The concept of a Minimum Viable Person (MVP) has been borrowed from the business world, where a Minimum Viable Product is the boiled down essence of a product that will grow in an open environment. In the context of personal development, a Minimum Viable Person comprise those essential qualities that of oneself that can survive and thrive in a society dominated by the use of AI.
The idea behind the Minimum Viable Person is to encourage investigation and self discovery. It is a tool for self-reflection and self-improvement. It is about understanding what our essential qualities are, the ones that make us who we are and allow us to contribute positively to the world around us.
To understand the concept of a Minimum Viable Person, it is necessary to think about what makes a person different from any kind of AI artifact. In other words a person with Authentic Intelligence. This is the subject of a book I wrote and which I further explore in these essays.
The concept is about identifying what is truly essential. This can be a challenging question, as it requires us to confront our weaknesses and insecurities. However, it can also be incredibly liberating, as it allows us to let go of unrealistic expectations and focus on what really matters. Once we have identified a workable list of our MVP qualities, we can start to strengthen them.
This is where the real power of the concept lies. By focusing on our core strengths, we become more effective and more fulfilled in our lives. We can also become more resilient and able to withstand whatever challenges may arise, as we are not relying on external factors or superficial qualities for our sense of self-worth.
For me, attention is collapsing entirely, that is just a fact. What if the innovation trend continues and attention collapses toward some form of mental singularity, what would that feel like, to survive without an ability to focus or sustain attention? It cannot be imagined or described, for who would witness? This may be a false argument, an ‘argument from consequences’, however that is part of the challenge!
What if AI ends up as a mental merger and not simply a prosthesis? Surely that would present a whole new class of distraction, neither internal nor external? Book zooms further into the idea of an MVP by considering a series of propositions.
“”This house believes that interacting with AI chatbots and incessant prompt engineering is a new form of distraction type that is fundamentally different from the schema proposed by Nir in his book indistractable’ is the first.”.
– Ben, Researcher
Let’s discuss, before we move on to Atomic Habits.
- Introduction – Terms and conditions of the discussion
Chatbots and Prompt Engineering
- Can generate responses that are irrelevant, inaccurate, biased, or offensive. Prompt engineering is a trial-and-error process that requires constant attention and feedback. Because it reflects back who we think we are, it risks becoming a hall of mirrors”. Argument from annoyance
- Can reflect back on us as our own internal work and as such it can distract us from our values, goals, and priorities, and make us lose track of time, focus, and purpose…..”. Argument from frustration
- Can create a feedback loop of curiosity, engagement, and reward, which can trigger or exploit our cognitive biases, emotions, and social norms. Argument from Fascination
- Can make us break our pacts, either by tempting us to interact with them more, or by frustrating us to interact with them less. Argument From Mental Narcissism.
- Discussion and Summary
Introduction
In this debate, I examine whether interacting with AI chatbots and incessant prompt engineering is a new form of distraction type that is fundamentally different from the schema proposed by Nir in his book Indistractable. To do so, we need to clarify what we mean by these terms. AI chatbots are computer programs that use natural language processing and machine learning to generate responses to human inputs, such as text or voice. Prompt engineering is the art of crafting effective prompts that guide the AI’s behavior and output. Distraction is any action that moves us away from what we really want or plan to do. Indistractable is a book by Nir Eyal that argues that distraction is caused by internal triggers, such as boredom, anxiety, or frustration, and that we can become indistractable by making time for traction, which is any action that moves us towards what we really want, hacking back external triggers, which are anything that can lead us away from what we planned to do, such as notifications, emails, or interruptions, and preventing distractions with pacts, which are precommitments that stop us from getting distracted, such as setting a timer, making a bet, or joining a group.
The main thesis is that interacting with AI chatbots and incessant prompt engineering is a new form of distraction type that is fundamentally different from the schema proposed by Nir in his book Indistractable. We will show that this new form of distraction is not driven by internal triggers, but by external triggers that are unpredictable, adaptive, and persuasive. We will also show that this new form of distraction challenges the notion of traction, makes it difficult to hack back external triggers, and undermines the effectiveness of preventing distractions with pacts. We will demonstrate that this new form of distraction has significant implications for the future of AI, human attention, and well-being.
The Role of a Minimum Viable Person in Personal Development
The role of a minimum viable person in personal development is significant. It serves as a starting point, a foundation upon which we can build and improve. By identifying our MVP, we can gain a clearer understanding of our strengths and weaknesses, our values and beliefs, and our goals and aspirations. This self-awareness is the first step towards personal growth and development.
The process of becoming a minimum viable person involves introspection and self-evaluation. It requires us to take a hard look at ourselves and ask some tough questions. What are the essential qualities that define us? What are the skills that we rely on most? What are the values that guide our actions? By answering these questions, we can begin to define our MVP.
Once we have identified our MVP, we can then use it as a benchmark for personal development. We can set goals that align with our essential qualities and values, and we can work on improving the skills that we rely on most. This approach ensures that our personal development efforts are focused and effective, leading to meaningful and lasting change.
• Identify our MVP (Minimum Viable Person – our core skills – who we really are)
• Use the identified MVP as a benchmark for personal development.
• Set goals that align with our essential qualities and values.
• Work on improving the skills that we rely on most.
• Ensure that our personal development efforts are focused and effective.
• Achieve meaningful and lasting change through this approach.
Moreover, the concept of a minimum viable person also encourages us to embrace simplicity and authenticity. In a world that often values complexity and pretense, the idea of stripping down to our essential selves can be liberating. It allows us to let go of the things that don’t truly matter, to focus on what does, and to be true to ourselves.
“In a world bewitched by complexity and pretense, a focus on perfecting your minimum viable person is a daring act of simplicity and authenticity. It’s about stripping down to what truly matters, focusing on our core, and embracing the liberating truth of who we are.”
In addition, the MVP concept can also help us navigate the challenges and setbacks that are an inevitable part of personal development. By reminding us of our essential qualities and values, the core strengths and who we really are, it can provide a sense of stability and resilience in the face of adversity. It can help us stay grounded and focused, even when things don’t go as planned.
This article introduces the concept of a minimum viable person and suggests that it can become a powerful tool for personal development. It provides a foundation for self-improvement, a benchmark for goal setting, and a source of resilience in the face of challenges. By identifying and embracing our MVP, we can become more self-aware, more focused, and more authentic. We can strip away the unnecessary, focus on what truly matters, and become the best versions of ourselves. So, take some time to reflect, identify your MVP, and embark on your journey of personal development. You might be surprised at what you discover.
