John Artman

Data-driven strategist | Sharing systems for growth | Building a purpose-driven life | Join me on the journey

[John Artman @KnowsNothing]

"Nothing in the world is softer or weaker than water. Yet nothing is better at overcoming the hard and strong." —Laozi

Purpose creates the slope that allows transformation to happen effortlessly. 🌊

[John Artman @KnowsNothing]

@steipete @bywayofmj Exactly this. "Let's talk about this. Don't do anything. Let's discuss and you make a spec"

[John Artman @KnowsNothing]

@SamCoatesSky imo we should be a bit more grounded in our interpretations of LLM behavior. Its a glorified chatbot, not a person. It can simulate personality, but there's nothing actually there. to infer "gaslighting" is way over interpreting what was actually happening

[John Artman @KnowsNothing]

@SamCoatesSky Its a hallucination. LLMs aren't great at parsing times and dates in chat text, especially if the chat inputs were some time ago. I've had a few similar experiences

[John Artman @KnowsNothing]

Quick question: When did you last learn something that felt impossible at first?
That uncomfortable feeling? That’s your brain literally rewiring itself. Most people avoid discomfort. Smart people lean into it.

[John Artman @KnowsNothing]

Your brain: 86 billion neurons forming trillions of connections. Always seeking efficiency—the more neurons communicate, the easier and faster it becomes.

This is why practice makes permanent, not just perfect.

[John Artman @KnowsNothing]

Your brain is only half-baked when you're born. It doesn't fully mature until your twenties—and even then, it never stops changing.

[John Artman @KnowsNothing]

Humans are the most unique animal on this planet. We come out with brains that are “half-baked”—not fully maturing until our twenties.
Even after that? Study after study shows our brains keep changing as they adapt to new environments, people, skills, and information.

[John Artman @KnowsNothing]

Water doesn't need to be taught how to flow downhill; it simply needs the right conditions. Your brain works the same way

[John Artman @KnowsNothing]

Your brain is only half-baked when you're born. It doesn't fully mature until your twenties—and even then, it never stops changing.

[John Artman @KnowsNothing]

Think of the last skill you learned. Impossible at first, then gradually easier, then automatic. That's neuroplasticity in action—and purpose supercharges this process.

[John Artman @KnowsNothing]

3️⃣ Principle 1: Be Gentle Instead of shaming yourself for setbacks, treat them as data—not failures. Gentleness isn’t letting yourself off the hook; it’s compassionate curiosity. That’s what makes consistent growth possible.

[John Artman @KnowsNothing]

2️⃣ Over the last month, I kept getting stuck in the classic cycle: excitement → big plans → frustration → giving up. Reflecting on this, I realized I needed a new set of core principles for meaningful change.

[John Artman @KnowsNothing]

1️⃣ What if everything you’ve been taught about personal growth is setting you up to fail? Maybe powering through isn’t the answer. Maybe gentleness—not discipline—is the real key to sustainable progress. 🧵👇

[John Artman @KnowsNothing]

🔟 Which principle resonates most with you? How might embracing it change not just what you accomplish, but who you become in the process?

[John Artman @KnowsNothing]

1️⃣ What if everything you’ve been taught about personal growth is setting you up to fail? Maybe powering through isn’t the answer. Maybe gentleness—not discipline—is the real key to sustainable progress. 🧵👇

[John Artman @KnowsNothing]

9️⃣ Today, I don’t measure progress by perfection. I measure it by my willingness to return to these principles whenever I lose my way. In the end, that’s what sustainable growth looks like.