Ryan Pavel
@twobitrye.bsky.social
Enlisted Veteran | Nonprofit Leader | Educator
CEO of Warrior-Scholar Project at warrior-scholar.org and productivity ponderer at twobitrye.com.
Mostly made of cheese.
CEO of Warrior-Scholar Project at warrior-scholar.org and productivity ponderer at twobitrye.com.
Mostly made of cheese.
Governor Moore says to let skepticism be your companion, not your captor. I think the same framework applies to hope.
On this Independence Day, I’m reflecting on how skeptical hope can help get us through.
@govwesmoore.bsky.social
twobitrye.com/2025/07/04/a...
On this Independence Day, I’m reflecting on how skeptical hope can help get us through.
@govwesmoore.bsky.social
twobitrye.com/2025/07/04/a...
🤞 A Skeptic's Hope - twobitrye
A skeptical approach to hope can help us make the most of challenging times, like the place we find ourselves on Independence Day 2025.
twobitrye.com
July 4, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Governor Moore says to let skepticism be your companion, not your captor. I think the same framework applies to hope.
On this Independence Day, I’m reflecting on how skeptical hope can help get us through.
@govwesmoore.bsky.social
twobitrye.com/2025/07/04/a...
On this Independence Day, I’m reflecting on how skeptical hope can help get us through.
@govwesmoore.bsky.social
twobitrye.com/2025/07/04/a...
A 10,000 word essay on how the Kung Fu Panda franchise is spread across 3 streaming platforms with each of the 4 movies rotating seemingly monthly from platform to platform.
Seems like a perfect parental leave project for @davidpierce.xyz and @reckless.bsky.social, if you ask me.
Seems like a perfect parental leave project for @davidpierce.xyz and @reckless.bsky.social, if you ask me.
May 17, 2025 at 3:13 PM
A 10,000 word essay on how the Kung Fu Panda franchise is spread across 3 streaming platforms with each of the 4 movies rotating seemingly monthly from platform to platform.
Seems like a perfect parental leave project for @davidpierce.xyz and @reckless.bsky.social, if you ask me.
Seems like a perfect parental leave project for @davidpierce.xyz and @reckless.bsky.social, if you ask me.
“Taking the time to write slows you down just enough to notice what’s going on in your mind, clarify your thoughts, and explore your curiosity with intention. Over time, it becomes not just a record of what you’ve done, but a mirror for how you think.”
nesslabs.com/writing-pers...
nesslabs.com/writing-pers...
Why Writing Is the Best Tool for Personal Growth
Writing is the best thing you can do for your personal growth. See how to incorporate it at every step of personal experimentation.
nesslabs.com
May 8, 2025 at 4:10 PM
“Taking the time to write slows you down just enough to notice what’s going on in your mind, clarify your thoughts, and explore your curiosity with intention. Over time, it becomes not just a record of what you’ve done, but a mirror for how you think.”
nesslabs.com/writing-pers...
nesslabs.com/writing-pers...
The things that make you weird are the things that make you, you.
Embrace them!
If you try to be like everyone else, you’ll give up your unique advantages.
In this first of three parts, I suggest the starting point to embracing weird:
interrogate your fears.
twobitrye.com/2025/05/06/e...
Embrace them!
If you try to be like everyone else, you’ll give up your unique advantages.
In this first of three parts, I suggest the starting point to embracing weird:
interrogate your fears.
twobitrye.com/2025/05/06/e...
🔋 Embracing Weird, Part 1 - Fear - twobitrye
Your weirdness is makes you, you. By embracing your fears, you can find that weirdness and put it to good work for you.
twobitrye.com
May 8, 2025 at 1:24 PM
The things that make you weird are the things that make you, you.
Embrace them!
If you try to be like everyone else, you’ll give up your unique advantages.
In this first of three parts, I suggest the starting point to embracing weird:
interrogate your fears.
twobitrye.com/2025/05/06/e...
Embrace them!
If you try to be like everyone else, you’ll give up your unique advantages.
In this first of three parts, I suggest the starting point to embracing weird:
interrogate your fears.
twobitrye.com/2025/05/06/e...
Yes!
Creativity comes from thoughtful struggle. Clicking a button to try and short circuit that process will produce middling results 100% of the time.
Creativity comes from thoughtful struggle. Clicking a button to try and short circuit that process will produce middling results 100% of the time.
I've had to talk in public about AI recently, for reasons I barely understand. I always ask, "raise your hand if you've read something funny created by AI?" No one does.
