Use Anti-Fragile Thinking to Create the Life You Want

Summary

Ali Al carulli, a postdoctoral fellow and systems engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, shares an unconventional approach to achieving success in life and business. He introduces the concept of an 'antifragile system,' which focuses on embracing failure as a means to learn and iterate quickly. Al carulli explains that while most self-help advice emphasizes setting clear goals and visualizing success, SpaceX and Elon Musk's success stems from a different mindset: expecting and preparing for failure. He suggests that instead of fearing failure, one should aim to fail fast to gain insights and improve. This mindset shift allows for rapid progress and is particularly powerful for solopreneurs and individuals who struggle with perfectionism. By accepting that things will go wrong, one can act with more speed and confidence, leading to faster achievements and a transformative impact on personal and professional endeavors.

Takeaways

• 🚀 **Embrace Antifragility**: Adopting an antifragile mindset means expecting things to go wrong and using failure as a learning opportunity.
• 🎯 **Define Desired Outcomes**: Clearly identify your goals, but understand that the path to achieving them involves trial and error.
• 🤔 **Focus on Failure**: Contrary to traditional self-help advice, concentrate on potential failure points to learn and improve faster.
• 💡 **Iterative Learning**: Learn from each failure and use that knowledge to iterate and improve your approach.
• 🛠️ **Practical Implementation**: Start implementing the antifragile approach in your day-to-day life to see transformation.
• 🚫 **Avoid Perfectionism**: Overcoming the fear of failure means accepting that not everything will go right and that's okay.
• 🌟 **SpaceX's Approach**: Elon Musk and SpaceX are examples of organizations that have embraced failure as a part of innovation and success.
• 💸 **Business Application**: Whether scaling a business or running ads, apply the antifragile system to fail fast and learn.
• 🧠 **Intuition and Coaching**: Use your intuition and coaching advice, but always filter ideas through your own thought process.
• 🔄 **Resource Gathering**: Gather the necessary resources and skills before initiating any new strategy or plan.
• ⏭️ **Speed to Failure**: Aim to reach the point of failure quickly to confirm what doesn't work and move on to the next iteration.
• 🧗‍♂️ **Overcoming Fear**: The key difference between high achievers and those who are paralyzed by inaction is the ability to confront the fear of failure.
• 📈 **Long-term Success**: Accept that in the long run, you will make many mistakes, but each one brings you closer to the correct solution.
• 📚 **Educational Value**: Regardless of the outcome, the value lies in the education and experience gained from attempting and failing.
• 🔗 **Accountability**: Solopreneurs and individuals must hold themselves accountable and not let perfectionism or fear dictate their actions.

Q & A

What is the main concept Ali Al carulli introduces in the video?

Ali Al carulli introduces the concept of using an antifragile frame of thinking to achieve one's goals. This involves focusing on potential failure as a means to learn and improve, rather than solely on success.

How does Ali Al carulli differentiate SpaceX's approach from the traditional self-help advice?

Ali Al carulli explains that while traditional self-help advice focuses on visualizing success, SpaceX, and Elon Musk, emphasize understanding what can go wrong and planning for failure as a way to innovate and improve.

What is the importance of embracing failure according to the video?

Embracing failure is crucial because it allows individuals to confront their fears, learn from mistakes quickly, and iterate their approach, leading to faster progress towards their goals.

What does Ali Al carulli suggest as the first step in the anti-fragility system?

The first step is to clearly define the desired outcome or dream, which is a common advice found in self-help literature.

How does the anti-fragility system approach the process of goal achievement differently?

The anti-fragility system focuses on identifying potential points of failure and aiming to reach those points as quickly as possible to learn and adapt, rather than avoiding failure at all costs.

What is the role of initiation in the process described by Ali Al carulli?

Initiation is the starting point where one begins to act on their goals. It's important because many people never reach this phase due to perfectionism or fear of failure.

Why is speed important in the context of the anti-fragility system?

Speed is important because it allows for quicker encounters with failure, which in turn leads to faster learning and iterating, accelerating the path towards the desired outcome.

How does Ali Al carulli's approach to posting videos on his channel reflect the anti-fragility mindset?

Ali Al carulli applies the anti-fragility mindset by not fearing if a video doesn't perform well. Instead, he focuses on the value of the content and the lessons learned from any failure, using them to improve future videos.

What does Ali Al carulli suggest for individuals who struggle with perfectionism?

He suggests that individuals should adopt an anti-fragile mindset, expecting things to go wrong and using failure as a learning opportunity, which helps to overcome the paralysis caused by perfectionism.

How does the anti-fragility system help in dealing with the dynamic nature of life and business?

The anti-fragility system helps by preparing individuals to expect and adapt to change and uncertainty, making them better equipped to handle the unpredictable aspects of life and business.

What is the key takeaway from the video for someone looking to achieve their goals more effectively?

