Thesis: Systems can benefit from volatility and stressors.

• Prefer options with bounded downside and unbounded upside.
• Remove fragilities before adding complexity.
• Barbell strategies for research exploration vs exploitation.

Thesis: Focused, distraction‑free blocks produce outsized results.

• Time‑block and protect focus windows.
• Track lead indicators (hours of deep work) not just lagging outputs.
• Ritualize startup and shutdown routines.