"When they tell you that something is impossible, is that the end of the conversation, or is that where a second dialogue begins in your mind, how to show whoever told you that you can't do something?"
This was the question posed by physical mathematician Eric Weinstein, trying to describe the concept of high agency.
High agency is about being unstoppable and creating your own reality. It is the ability to get things done, regardless of the circumstances. These unusual personality types are considered irreverent and committed.
If maybe you are on the verge of a new life, maybe things did not turn out as you expected and you are thinking about quitting, you will want to know how Austen Allred went from living in her car and having to sell 200 tickets in 24 hours to survive founding LambdaSchool, a of the most important education startups in the world.
One morning Austen goes out to exercise, she realizes that her car has broken down and has to be towed away.
At that time the tow truck driver offered to let him stay at his house, but he didn't even have enough money to pay for the trailer, let alone the repair, the combination of the two was going to cost him $ 600 that he didn't have.
Asusten realizes that there was a soccer game, and in the past he had sold tickets to earn extra money, so he thought about trying again.
He started mailing and calling everyone who had tickets online, and he convinced a guy who had an extra 200 tickets to send them to him, sell them, and give him half.
After all said and done, he returned to his car with a wad of $ 1,500 in his pocket. Enough to send half to the original ticket owner, pay the mechanic and tow truck driver, and went to Subway (an absolute luxury at the time).
And that's how he barely managed to stay in Silicon Valley to fight another day.
This is the definition of a High agency person. At times in life we all end up on the brink of failure sometimes. But there is always a way. Even when there seems to be no way out.
We see these high agency vs low agency behaviors everywhere.
High agency are recognized, as they are:
- Capable of creating your reality
- They know they have control over their history
- They either find the way or else create their own
- They believe they can shape the world
- They believe more in their own agency (what is in their control), and do not care about conventional thinking or the opinions of other people
- They are dreamers with ambitious and bold imaginations about the future.
- They take initiative and move on
- They take responsibility. They stand up and own the plan and the result
- They tend not to follow the rules, the realities, that apply to others (as a behavioral trait, which can be seen as antisocial, or if it happens to change the world, it can earn them the label of "visionary")
- They prefer to ask for forgiveness, than permission
- They are always on the attack
- They ask a lot of questions
- They believe that if they have a vision and work ethic, much of life was malleable
- They are willing to endure rejection, shame, uncertainty, fear, or failure
Steve Jobs simplifies this concept when he said:
“Life can be much broader once you discover one simple fact: Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you and you can change it, you can influence it, you can build your own things that other people can use.”
Since he realized that it was possible to create his own reality. This thinking allowed him to create the most successful products ever.
Also Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, use this question to identify High agency:
"If you was stuck in a third world prison and had to call one person to try and bust you out of there - who would you call?"
Instead, the low agency behavior is reflected, since they are:
- Very passive (do not take action)
- They never question
- Accept the story they are given
- Delegate their decisions and thinking
- They are always complaining
- They are always indecisive
- They always overthink things
High Agency is possibly the most valuable personality trait you can cultivate.
High Agency is not innate. It is learned, practiced and developed with habits, iteration by iteration. And each share will be a vote for the type of person you want to become.
When in doubt, ask yourself, what would Austen Allred do?
- Question everything (your life and reality)
- Think how to bend reality and do it
- Never delegate your decision-making and thinking
Referencias: Eric Weinstein y George Mack.