The key takeaway is to adopt an anti-fragile mindset that focuses on learning from failure, embracing the dynamic nature of life, and iterating quickly to achieve goals more effectively.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 Embracing Antifragility for Success

Ali Al carulli, a systems engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab, introduces the concept of antifragility and its application in achieving life and business goals. He contrasts this approach with traditional self-help advice, emphasizing the importance of anticipating failure as a means to innovate and succeed. The video promises a practical process that viewers can implement immediately in their daily lives, inspired by SpaceX's innovative strategies and Elon Musk's approach to goal setting. The summary of self-help methods is critiqued for not fully addressing the implementation and action phases, which are crucial for success.

05:01

🧠 Overcoming Perfectionism and Fear of Failure

The second paragraph delves into the mindset of a solopreneur or anyone facing challenges with perfectionism and fear. It discusses the anti-fragile system, which involves expecting things to go wrong as a way to build resilience and learn from failure. This mindset shift is key to overcoming the paralysis that fear of failure can cause. The speaker shares personal experiences, including his time at SpaceX and his journey with his engineering channel, to illustrate how embracing failure can lead to faster growth and success. The importance of speed, learning from failure, and iterating is highlighted as a powerful tool for personal and professional development.

Keywords

💡Antifragile

Antifragile is a concept that refers to systems or individuals that not only withstand stress or shocks but actually improve and grow stronger as a result. In the video, Ali Al carulli discusses using an antifragile mindset to achieve goals, which involves embracing failure as a learning opportunity and focusing on rapid iteration and improvement.

💡Systems Engineer

A systems engineer is a professional who specializes in the design, integration, and management of complex systems. Ali Al carulli identifies himself as a systems engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which positions him as an expert in the practical application of systems thinking and problem-solving, relevant to the video's theme of achieving goals through a structured approach.

💡SpaceX

SpaceX is a private aerospace manufacturer and space transportation company founded by Elon Musk. In the video, SpaceX is highlighted as an example of a company that has successfully embraced an antifragile approach to innovation and rapid progress, particularly in the context of setting and achieving ambitious goals.

💡Elon Musk

Elon Musk is an entrepreneur and CEO known for his work with companies like Tesla and SpaceX. The video script mentions Elon Musk as someone who has 'cracked' the concept of antifragility, emphasizing his approach to confronting failure and using it as a stepping stone towards success.

💡Self-Help Industry

The self-help industry encompasses a wide range of products and services designed to enhance personal development. Ali contrasts the typical advice from self-help gurus, which often focuses on visualization and positive thinking, with the antifragile approach, which emphasizes the importance of planning for and learning from failure.

💡Law of Attraction

The Law of Attraction is a belief that positive thoughts bring positive results. The video challenges the notion that simply visualizing a desired outcome is sufficient, instead promoting an approach that involves actively seeking out and learning from failure.

💡Desired Outcome

A desired outcome refers to the specific goal or result that an individual or organization aims to achieve. The video emphasizes the importance of being clear about one's desired outcome as a starting point but also stresses the need to plan for potential failures as part of the journey towards that outcome.

💡Fear of Failure

Fear of failure is the apprehension or anxiety about not achieving success or making mistakes. Ali discusses how this fear can paralyze individuals from taking action. The video advocates for confronting this fear by expecting and planning for failure as a natural part of the process.

💡Iteration Cycle

An iteration cycle is a process of repeating steps with the goal of refining and improving a product or approach. The video uses the concept of an iteration cycle to illustrate how SpaceX and Elon Musk approach goal achievement, focusing on learning from each cycle of failure to move closer to success.

💡Solopreneur

A solopreneur is an individual who runs their own business, often working alone. The video addresses solopreneurs and others who may struggle with perfectionism and fear, suggesting that adopting an antifragile mindset can help them overcome these obstacles and achieve their goals more effectively.

💡Perfectionism

Perfectionism is a personality trait involving a strong motivation to achieve flawlessness and avoid mistakes. The video script points out that perfectionism can hinder progress, as it often leads to fear of failure and inaction. Ali encourages viewers to accept that failure is part of the process and to focus on learning and iterating instead.

Highlights

Ali Al carulli, a postdoctoral fellow and systems engineer at NASA Jet Propulsion Lab, discusses an antifragile approach to achieving goals.

Contrasting with traditional self-help advice, the focus is on embracing failure as a part of the process.

SpaceX and Elon Musk are cited as examples of successful entities that have embraced an antifragile mindset.

The importance of setting goals is acknowledged, but the key is in how you approach potential failure.

The concept of anti-fragility involves expecting things to go wrong to achieve success faster.

Fear of failure is identified as a major obstacle to taking action and making progress.

The video outlines a practical process that can be implemented in daily life to foster an antifragile mindset.

Initiation, speed, and learning from failure are emphasized as critical steps in the process.

