**originally posted on [mgx.me](https://mgx.me/feeling-this-pull-toward-absolute-simplicity)**

This urge has been with me forever - the constant need to strip things down.

Here's how it goes: I'll be working on my website, getting excited about adding something fancy, then suddenly hitting this boiling point where I look at it all and think, "Nah, I don't need any of this." This has happened countless times. I'll start adding what I think are cool features and playing with designs, but by the end of the day, I'm obsessing over performance metrics.

This is totally a me thing. When I'm collaborating with others, I keep these urges to myself. Not everyone gets this obsession with optimization, and that's fine. Some developers out there optimize their work in production far better than I can imagine - and they're in a different league entirely.

The ironic part? I like JavaScript.

I love creating interactive, fun experiences. My personal site should be a playground for experiments and creativity. And it is, sometimes. But there's always this voice in the back of my head pushing me to reduce, reduce, reduce.

I'm not trying to preach minimalism here.

Honestly, I don't even know much about minimalism as a philosophy or design approach. I haven't read the books or studied the principles. This is just something I've picked up from various blogs and lifestyles I've observed over the years.

It's a weird contradiction I've learned to live with - wanting to create rich, interactive experiences while simultaneously feeling this pull toward absolute simplicity.

feeling this pull toward absolute simplicity

```cv
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```

I was recently taken aback by a suggestion from a “connection” regarding how I should spend my time living in China.

The guy, a Chinese product specialist, suggested I start making videos. He also suggested that I should “sell some shit,” try to gain followers and become an influencer or “KOL” (key opinion leader).

My initial reaction was just, “Hmm, okay.” I didn’t engage much with his words because I wasn’t interested in that path. Reflecting on it more now, I feel it’s worth sharing my perspective to push back on the mentality.

While becoming an online personality is a valid career path for some, his casual, even pushy manner in advising this course of action struck me as rather audacious. What troubled me was the blatant assumption that my main priority should be self-promotion and commercial gain.

He spoke as if the sole purpose of living abroad is to monetize one’s existence and brand oneself as an influencer. There was no consideration for what truly motivates and inspires me. His pitch also implied that the level of “success” is measured by the number of followers and going “viral.”

Some of the most meaningful [contributors](https://www.justcharlie.com?ref=mighil) to [expat communities](https://www.chengduliving.com?ref=mighil) have built respect over the years through quality engagement and leadership, not fleeting internet fame. The lasting impact is about serving others, not self-aggrandizement.

While new technologies bring opportunities, not everyone aims to become an “influencer.”

> cover image: remix of a flork of cows comic panel.

`originally published on mgx.me`

blunt proposal to become an influencer

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```

I lead growth ops of a few products, and a big part of my job involves experimenting with new tactics and strategies. Whether it's A/B testing ad copy, launching new campaigns, or optimizing the website for conversions, I'm constantly trying new things to boost the numbers.

However, what comes with that growth-focused mindset is dealing with the less savory elements of certain online spaces. As someone **who has to** spend a lot of time on social media observing trends and competitors, I'm regularly inundated with toxicity. From belittling or offensive posts made solely for attention to the constant hustle-focused messaging, it's enough to challenge even the most resilient person's mental well-being.

Navigating growth experimentation at work and this often toxic online world can feel like a delicate balancing act. Here are a few things I've found that help me stay focused on progress without losing my chill:

* Set boundaries for my online time. Mindless scrolling often leads to frustration. Knowing when to log off helps avoid burnout.

* Take regular breaks from screens. Even a short reading session (paperbacks ftw) or a conversation with someone helps clear my head between stretches of computer work.

* Share balance, community, and positivity messages on my website or blog to counter overly toxic content.

* Focus on helping others through my work. When giving back versus obsessively chasing goals, enduring setbacks feels more purposeful.

Adjustments like these ensure I can keep strategizing growth solutions without losing sight of my humanity or sanity.

Brb - my back hurts.

`Originally published on mgx.me`

a growth marketer's strategies for self-care

```cv
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```

**This isn't about hackers who build for fun; \
it discusses people who build for the general public and profit.**

Entrepreneurs and indie hackers easily get caught up in their enthusiasm for their ideas and products. Late nights spent researching, networking with like-minded peers, and consuming inspiration from podcasts and books - it's no wonder they become completely invested in their visions.

However, there is a danger when that enthusiasm crosses into selective listening. I recall interacting with an indie hacker eager to build a new product. Excited to get feedback, they asked for my perspective. 

However, when I shared some factual, evidence-based critiques and areas for improvement, the response was cold.

Rather than taking the feedback objectively, they dismissed it as "negative" and "pessimistic."

It's understandable to want validation from others as an entrepreneur.

Ideas are personal, and critiques can feel like a rejection.

But true product-market fit requires looking beyond their selective bubbles of support. They need feedback from people outside their circle to gain a broader perspective.

Data should inform their thinking more than anecdotes alone.

They must be careful and not fall into the trap of only listening to opinions confirming their biases. If they want to build products for the general public, they must be receptive to thoughtful feedback - even if it conflicts with their preconceptions.

The world isn't divided neatly into optimists and pessimists.

**True success requires being open to hard truths**, incorporating diverse viewpoints, and letting data - not just optimism - guide their decisions.

brb - omw to "AdD VaLuE"

`Originally published on mgx.me`

beyond selective bubbles

hej andy, mehdi, and shen.

the writing tab is nice. very nice.

i'd like to provide some suggestions to further improve the user (and search) experience. ignore if you've already seen similar feedback on discord.

✅ better support for markdown would be useful when formatting content. 

✅ adding a description field for each page could be helpful. this text could then be used as the meta description for search engines. right now, it's "by user." no need to render the description on the published page.

✅ support for entering a canonical url would be helpful for users who want to republish content across different domains. sometimes, the same content may be hosted on the author's site and read.cv/user/writing. the canonical tag helps search engines understand the original and authoritative source of the content.

thanks.

suggestions to further improve the writing tab

Quick update - I have some availability over the next few months for part-time consulting or collaboration opportunities in the AI/tech space. If you or anyone you know is working on an interesting project that could benefit from extra support, especially in product and go-to-market strategies, feel free to send me a message.