With "squats squats squats" weightlifting programs, I think there is some path dependency by way of Starting Strength being the thing that made lifting accessible to weird internet nerds.
As far as I can tell, the "core customer" who inspired Rippetoe was a young guy who is already an athlete, but with not much muscle, who wants to put on a bunch of weight fast so he can go out for the varsity football team. Heavy focus on squats and deadlifts make perfect sense for this guy. In fact he's in a weird situation where explosively driving force through the posterior chain, is directly worth a lot of social status, much more than beautiful biceps and traps.
In general, I think it's great to leverage base motivations---like wanting to look good, wanting to be attractive to the opposite sex, wanting status, etc.---to build skills and improve. As someone who often struggles with motivation, motivation (in any form) feels like a gift that I should make full use of. It's not that the lofty motivations don't exist! I, of course, also have a spiritual and deep reason for wanting to get fit--but sometimes I also just want to look hot. Both things can coexist and offer a sense of reward for doing the skill, which is really the main thing you should be doing. The motivations will vary, but doing it consistently is what ultimately matters. With vanity and looks specifically, I also find that it's useful as an indicator of physical health. Of course, that doesn't apply to all forms of vanity of appearance, but it can be something that motivates you to take better care of yourself like eating healthy for better skin and exercise for a better physique.
> or pretending you don’t want people to look at you
I feel like this post conflates producing work for attention and liking attention after producing work. In the latter attention is a cherry on top of the cake, and in the former it's the entire essence of the cake.
Doing work because you want to look good is not that great of a motivation because ultimately you don't control what other think of it. So inevitably you end up distorting your motivational system towards something outside of your control.
One way to avoid some audience capture is to remember that you only care about the attention of people whose taste you respect. This applies to being physically sexy as well.
Nicely put. I think you hit on something I’ve always believed: Good work is beautiful. The aesthetic describes the ethical. When I read great writing, see excellent painting, hear wonderful music, it also “looks” good to my other senses.
Yes, to an extent. Though it depends on one’s “why,” I’d rather focus on the mirror than the spotlight.
I think the Bhagavad Gita said it well: “You have the right to work, but for the work's sake only. You have no right to the fruits of work. Desire for the fruits of work must never be your motive in working. Never give way to laziness, either.”
<There is a way to enjoy the game of appearances, to play your hand as well as possible without losing sight of more important things, or falling into an ego-hell of constant comparison>
With "squats squats squats" weightlifting programs, I think there is some path dependency by way of Starting Strength being the thing that made lifting accessible to weird internet nerds.
As far as I can tell, the "core customer" who inspired Rippetoe was a young guy who is already an athlete, but with not much muscle, who wants to put on a bunch of weight fast so he can go out for the varsity football team. Heavy focus on squats and deadlifts make perfect sense for this guy. In fact he's in a weird situation where explosively driving force through the posterior chain, is directly worth a lot of social status, much more than beautiful biceps and traps.
In general, I think it's great to leverage base motivations---like wanting to look good, wanting to be attractive to the opposite sex, wanting status, etc.---to build skills and improve. As someone who often struggles with motivation, motivation (in any form) feels like a gift that I should make full use of. It's not that the lofty motivations don't exist! I, of course, also have a spiritual and deep reason for wanting to get fit--but sometimes I also just want to look hot. Both things can coexist and offer a sense of reward for doing the skill, which is really the main thing you should be doing. The motivations will vary, but doing it consistently is what ultimately matters. With vanity and looks specifically, I also find that it's useful as an indicator of physical health. Of course, that doesn't apply to all forms of vanity of appearance, but it can be something that motivates you to take better care of yourself like eating healthy for better skin and exercise for a better physique.
> or pretending you don’t want people to look at you
I feel like this post conflates producing work for attention and liking attention after producing work. In the latter attention is a cherry on top of the cake, and in the former it's the entire essence of the cake.
Doing work because you want to look good is not that great of a motivation because ultimately you don't control what other think of it. So inevitably you end up distorting your motivational system towards something outside of your control.
One way to avoid some audience capture is to remember that you only care about the attention of people whose taste you respect. This applies to being physically sexy as well.
Nicely put. I think you hit on something I’ve always believed: Good work is beautiful. The aesthetic describes the ethical. When I read great writing, see excellent painting, hear wonderful music, it also “looks” good to my other senses.
Yes, to an extent. Though it depends on one’s “why,” I’d rather focus on the mirror than the spotlight.
I think the Bhagavad Gita said it well: “You have the right to work, but for the work's sake only. You have no right to the fruits of work. Desire for the fruits of work must never be your motive in working. Never give way to laziness, either.”
Love this perspective, Sasha. A voice of calm, balanced reason in a world of increasing extremes.
Ah I like this line a lot!
<There is a way to enjoy the game of appearances, to play your hand as well as possible without losing sight of more important things, or falling into an ego-hell of constant comparison>
100% this. You can do it for enjoyment of the thing itself, and the recognition without being self-centered.
THIS IS SO GOOD!