The idea of iterating quickly after failure is presented as a method to achieve goals more efficiently.

Resources and skills are highlighted as important considerations before initiating any new strategy.

The video emphasizes the need to overcome perfectionism to reach the breaking point and learn from it.

Solopreneurs and individuals with perfectionist tendencies are encouraged to adopt an antifragile approach.

The mindset shift from expecting success to expecting failure is presented as a powerful tool for personal and business growth.

The video discusses the dynamic nature of life and business, and the importance of being prepared for the unexpected.

Ali shares personal experiences from his time at SpaceX and how those lessons influenced his current approach.

The video concludes with a call to action for viewers to adopt an antifragile mindset for faster progress and transformation.

Ali's passion for the topic is evident as he discusses overcoming his own perfectionism and fear of failure.

The video provides a unique perspective on goal achievement that diverges from common self-help narratives.

Transcripts

hey guys my name is Ali Al carulli I'm a

postdoctoral fellow and a systems

engineer at the NASA jet propulsion lab

and in this video I want to show you how

you can use an antifragile frame of

thinking to achieve your wildest dreams

in life and in business and it's going

to be very counterintuitive this is

going to be very different from anything

you've you've uh heard in the self-help

industry or by the Law of Attraction

gurus or or things of that nature and

I'm going to walk you through an actual

process that is practical that you can

start implementing today in your

day-to-day life and by the end of this

video you will be transformed so most

self-help gurus have only half of the

story right which is um you need to get

clear on your desired outcome right so

most self-help books will say something

along the lines of um you need to

visualize the end outcome what is it

you're trying to do where do you want to

go how much do you want to lose weight

uh what is the business Revenue you're

trying to achieve that's fine but they

fail to address a far more important

idea and this more important idea is

something that SpaceX has cracked and

Elon Musk specifically has cracked and

this is why SpaceX is one of the most

Innovative and and fastest companies and

they're doing things that are crazy that

no one thought would be possible and

this basically comes around when you're

when you're setting your goals or you're

trying to get your life uh that you're

Desiring a lot of people are clear on

what they want even people who think

they're a bit lost like everyone to an

extent would like to have more money in

the bank um travel the world like grow a

company better relationships more

attractive partner things of that nature

like these are things that a lot of

people have in common but when it comes

to the implementation and the action

this is where SpaceX as a company is

very different from the rest of

companies and and from the rest of

people in general and I got to see this

firsthand because not only have I read

Elon musk's biographies I read both

biographies but I say this one the newer

one is a much better one uh but I

actually was also inside SpaceX uh I

interviewed at SpaceX prior to starting

uh my job at Nasa and even though

working at Nasa was a better fit for me

uh what I learned at SpaceX was crazy

and this why I'm making this video so I

want to talk about the second part that

most people neglect which is what I call

the anti- fragility system right so

again we agree that the dream outcome or

the desired outcome everyone knows that

okay you got to figure out what you want

write it down put it on a piece of paper

put it in your face visualize it that's

fine but where SpaceX does uh go goes

well is that they say that okay what can

go wrong here and how is this going to

fail and this is very counterintuitive

because most people think okay how am I

going to succeed how do I succeed how do

I reach success how do I achieve success

but in the case of what I've learned in

SpaceX uh you're actually very focused

on on failure and if I if I were to

really think of one thing that separates

someone who's a super super achiever

versus someone who's like paralized and

unable to take action it really comes

down to fear of failure SpaceX and Elon

Musk confront failure in the eye and say

we will fail we're only in one Loop

within the iteration cycle and failure

is inevitable we're going to get there

sooner or later so so the question goes

from how do I achieve success to okay

how do I fail as fast as possible in

this next step so I can learn and figure

out what's going on so whenever you're

coming up with a dream outcome and let's

say again you're trying to scale your

company to a certain Revenue level um

you're also going to say okay I'm G to

try something my your Intuition or your

brain is going to come up to you with an

idea or if you have a coach your coach

is going to say okay let's try this

thing and you should always filter

things first because if you get a coach

the coach should teach you how to think

and not just you shouldn't just blind

follow what the coach tells you that's

topic for for a different video but the

idea is that once you figure out what

you want to do you should expect that at

some point is going to break right the

market is always Dynamic the method

you're using is is is is is probably

Dynamic you probably don't know enough

and whatever you're about to do will

likely fail and if you say okay this

thing I want to scale my company let's

say 10K per month 20K per month 30k per

month I'm going to try this new ad

strategy right what most people do is

they're like okay how do I get it right

right I'm GNA spend money I don't want

to waste my money like how do I get it

right what someone who's much faster and

more successful going to think will say

okay I'm going to try this thing and

it's probably going to break at some

point it's probably going to fail how do

I get to the point of failure or

breaking as fast as possible and based

on that I'm going to learn something and

try and iterating and that's why first

you gather your resources you say okay

