Transformation: Why Less is More

Welcome to the December 7th dispatch. These days, it feels like everything is in flux. We have the world’s leading AI company hitting a panic button, a timeless philosopher explaining why your favorite hobbies suddenly feel boring, and a stark realization about the energy cost of our digital habits.

At first glance, these seem like random dots on a map. But if we connect them, a clear picture emerges. We are all in the middle of a Transformation.

Whether it’s a trillion-dollar company or your own waistline, the story is the same: The old ways stopped working. The "comfort zone" has become a trap. Today, we’re going to look at how to break out of it, using lessons from the tech world, the spirit, and the body.

1. The Problem-Solution: Simplification is the Ultimate Sophistication

Let's start with the biggest story in tech. OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has issued an internal "Code Red". This isn't just a meeting; it’s their highest level of urgency.

Here is the Problem: For years, OpenAI was the king of the hill. But recently, they’ve been losing the "benchmark war" to rivals like Google’s Gemini 3, which launched in November 2025 and quickly snatched up millions of users. OpenAI became distracted. They were chasing too many rabbits—agent features, ad integration, and "pulse" features—leaving their core product to suffer from "over-refusals" and slower speeds.

The Solution they chose is instructive for all of us: Radical focus. They are de-prioritizing the shiny new objects to focus entirely on speed, reliability, and reasoning.

What’s in it for you? Are you suffering from "feature creep" in your own life? Are you trying to launch a side hustle, learn three languages, and train for a marathon all at once? Take a cue from the "Code Red."

When you are losing ground, don't add more. Subtract. De-prioritize the noise to rediscover your core mission.

2. The Metamorphosis: Why "Flatness" is Good News

Now, let's move from the boardroom to the quiet of your own mind.

Have you felt recently like nothing really excites you? You buy the new gadget, you go to the party, but the joy just isn't there?

According to philosopher Alan Watts, this isn't necessarily depression. It’s a Transformation. Watts argues that what we usually call "joy" is often just the relief of an itch—we create a problem just to enjoy solving it. When you start to see through this game, the old rewards stop working.

Watts compares this to a caterpillar dissolving in a cocoon. It’s a messy, flat, goo-like stage. But it is necessary to become a butterfly. He suggests that instead of frantically seeking new thrills to fight the boredom, you should lean into it. Recognize that "what is, is enough" and find a sense of "okayness" that doesn't rely on constant stimulation.

What’s in it for you? If you feel "flat," stop fighting it. You aren't broken; you are molting. This is a shift of identity, not just circumstance.

Embrace the quiet. It’s the only way to upgrade your operating system.

3. The Before-After-Bridge: A Metric-Driven Body

Sometimes, transformation isn't spiritual; it's physical. After the Thanksgiving binge eating, I realized I have packed on a few extra pounds.

Since my goal is to burn visceral fat, I don't need metaphors. I need a Before-After-Bridge plan. Here is a protocol I found to bridge the gap between "stuck" and "lean":

• The Bridge (The Protocol):
  • No Snacking. Period. <<< Week One
  • Sleep Hygiene: No eating 3 hours before bed. <<< Week Two
  • Movement: Walk 10-20 minutes after every meal <<< Week Three
  • Reset: A 24-hour fast once a week. <<< Week Four
  • Intensity: Sprinting 2 times a week (20 seconds on, 90 seconds rest) <<< I realistically don't think sprinting is ever happening with me

Peter Drucker said, "If you don't measure it, you can't improve it." I'm 186.1 lbs today, Dec 7th. Let's see next week.

What’s in it for you? This framework works because it removes decision fatigue. It provides a clear path (the Bridge) to the "After" state: less visceral fat and higher energy. It contrasts the "Before" (snacking, sedentary) with strict, actionable steps.

4. The Epic Quest: Fighting the Energy Dragon

Finally, we have to look at the environment we live in. There is a "dragon" we are all feeding, often without knowing it: Energy consumption.

We love our AI tools, but they come at a staggering cost. Did you know that if just 10 million people became heavy users of AI video generation, it would consume 567 GWh of energy per day?. That is roughly 83% of Spain’s entire annual electricity use.

This is the Epic Quest of our time. We are marveling at the magic of AI video, but we are burning the planet to produce it.

What’s in it for you? This is a reality check.

It reminds us to be mindful consumers. It also highlights the value of human creativity, which is energy-efficient and soulful.

Perhaps this is why I still gravitate toward eclectic music like Ingrid Payaket or After Cooking. In a world of high-energy synthetic media, human "inefficiency" is actually beautiful.

Investing:

In a separate, brief blog post, I share why I'm placing another buy order on Google and showing possible mistakes I made with my previous trade.

I mentioned I cancelled ChatGPT which I've had for two years at $20 a month. I am also cancelling Claude for which I pay $20/month because the statistics show I'm only using 3% of what I am allowed to use.

I will be focusing all in on learning the ins and outs of Google Gemini.

Less is More ;)

The Bottom Line

Whether it's OpenAI refocusing their code, Alan Watts refocusing our joy, or a sprint protocol refocusing our metabolism, the theme is the same: Stop drifting.

We are often like the crowd described in the "Social Proof" concept—just following the stream. But true transformation requires you to stop, look at the "Code Red" in your own life, and make a conscious pivot.

Your Next Step: Pick one area from today’s post to transform this week.

• Mental: Cut one distraction (de-prioritize) to focus on your main goal.
• Spiritual: Sit with the "boredom" for 10 minutes without picking up your phone.
• Physical: Walk for 10 minutes after your next meal.

The story of your life is being written right now. Make sure it’s a page-turner.