“[[High Agency]]” is all about shaping reality rather than letting reality shape you. It captures the idea that many so-called impossible challenges can be overcome by a mindset of resourcefulness, clear thinking, and just enough willingness to go against the grain. It’s the difference between passively accepting your fate and actively rewriting your script. Whether it’s the Wright brothers building a plane no one believed could fly or a truck driver teaching himself cinematography from photocopied film-school papers, high agency points to an energy that says: “There’s a way - if I can’t find it, I’ll make one.” ### What I learnt 1. **Nothing Defies Physics (Almost)** A core principle is that if a problem doesn’t break the laws of nature, there’s likely a workaround. You can see this in the story of Claude Shannon and Ed Thorp, who found a way to beat roulette by inventing a wearable computer. 2. **The High Agency “Tricycle”** High agency requires three wheels: clear thinking, bias to action, and a dash of disagreeability. If you remove any wheel: like the ability to question authority or the willingness to actually do something - momentum stalls. 3. **No Adults, No “Normal”** One of the biggest mental prisons is believing there’s a special class of grown-ups who have everything figured out. In reality, even the world’s most celebrated geniuses or leaders are deeply human and flawed. Similarly, fitting into what’s “normal” often leads to forgettable choices—embracing your quirks, on the other hand, tends to unlock agency and memorable action. ### So What? This matters because most of us, at some point, feel stuck—imprisoned by vague fears, social pressure, or the myth that “it can’t be done.” High agency thinking reminds us to break big tasks into smaller steps, question assumptions that hold us back, and take bold, even if imperfect, action. Next time you face a challenge, ask yourself, “Does this really break the laws of physics? If not, how can I start solving it right now?” Then do the first tiny step. The more evidence you gather that you can shape your life, the more you’ll see obstacles as opportunities for creativity. Life is short, so give it your all—maybe even throw in a risk or two. There’s only now. ✨ [[How to spot high-agency people]]