if I'm trying to like run Facebook ads

or Run YouTube ads or do something in

the context of business do I have what

it takes do I have enough skills do I

have enough skills to get started right

this is where initiation happens is you

just start right and again most most

people don't even make it to the

initiation phase because they're too

busy uh being perfectionist and trying

to being fearful about what if the dream

outcome doesn't happen that they never

really make it to the breaking point and

third step is speed right once you

initiate you really want to go with

speed at that Breaking Point the

breaking point is going to happen and

then the failure is going to be

confirmed right you're going to achieve

your dream outcome in the short term

which is breaking the thing that you're

trying right and then you're going to go

ahead and repeat it now where this is

really really powerful is if you're

someone who is a solopreneur like you're

by yourself you don't have

accountability for example you have

perfectionist Tendencies You could be a

student you could be anybody who's who's

trying to do something difficult um with

a little bit of perfectionism a little

bit of fear a little bit of scarcity for

example if you have like a limited

amount of money and you're trying to

like do it on trying to spend it on ads

or things of that nature a lot of that

fear and emotions is going to be

dictating your decision making the whole

idea behind this very anti fragile

system is you're you're it's anti

fragile instead of wishing for things to

go right you're expecting for things to

go wrong and this mindset shift again

very counterintuitive from a lot of

things you hear in self-help which is

just visualize that everything's going

to be amazing everything's going to be

great in a simulation uh run by a

computer or in an Ideal World or in a

video game sure all the variables are

controlled for but if you're like me and

have been you've been on this planet

long enough you know that life is very

Dynamic and life uh things change very

very fast and there's a lot of uncounted

for variables that are going to come

along the way so who do you think think

is going to be well equipped to succeed

the person who is expecting things to

only go right and the moment something

goes wrong he's like oh my god what

happened to my perfect plan my perfect

plan is like done or someone who's like

I'm going to try this thing and there's

a good chance this entire thing falls

apart but I'm going to learn something

and I'm going to pick right where I

started off and that's what enables

speed speed comes from not fearing that

things are going to go wrong expecting

that things are going to go wrong and

and having the confidence and the

courage to face it head on right as I

Was preparing this YouTube video right

here and I made these block diagrams

part of me the the perfectionist part

initially was like oh but like what if

what if the video doesn't like and I'm

like dude I don't care if the video does

well or does not this is something I

want to teach people and it's worth

teaching and the faster I get to the

point to where the video doesn't do well

the click-through rate is not good

enough I'll learn something okay maybe

this is not something people are

interested in maybe but the idea is that

I'm going to sit down and I'm going to

record this video and I'm going to teach

people something that I think is

valuable and I'm going to present it in

the best way that I think can help them

and guess what there will be a point

where not everyone's going to watch it

till the end not everyone's going to

learn something people may may not even

like the video but the faster I get to

that Breaking Point the faster I can see

what I learned from here and then apply

it to my next video or I can help people

in the comments or I can see if I can

better serve my viewers right again

completely different way to look at it

and I and and I speak about this with

such passion because when I started my

first

channel um over here it was my

engineering Channel um and it may it may

look impressive that I took it to uh

31,000 subscribers but the idea is uh it

took me a long time to grow this channel

to 30 it's been two years and it took me

like two years to grow this channel

30,000 subscribers and a big part of

that was perfectionism is when in the

very early stages of my of me posting

videos I was just like spending so much

time fearing like oh my God what if a

video doesn't do well what if things

don't work out now I post videos and

they do really well over here and

likewise same same happens over here on

uh in this channel because I don't care

if the video doesn't do well I don't

care if things break and my job at Nasa

obviously that dream outcome is

eventually you want to get it right but

to get it right long-term big picture

you're going to get it wrong A lot of

times there are many times at my job at

Nasa where uh we're running tests and we

have to run it like 20 or 30 times and

every single time we have to like screw

things on put them on plug in the

electronics turn on software it's a lot

of work it's a lot of effort right right

and this is the reality of of the

situation like you need effort and you

need work to get things done but the way

to get to go get over the mindset and

the hurdle of of the effort and the work

needed is to accept that things are

going to fail use the failure as a

confirmation and again you you want to

keep your desired outcome in mind but

you're going to expect what can go wrong

and how do I get to that Breaking Point

fast enough so then I can learn iterate

and I do that over and over and over

again if you start adopting this way of

thinking you're going to get things done

way faster and you're just your life is

like things are just never going to be

the same okay so if you're someone who's

trying to be fast in your personal life

or you trying to be more productive you

should go ahead and check this video out

should show up somewhere I don't know on

the screen other than that you can watch

the rest of my videos If You're Here For

the First Time leave a comment say hi uh

channel is still very small so I'm

probably still going to be responding

but other than that I will see you guys

in the next video Peace Love