The math used for training AI—minimizing the gap between an internal model and external reality—also governs economics. Successful economic agents (individuals, companies, societies) are those with the most accurate internal maps of reality, allowing them to better predict outcomes and persist over time.

The ability to distill a complex subject down to its essential principles (like "algebra in five pages") is a rare and powerful skill. It enables faster learning, better communication, and clearer product vision, often outperforming the ability to perform intricate calculations.

Robert Solow's path to economics wasn't a lifelong passion. After WWII, he chose the major on a whim after his wife said she found it interesting. This illustrates that profound careers can emerge from serendipity and curiosity rather than a grand, predetermined plan.

Extraordinary success often comes not from a revolutionary idea, but from taking a simple concept—like hosting a cocktail party or building a vacuum—and applying an obsessive, world-class level of seriousness and craftsmanship to it. The 'what' matters less than the depth of commitment.

Products like options or prediction markets for specific metrics (e.g., company earnings) appear complex but can be simpler for investors with a specific thesis. They allow a direct bet on a single variable, avoiding the noise and multiple factors that influence a broad proxy like stock price.

Nobel laureate Robert Solow critiques modern macroeconomic models (DSGE) for being overly abstract and failing to represent an economy with diverse actors and conflicting interests. By modeling a single representative agent, he argues, the field has detached itself from solving real-world economic problems.

Traditional economics often repels people with complex math. Economist Kate Raworth intentionally used the simple, non-threatening metaphor of a "donut" for her alternative economic model. This disarmed common fears around the subject and encouraged broader, more accessible engagement.

Robert Solow believes his cohort of economists became legendary not because they were smarter, but because living through the Great Depression focused their talent on society's most urgent problem: a broken economic system. This suggests that generational talent is directed by an era's critical challenges.

True expertise in training is demonstrated by simplifying complex processes, not by showcasing complexity. Friedrich's Law states that while people tend to make simple things complex, genius lies in making complex concepts simple and accessible for others to execute successfully.