That's because AI is inherently a mediocrity machine. It tries to find the middle of everything. It might be fine but never good.
That's because AI is inherently a mediocrity machine. It tries to find the middle of everything. It might be fine but never good.
it's very similar to the process in Hollywood of making "data-driven" programming choices - ultimately good political messaging and hit movies are both an unknowable and unquantifiable commodity and the best process we've ever developed for getting it is "let smart, experienced people try stuff"
April 18, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Yes!
Creativity comes from thoughtful struggle. Clicking a button to try and short circuit that process will produce middling results 100% of the time.
Creativity comes from thoughtful struggle. Clicking a button to try and short circuit that process will produce middling results 100% of the time.
Reposted by Ryan Pavel
Explaining to young men that outsourcing your thinking to LLMs is bad because reading and writing is like lifting for your brain
April 6, 2025 at 2:55 AM
Explaining to young men that outsourcing your thinking to LLMs is bad because reading and writing is like lifting for your brain
There’s a glitch that often leads to this message if you’ve been following a NYT live thread, close your phone, and come back to it later.
Every time I see it, I think, “Yeah, I *know.* I’m here to figure out what.”
Every time I see it, I think, “Yeah, I *know.* I’m here to figure out what.”
April 2, 2025 at 5:07 PM
There’s a glitch that often leads to this message if you’ve been following a NYT live thread, close your phone, and come back to it later.
Every time I see it, I think, “Yeah, I *know.* I’m here to figure out what.”
Every time I see it, I think, “Yeah, I *know.* I’m here to figure out what.”
Why not turn off news alerts today?
Imagine not getting randomly interrupted with explosive things that demand your attention, stealing your capacity to get things done.
Instead try checking news at a few concrete points in the day.
You do not have to stay in the notification hellscape.
Imagine not getting randomly interrupted with explosive things that demand your attention, stealing your capacity to get things done.
Instead try checking news at a few concrete points in the day.
You do not have to stay in the notification hellscape.
March 12, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Why not turn off news alerts today?
Imagine not getting randomly interrupted with explosive things that demand your attention, stealing your capacity to get things done.
Instead try checking news at a few concrete points in the day.
You do not have to stay in the notification hellscape.
Imagine not getting randomly interrupted with explosive things that demand your attention, stealing your capacity to get things done.
Instead try checking news at a few concrete points in the day.
You do not have to stay in the notification hellscape.
We love to *do.*
We love less to think about *why* we’re doing.
This week, I offer two key questions we need to ask:
(1) What are you being productive towards?
(2) What are you giving up by being productive towards this particular thing?
#productivity
twobitrye.com/2025/03/11/t...
We love less to think about *why* we’re doing.
This week, I offer two key questions we need to ask:
(1) What are you being productive towards?
(2) What are you giving up by being productive towards this particular thing?
#productivity
twobitrye.com/2025/03/11/t...
🔋 Two Productivity Questions We Should (but don't) Ask - twobitrye
By asking ourselves two key questions: what we're being productive towards and what we're giving up by doing so, we can get on a better path.
twobitrye.com
March 11, 2025 at 7:38 PM
We love to *do.*
We love less to think about *why* we’re doing.
This week, I offer two key questions we need to ask:
(1) What are you being productive towards?
(2) What are you giving up by being productive towards this particular thing?
#productivity
twobitrye.com/2025/03/11/t...
We love less to think about *why* we’re doing.
This week, I offer two key questions we need to ask:
(1) What are you being productive towards?
(2) What are you giving up by being productive towards this particular thing?
#productivity
twobitrye.com/2025/03/11/t...
Pedantic point, but I’d replace one key word here.
It’s impossible to fully *silence* your ego. It’s core to how you operate and how you see yourself.
But what you can do, perhaps, is *quiet* your ego. Turn down the volume on yourself and listen to others, especially those who disagree.
It’s impossible to fully *silence* your ego. It’s core to how you operate and how you see yourself.
But what you can do, perhaps, is *quiet* your ego. Turn down the volume on yourself and listen to others, especially those who disagree.
People who can’t handle criticism are unfit to lead.
Weak leaders fear dissent as a threat to their power. They silence their critics to shield their egos.
Strong leaders welcome dissent as an opportunity for growth. They silence their egos to learn from their critics.
Weak leaders fear dissent as a threat to their power. They silence their critics to shield their egos.
Strong leaders welcome dissent as an opportunity for growth. They silence their egos to learn from their critics.
