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← Working under a constraint one resents, rather than none at all, produces more creative results.
17 connected korrents · 19 moments on record from 1 Jan 2003 to 14 Sept 2026.
Everything filed under motivation
motivation
Everything filed under taste
taste
Everything filed under simplicity
simplicity
Everything filed under design
design
Everything filed under AI and human skill
AI and human skill Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Read this korrent: Working under a constraint one resents, rather than none at all, produces more creative results. Working under a constraint one resents, rather than none at all, produces more creative results. Last stated a month ago
11 Aug 2026
HK
Henrik Karlsson — holds since 2026-08-11 — tap for who they are
Same subject: You can be creative within any set of constraints, so long as you understand what they are and get excited about them rather than resent them. — tap to centre the map on it You can be creative within any set of constraints, so long as you understand what they are and get excited about them rather than resent them. Last stated a month ago
14 Aug 2026
SK
Susan Kare — holds since 2026-08-14 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Total freedom does not make you happy; constraints do. — tap to centre the map on it Total freedom does not make you happy; constraints do. Last stated 2 years ago
20 Aug 2024
PL
Pieter Levels — holds since 2024-08-20 — tap for who they are
Same subject: The struggle of making something is not an obstacle in front of the work; it is where the meaning comes from. — tap to centre the map on it The struggle of making something is not an obstacle in front of the work; it is where the meaning comes from. Last stated 3 years ago
10 Aug 2023
NC
Nick Cave — holds since 2023-08-10 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Solving a problem yourself, without searching or prompting, is a form of exercise -- the help makes you weaker. — tap to centre the map on it Solving a problem yourself, without searching or prompting, is a form of exercise -- the help makes you weaker. Last stated 7 months ago
3 Mar 2026
SY
Scott H. Young — holds since 2025-11-18 — tap for who they are
DS
Derek Sivers — holds since 2026-03-03 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Putting a price on creative expression makes it suffer, while giving it away freely lets it thrive. — tap to centre the map on it Putting a price on creative expression makes it suffer, while giving it away freely lets it thrive. Last stated 5 months ago
23 Apr 2026
MA
Mari Andrew — holds since 2026-04-23 — tap for who they are
Same subject: In creative work there is a real benefit to not following the financial incentives, and to creating scarcity for the sake of quality rather than for its own sake. — tap to centre the map on it In creative work there is a real benefit to not following the financial incentives, and to creating scarcity for the sake of quality rather than for its own sake. Last stated 9 months ago
15 Dec 2025
ML
Michael Lewis — holds since 2025-12-15 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Trying to shortcut past necessary personal work always backfires, and real progress requires confronting oneself directly. — tap to centre the map on it Trying to shortcut past necessary personal work always backfires, and real progress requires confronting oneself directly. Last stated a week ago
14 Sept 2026
AH
Ava Huang — holds since 2026-09-14 — tap for who they are
Same subject: It is hard to design something good for users you look down on, because you cannot stay interested in something you do not like yourself. — tap to centre the map on it It is hard to design something good for users you look down on, because you cannot stay interested in something you do not like yourself. Last stated 24 years ago
1 Jan 2003
PG
Paul Graham — holds since 2003-01-01 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A drop in agency is the earliest sign of burnout, arriving before you consciously notice you are burning out. — tap to centre the map on it A drop in agency is the earliest sign of burnout, arriving before you consciously notice you are burning out. Last stated 3 years ago
10 Jan 2024
CH
Cate Hall — holds since 2024-01-10 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A founder who picks an idea because the market wants it will give up, because nobody can persist at something that was never important to them. — tap to centre the map on it A founder who picks an idea because the market wants it will give up, because nobody can persist at something that was never important to them. Last stated 2 years ago
19 Jun 2024
AS
Aravind Srinivas — holds since 2024-06-19 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A habit only survives difficulty if the person enjoys it, which makes enjoyment a better predictor of persistence than discipline. — tap to centre the map on it A habit only survives difficulty if the person enjoys it, which makes enjoyment a better predictor of persistence than discipline. Last stated 9 months ago
