Devon Zuegel

I'm really glad you actually see that connection. So the way I think of tools for thought is environments to think in and cities are environments to live in. And sort of like what we were talking about at the beginning, the environments that we're in shape our behavior a lot. And I think the tools that we use shape our behavior a lot as well. And so we end up...

I'm really glad you actually see that connection. So the way I think of tools for thought is environments to think in and cities are environments to live in. And sort of like what we were talking about at the beginning, the environments that we're in shape our behavior a lot. And I think the tools that we use shape our behavior a lot as well. And so we end up...

taking different actions as a result of the tools and the spaces that we inhabit. And so I actually think of it as a very similar thread, but manifests in very different ways. I basically believe that we are almost defined by the things that we put around ourselves and the tools and spaces that we use. And so making sure that those actually define you in the way you want.

taking different actions as a result of the tools and the spaces that we inhabit. And so I actually think of it as a very similar thread, but manifests in very different ways. I basically believe that we are almost defined by the things that we put around ourselves and the tools and spaces that we use. And so making sure that those actually define you in the way you want.

I'm not saying it's very articulately, but I don't think of my identity as just myself. I think of it as also the tools and the places that I'm in and how they shape. Because when I'm in San Francisco, for example, I have very different thoughts and take very different actions than when I'm in New York City or when I'm in Miami or when I'm in Buenos Aires.

I'm not saying it's very articulately, but I don't think of my identity as just myself. I think of it as also the tools and the places that I'm in and how they shape. Because when I'm in San Francisco, for example, I have very different thoughts and take very different actions than when I'm in New York City or when I'm in Miami or when I'm in Buenos Aires.

Those places end up having natural gradients in different directions. And I think that's similar with tools, where if you have a tool that makes it really easy to do one thing and much harder to do another thing, you're going to tend to do the first thing more. One thing I've been thinking about recently is I have almost too good of a feedback loop with my email inbox.

Those places end up having natural gradients in different directions. And I think that's similar with tools, where if you have a tool that makes it really easy to do one thing and much harder to do another thing, you're going to tend to do the first thing more. One thing I've been thinking about recently is I have almost too good of a feedback loop with my email inbox.

I have these hot keys, I have a system that I really like, and I say it's almost too good because I find myself drawn to responding to my email more than doing other types of work that I think maybe are more important.

I have these hot keys, I have a system that I really like, and I say it's almost too good because I find myself drawn to responding to my email more than doing other types of work that I think maybe are more important.

And that's largely because I've basically turned my inbox into a video game where I have like a counter and I have like points and I'm burning down the number of emails that I've responded to. But if I step back and I think, how do I actually want to be spending my time? What are the problems that I actually want to be solving? Email is a part of that.

And that's largely because I've basically turned my inbox into a video game where I have like a counter and I have like points and I'm burning down the number of emails that I've responded to. But if I step back and I think, how do I actually want to be spending my time? What are the problems that I actually want to be solving? Email is a part of that.

Email is a useful tool, but it shouldn't draw me in so much. And so I think of tools for thought is like building a video game for your life where you make certain types of actions a lot easier or more interesting and more fun.

Email is a useful tool, but it shouldn't draw me in so much. And so I think of tools for thought is like building a video game for your life where you make certain types of actions a lot easier or more interesting and more fun.

Totally. This, I actually think, is the hardest part of this project is just the timelines involved. Every single step of the way takes way longer. My background is in software. I was a software engineer for many years, and then I ran a team of software engineers. And the iteration speed in software is so fast. You can deploy a change in literally three seconds if you want.

Totally. This, I actually think, is the hardest part of this project is just the timelines involved. Every single step of the way takes way longer. My background is in software. I was a software engineer for many years, and then I ran a team of software engineers. And the iteration speed in software is so fast. You can deploy a change in literally three seconds if you want.

I mean, assuming you have a change done. In fact, I updated something on my website today, and it took literally 20 seconds. Nothing in real estate takes 20 seconds. Nothing. Even moving a shrub or something is not going to take you 20 seconds. And so this is something I've thought a lot about.

I mean, assuming you have a change done. In fact, I updated something on my website today, and it took literally 20 seconds. Nothing in real estate takes 20 seconds. Nothing. Even moving a shrub or something is not going to take you 20 seconds. And so this is something I've thought a lot about.

And it's a big part of why we have the pop-up village, Edge Esmeralda, the 30-day events that we host 15 minutes from the site. Because I asked myself, how do we take this huge thing and turn it into smaller bite-sized pieces that we can learn from? Because imagine if we create this whole site plan, we pour a bunch of concrete, we build all this infrastructure, we build these beautiful homes.

And it's a big part of why we have the pop-up village, Edge Esmeralda, the 30-day events that we host 15 minutes from the site. Because I asked myself, how do we take this huge thing and turn it into smaller bite-sized pieces that we can learn from? Because imagine if we create this whole site plan, we pour a bunch of concrete, we build all this infrastructure, we build these beautiful homes.