifications -> thanking back, etc. but they naturally grow from the core concept. That's why there are advanced concepts. All physics stem from mathematics. Relativity and Newton's laws are different in complexity but it's all physics. Some things you need relativity but you can do 80-95% with Newton's laws. A bit similar.

For example, a good chunk of the added knowledge now is:

• Defining
• Linking concepts
• Finding general principles

For example, the recent "what you accept becomes acceptable".

Yeah great example.

It added a potentially great principle (edit: crazy how sometimes a higher principle can sound so banal and you think "so freaking obvious, how couldn't I see that". But only in hindsight. Adn that's where a tool like the forum can add a lot of value. It's a lot of time that goes into it, but... It may be the only way to do that type of refinement work)

That's what mastery is. When one listens to advanced practitioners in every field: they simplify the concepts. But it took them years to find the simplicity in it. Again, less is more. The minimum but necessary form. Not more not less.

If you allow me, I would remove the "potentially", even though I respect your humility. It's a bomb. There's one I learned that I haven't shared yet I think that I learned from a 64 y.o cook at the hospital (works in the hospital's kitchen):

The base of trust is respect.

It means you cannot gain someone else's trust without giving them respect first. Something I never thought about before meeting him.

I write it as an example of what we're talking about and for you since you appreciate this art form (maximum meaning, minimum words). I'll write a post about it.

And that can be used as a personal mantra as well to internalize the importance of taking action).

Yes, and it's helpful for our minds as it's much easier to think in mantras/keywords/concepts.

Off-topic: you could use this one (about accepting) for a YB short maybe. /Off-topic. Also maybe at the beginning of a chapter/lesson topic it could be written in bold and large as an intro quote/subtitle in PU.

But in terms of adding, it's not much.
In PU, that may be a simple headline or mindset/mantra.

Alright, seems we're on the same page, I see this now.

Or a few seconds / highlight mantra in a longer video that explains the applications (and many of the applications are already there).

Again on the same page. I'll harp on it again: "You have to demand respect! People don't give it to you." (I just love this one, link for those who don't know this one). Also this quote about respect could be at the beginning of a self-defense chapter in PU.

Edit:
Just to be clear, I don't think that PU is even near that "perfection" point.
That's a lifetime work.

Indeed. Goes back to mastery, cathedrals, paintings, etc. Off-topic I don't know if you ever visited Van Gogh's museum in Amsterdam. I recommend it it's (one of) my favourite.  The reason is that going through the museum, you get the blueprint through Van Gogh's life how to become a master and the price to pay for it /Off-topic.

What I described here is the process of getting there -and the fact that PU is in that process-.
And albeit far from the end point, you can already see the signs of what you'd expect for a product on that path (ie.: more and more refining rather than always adding).

Makes sense. I can see it.

The "Advanced Track"

Still, you're right that if one wants to go down the rabbit hole, one can always add:

• More advanced stuff, even though those may have smaller ROI, they may still be be helpful
• More complex stuff, which one may keep out of PU to avoid making it some sort of "elitist PhD type of course"
• More niche applications, and that was already in mind in long-term development. Ie.: Ali is making a course on networking. Bel may one day make one for the legal profession. And who knows, maybe one day you'll make one for doctors 🙂
• More examples
• ....

Yes, that's the thing. For advanced people, the devil's in the details and the little ROI is what helps them go from the 96th to the 97th percentile. Just like masterclasses (could be called PU masterclass) in music. Professionals of a certain level have the same knowledge. Now to get to the next level they need to know the littlest of things: how does the master put his fourth finger on the guitar. Why this note and not this note? So I think it makes sense but only to the advanced practitioner.

As always, the master always reminds the learner about the basics and fundamentals. As the master refines always the same fundamentals but to the perfection. The master himself is cautious and critical of these littles increments. The master says: "Before enlightenment chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment: chop wood, carry water". For instance, Flea from the RHCP: "you must have flash and smash." or "In Punk music, you play every note like it's your last" and then he just do this over and over and over again. To reach perfection, the master has even to be critical of trying to reach for perfection. The artist (or master does not matter) says that the work of art created itself, he just was part of the process. So these are the kinds of concepts I like and I think we are exploring here (not talking about what a master is, another philosophical discussion).

So law of optimal balance here again: seeking too much perfection leads to imperfection. There is action and inaction, there is doing and there is being done unto. All these are taoist/zen concepts.

So, yeah, it's a great approach I think.

Not yet right now since I'm still focusing on making the main foundation as good as it can be.

100%.

But in the cards, so... Thank you for sharing!

Thank you for listening and the exchange! As you see I get a lot inspiration from you in these intellectual exchanges.

And if you got more ideas on how to structure it/go about it, happy to read.

I'll let you know in case something comes up!

Cheers.

Quote from Lucio Buffalmano on December 13, 2023, 12:17 pm

Cheers, thank you for sharing John and good exchange for further developing the concepts.

Quote from John Freeman on December 22, 2023, 12:19 pm

Hello Lucio,

in the relationship module about men controlling women there is a part talking about being schizophrenic.

In popular culture, people mean multiple personalities. These are 2 different things. People with schizophrenia don’t have multiple personalities. They often have auditive hallucinations (the voices) but it’s different.

Speaking as a healthcare professional here. Most people would not care/see the difference. So to be taken according to the balance between science and target audience. Up to you what’s best letting you know from my perspective.

Quote from Lucio Buffalmano on December 22, 2023, 3:14 pm

Of couse it's important and will fix it, so it's very helpful and thank you so much John!

Quote from John Freeman on December 30, 2023, 9:12 pm

Hello Lucio,

a new idea from today: PU might be a product (and I think it's not a respectful word enough). But TPM is a System.

I understand now why I said PU makes sense only with the forum. It's because it's a system: PU, SU, the forum, the blog: they're all interconnected. I go back and forth between them to learn: from a book recommendation to a post to a lesson to a blog post to a book review. That's also why I feel like I barely scratched the surface: it's both a wide and a deep system. My honest thoughts.

So new idea: The Power System or The Power Moves System.

Quote from John Freeman on January 9, 2024, 6:38 am

Hello Lucio,

I think regarding social skills and my recent posts and what I learned (also saw there is a confidence university coming up). Social skills can be broken down into :

• Thanking people (Kavalier's and Bel's remarks: thanking back as defaults, etc.)
• Apologising (as per your remarks)
• Etc.

I mean broking down the social skills into their components: greeting people, saying good bye, etc.

The little things we do on a daily basis.

Quote from John Freeman on January 11, 2024, 4:51 pm

As I wrote somewhere else: dealing with interruptions is a key social skill I think.

Something else that I don’t like to talk about but I still will. I don’t because it’s not in my interest. I think that a subscription model would help to make PU/TPM perennial. Actually it is in my interest as well. I’m sure you already considered it. I thought about it now that I realize that PU is niche. It will only appeal to a minority. So potential for growth is limited. Therefore once all potential customers are tapped there is no more. Eg. Patreon for models where they earn in the thousands every month.

I haven’t done the calculation though. My perspective.