Social media gives you a warped view of the world. It allocates social capital to the digital local maxima giving you a sense that you need to emulate in order to be successful. In reality true 1% of the 1% operators succeed with it without social back patting, you just don’t meet them around much by chance.

It’s a shame majority of people are never exposed to such people, setting such a low bar for brilliance, work ethic, discipline and intellectual rigour. Meeting such people forces a harsh reality on you - sacrifice what you find comfort in or be eternally mediocre.

This is also not to diss the skill of influencing online - it’s an incredible skill that takes incredible discipline. I’ve played the game and still do with varying levels of participation.

I’m just saying the truly great minds out there have far less social media than me. Even for myself, at some point I realized my self limits and decided to optimise vs. pushing at the edges. To invent, to break, to defy limits. Those people are not going to have the stereotypical profile of your average influencer.

I just sort of wonder how many people are completely dismissed and overlooked by the world because of their social status online. Or even the lack of ability for the crowd to perceive such individuals of true genius.

My point is not “hustle porn blah be great, social media bad” but rather that the ideals of today are so low by default because of the new inherent social hierarchy in place.

And to not convince yourself of this mirage.