Be
Write online daily - Robert has been posting almost every day for nearly two years now, starting back in January 2024. He sees this practice as building a second brain. It’s a natural way to track what he’s doing with his life and organize his thinking.
Own your content - He’s reluctant to invest time on platforms where his content could be “incinerated in a heartbeat.” Instead, he prefers to own his data, linking his BlueSky posts (via AT Protocol) back to his personal website.
Build a personal site - Robert believes everyone should have one. His website is designed “exactly for me” and serves as a time capsule chronicling his interests—random thoughts, readings, cool videos, and things he’s built.
Seek connection - His website emerged from a desire to “help interesting people find me.” He believes that by recording his interests and focusing on being genuinely interesting himself, the right people will reach out (like I did!).
Prioritize intrinsic motivation - Robert operates on the belief that if you “just do what really moves you,” everything else—like TED Talk invitations—will work itself out. He’s unapologetically focused on what interests him, and he sees this self-centeredness as a virtue.
Use platforms for distribution, not dependence - He’s cautious about relying exclusively on platforms like Substack Notes for discovery, since they’re closed systems that may still be “picking winners and losers” through algorithms.
If you feel lost, create - Robert started chronicling his life when he realized the years were slipping by and he had “no idea what I was doing with my life.” He feels his personal work is worth it because, ultimately, this collected content “will be all I leave behind.”
