“I don’t see that it makes any point that someone in the Swedish Academy decides that this work is noble enough to receive a prize. I’ve already got the prize. The prize is the pleasure of finding the thing out, the kick in the discovery, the observation that other people use it. Those are the real things. The honours are unreal to me.” — Richard Feynman
Kevin Kelly thinks we should live our most improbable life, because it has less competition, offers more unique rewards, and makes us harder to replace.
Here is what you gain with your most improbable life:
The authentic you. Your particular mix of talents, native abilities, personal inclinations, genetic limits, life experiences, and ambitious desires points to a mixture that is distinctly unique – if it is allowed to blossom. The further you move in that direction, the more you-like you become.
The more you-ish you become, the less competition you have, because you are occupying your own niche. Less competition means you don’t have to be in a race; you can relax and focus on your strengths. You have the space to become even more you, and even less likely.
The more you occupy a category of one, the easiest it is for you to appreciate this trait in others. It becomes easier to see past the conventional, to identify authenticity, and to encourage the improbable in others…
Finally, the less predictable you are, the less likely you are to be replaced by AIs. Machines are efficient, and they are powered by the predictable. Current LLMs are trained to generate the most predictable solution. So far they are not very good at duplicating what a creative, one-of-a-kind improbable human can produce. To distance yourself from the machines, aim to be as improbable as you can be.
But what if our interests are quite “average”? Or what if the unique combination of our interests and abilities is not valued by society?
One solution, as Sandeep Swadia suggests, is to consciously assess our interests and focus on those that reinforce what we do and benefit us in some way (for example, those that give us more optionality or stability). But doesn’t this planning framework contradict Kevin Kelly’s main idea by making the process more predictable?
I prefer another piece of Sandeep’s advice: focus on hobbies that bring us joy, help us learn, allow us to express ourselves, or connect with a community.
I’m fortunate enough not to have to worry too much about making a living. And as I’m in midlife, there is no excuse not to live more authentically. Time spent on my interests and hobbies is already a reward in itself. Anything else is a bonus.
For example, piano, drawing, basketball, and badminton may not be a rare combination in market terms. None of these hobbies is likely to make me irreplaceable in society. But together, they shape the kind of life I want to live. Piano gives me a way to connect with music and occasionally perform with my children and friends. Drawing helps me observe more carefully and express visual ideas. Basketball and badminton keep me active, competitive, and connected with others. In the end, perhaps living one’s most improbable life is not about being marketable or irreplaceable. It is about arranging life around the things that make us feel most alive and meaningful.
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