1 Jan 2026
JC
James Clear — holds since 2026-01-01 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A group of businesses only works when every one of them feeds the others, and everything that does not fit the strategy should be sold. — tap to centre the map on it A group of businesses only works when every one of them feeds the others, and everything that does not fit the strategy should be sold. Last stated a year ago
16 Jul 2025
JD
Jamie Dimon — holds since 2025-07-16 — tap for who they are
Same subject: AI acceleration threatens 'less software': without the constraint of scarce hours, even 37signals will likely build too much. — tap to centre the map on it AI acceleration threatens 'less software': without the constraint of scarce hours, even 37signals will likely build too much. Last stated 2 months ago
26 Jul 2026
DH
David Heinemeier Hansson — holds since 2026-07-26 — tap for who they are
Same subject: An important decision needs one reason that on its own supports it; a collection of weak reasons means you have not yet found your reason. — tap to centre the map on it An important decision needs one reason that on its own supports it; a collection of weak reasons means you have not yet found your reason. Last stated a year ago
23 Mar 2025
RV
Rahul Vohra — holds since 2025-03-23 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A first draft should not be graded good or bad; it is only the material that taste then gets to act on. — tap to centre the map on it A first draft should not be graded good or bad; it is only the material that taste then gets to act on. Last stated 2 months ago
6 Aug 2026
GS
George Saunders — holds since 2026-08-06 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A gift's perceived price is part of what it does, so a drink known to be cheap fails at its job however good it tastes. — tap to centre the map on it A gift's perceived price is part of what it does, so a drink known to be cheap fails at its job however good it tastes. Last stated 9 months ago
9 Dec 2025
RS
Rory Sutherland — holds since 2025-12-09 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A lot of people can match a framework for taste; almost nobody can create one, and creating one is the rare skill. — tap to centre the map on it A lot of people can match a framework for taste; almost nobody can create one, and creating one is the rare skill. Last stated 11 months ago
16 Oct 2025
DF
Dylan Field — holds since 2025-10-16 — tap for who they are
At the centre
Working under a constraint one resents, rather than none at all, produces more creative results.
Holds Read this korrent →
You can be creative within any set of constraints, so long as you understand what they are and get excited about them rather than resent them.
Holds
Total freedom does not make you happy; constraints do.
Holds
The struggle of making something is not an obstacle in front of the work; it is where the meaning comes from.
Holds
Solving a problem yourself, without searching or prompting, is a form of exercise -- the help makes you weaker.
Holds
Putting a price on creative expression makes it suffer, while giving it away freely lets it thrive.
Holds
In creative work there is a real benefit to not following the financial incentives, and to creating scarcity for the sake of quality rather than for its own sake.
Holds
Trying to shortcut past necessary personal work always backfires, and real progress requires confronting oneself directly.
Holds
It is hard to design something good for users you look down on, because you cannot stay interested in something you do not like yourself.
Holds
A drop in agency is the earliest sign of burnout, arriving before you consciously notice you are burning out.
Holds
A founder who picks an idea because the market wants it will give up, because nobody can persist at something that was never important to them.
Holds
A habit only survives difficulty if the person enjoys it, which makes enjoyment a better predictor of persistence than discipline.
Holds
A group of businesses only works when every one of them feeds the others, and everything that does not fit the strategy should be sold.
Holds
AI acceleration threatens 'less software': without the constraint of scarce hours, even 37signals will likely build too much.
Holds
An important decision needs one reason that on its own supports it; a collection of weak reasons means you have not yet found your reason.
Holds
A first draft should not be graded good or bad; it is only the material that taste then gets to act on.
Holds
A gift's perceived price is part of what it does, so a drink known to be cheap fails at its job however good it tastes.
Holds
A lot of people can match a framework for taste; almost nobody can create one, and creating one is the rare skill.
Holds