March 9, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Pedantic point, but I’d replace one key word here.
It’s impossible to fully *silence* your ego. It’s core to how you operate and how you see yourself.
But what you can do, perhaps, is *quiet* your ego. Turn down the volume on yourself and listen to others, especially those who disagree.
It’s impossible to fully *silence* your ego. It’s core to how you operate and how you see yourself.
But what you can do, perhaps, is *quiet* your ego. Turn down the volume on yourself and listen to others, especially those who disagree.
Hey! Remember that you’re human.
It’s ok if you’re feeling anxious about the week ahead.
It’s ok if you keep getting distracted.
It’s ok if you’re worried about national and global affairs.
You’re not a machine. You’re a messy, three-dimensional human.
Cut yourself some slack, will ya?
It’s ok if you’re feeling anxious about the week ahead.
It’s ok if you keep getting distracted.
It’s ok if you’re worried about national and global affairs.
You’re not a machine. You’re a messy, three-dimensional human.
Cut yourself some slack, will ya?
March 9, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Hey! Remember that you’re human.
It’s ok if you’re feeling anxious about the week ahead.
It’s ok if you keep getting distracted.
It’s ok if you’re worried about national and global affairs.
You’re not a machine. You’re a messy, three-dimensional human.
Cut yourself some slack, will ya?
It’s ok if you’re feeling anxious about the week ahead.
It’s ok if you keep getting distracted.
It’s ok if you’re worried about national and global affairs.
You’re not a machine. You’re a messy, three-dimensional human.
Cut yourself some slack, will ya?
Recorded a guest spot on a podcast today.
I talked about how at WSP we teach student vets how to manage time, a particular interest of mine.
Ironic, since I totally blanked on the original recording slot and we had to reschedule.
Even those of us who teach time management mess it up!
I talked about how at WSP we teach student vets how to manage time, a particular interest of mine.
Ironic, since I totally blanked on the original recording slot and we had to reschedule.
Even those of us who teach time management mess it up!
March 8, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Recorded a guest spot on a podcast today.
I talked about how at WSP we teach student vets how to manage time, a particular interest of mine.
Ironic, since I totally blanked on the original recording slot and we had to reschedule.
Even those of us who teach time management mess it up!
I talked about how at WSP we teach student vets how to manage time, a particular interest of mine.
Ironic, since I totally blanked on the original recording slot and we had to reschedule.
Even those of us who teach time management mess it up!
Knowing you have to do something but unsure what it is you have to do…
I suggest 4 steps to avoid this:
1) Write action items down
2) Make action teams stand out
3) Review & add tasks to to-do list
4) Give every task a deadline and priority
#productivity
twobitrye.com/2025/03/04/b...
I suggest 4 steps to avoid this:
1) Write action items down
2) Make action teams stand out
3) Review & add tasks to to-do list
4) Give every task a deadline and priority
#productivity
twobitrye.com/2025/03/04/b...
🔋 Back to Basics: Taking Notes & Taking Actions - twobitrye
A basic system on how to not only take notes, but take action
twobitrye.com
March 5, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Knowing you have to do something but unsure what it is you have to do…
I suggest 4 steps to avoid this:
1) Write action items down
2) Make action teams stand out
3) Review & add tasks to to-do list
4) Give every task a deadline and priority
#productivity
twobitrye.com/2025/03/04/b...
I suggest 4 steps to avoid this:
1) Write action items down
2) Make action teams stand out
3) Review & add tasks to to-do list
4) Give every task a deadline and priority
#productivity
twobitrye.com/2025/03/04/b...
As a longtime reader of NYT, WSJ, and Post editorials, this pithy WSJ editorial response to the Post’s turn really hits.
We don’t need a WSJ Lite. We benefit from editorial boards with viewpoints distinct from one another. Reading different takes on the same issues builds key perspective.
We don’t need a WSJ Lite. We benefit from editorial boards with viewpoints distinct from one another. Reading different takes on the same issues builds key perspective.
February 28, 2025 at 2:19 PM
As a longtime reader of NYT, WSJ, and Post editorials, this pithy WSJ editorial response to the Post’s turn really hits.
We don’t need a WSJ Lite. We benefit from editorial boards with viewpoints distinct from one another. Reading different takes on the same issues builds key perspective.
We don’t need a WSJ Lite. We benefit from editorial boards with viewpoints distinct from one another. Reading different takes on the same issues builds key perspective.