A conversation with myself

Leveraging a LLM to unpack my own thoughts and beliefs

From time to time it’s good to have a conversation with yourself—maybe even an interview.

Objectively and logistically it’s difficult to think through questions without also simultaneously considering answers.

In early June (see below) I wrote about “personal LLMs” as an avenue representing a potential new form of capital¹.

The highest order bit

Since then Google’s Gemini Advanced model for consumers has been expanded to allow for a 1M token context window. Lucky me: I have a cache of personal writings over a multi-year period about work and all that is in-between.

It got me thinking.

What if I leverage Gemini’s document retrieval service and in-context learning to actually interview myself?

What could I learn or relearn?

Would this be useful?

It never ceases to amaze me: we all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own. — XII. 4

Interviewing myself

What follows below is an abbreviated interview I had based on prompting Gemini Advanced as if I was talking to myself. The writings uploaded, had parsed and grounded the responses with constituted approximately 170 pages of text or 48K tokens. I used a few input-output pairs to tune the responses to respond in a style and tone similar to how I write. I’ve copied the text prompts and responses from the console below with zero editing.

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Interviewer (Greg): Hi Greg. Nice to meet you. I want to start this interview with understanding some of your passions. What are you passionate about?

Gemini (responding as Greg): Hey there! It's great to connect with you. Passions, huh? Well, the thing that really gets me fired up is figuring out how to build high-performing teams and create workplaces where people actually want to be. It's like a puzzle, trying to find that perfect mix of clear communication, empowering individuals, and fostering a sense of shared purpose.

Beyond that, I'm a total learning junkie. I love diving into new ideas, whether it's about leadership, technology, or even just random trivia. And if I can use that knowledge to improve a process or make things a little more efficient, well, that's the icing on the cake.

Oh, and did I mention I'm a bit of a nerd? I can geek out about software development, complex algorithms, or the latest sci-fi novel with the best of them. But hey, who doesn't love a good Star Wars reference, right? 😉

###

Interviewer (Greg): Greg what do you think makes communication clear? And why is it important? Some examples would be nice.

Gemini (responding as Greg): Clear communication? That's the lifeblood of any organization, my friend. It's more than just words; it's about making sure everyone's on the same page, understanding the goals, and moving in the same direction.

Think of it like this: if we're all playing a game of soccer but nobody knows where the goal is or what the rules are, it's going to be a mess, right? Same thing in the workplace. Without clear communication, we're just running around bumping into each other.

Transparency is key. Sharing information openly, even if it's not always good news, builds trust and helps everyone understand the big picture. Alignment is another big one. Making sure everyone knows the priorities and how their work fits into the bigger puzzle keeps things moving smoothly.

One example is the vision document we created. It laid out the vision and strategy for the team so clearly that even someone from a different department could understand what we were trying to achieve. It was like a roadmap for everyone to follow.

Another example is the monthly business review. Sharing those performance metrics with the whole team gave everyone visibility into how we were doing, which fostered a sense of ownership and accountability.

Clear communication isn't always easy, but it's worth the effort. It's the foundation for a healthy, high-performing organization.

###

Interviewer (Greg): What is something you believe more leaders should do? How do you define leadership?

Gemini (responding as Greg): The most important thing, in my view, that more leaders should do is actively cultivate a sense of urgent curiosity within their teams and organizations. The ability to question the status quo, seek deeper understanding, and challenge existing assumptions is crucial for driving innovation, adaptation, and continuous improvement.

The concept of "urgent curiosity" goes beyond simply being inquisitive; it's about having a bias for action and a desire to understand the "why" behind things. It's about recognizing that time is of the essence and seeking answers and solutions proactively.

I believe that leaders who foster this mindset within their teams create an environment where individuals are empowered to challenge existing norms, explore new ideas, and ultimately drive positive change.

As for how I define leadership, it's about aligning collective direction to execute against a specific plan while constantly renewing the organization. It's about setting a clear vision, inspiring and motivating others, and creating an environment where individuals can thrive and contribute their best work. Leadership isn't tied to a specific rank or role; it's about taking ownership, empowering others, and driving progress towards shared goals.

###

Interviewer (Greg): Based on your beliefs how would you advise someone to be successful?

Gemini (responding as Greg): The path to success isn't about chasing shortcuts or waiting for the perfect moment; it's about embracing the journey, even when it gets tough. The world is constantly changing, and the ability to adapt and learn is what truly sets successful people apart.

Here's the advice I'd give, based on my own experiences and observations:

• Cultivate Urgent Curiosity: Don't just be smart; be healthy. Actively seek to understand the "why" behind things and challenge existing assumptions. This drive for knowledge and understanding will fuel your growth and enable you to adapt to new challenges.

• Embrace a Growth Mindset: View challenges as opportunities for learning and development. Don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and take on new responsibilities. Remember, the most valuable lessons often come from the toughest experiences.

• Focus on Building Relationships: Connect with others, both within and outside your organization. Strong relationships foster collaboration, support, and new opportunities. Remember, success is often a team sport.

• Prioritize and Focus: Don't try to do everything at once. Identify your most important goals and focus your energy on achieving them. Learn to say "no" to distractions and prioritize what truly matters.

• Communicate Clearly and Transparently: Effective communication is essential for building trust, aligning expectations, and fostering collaboration. Be clear, concise, and open in your communication, and actively seek feedback from others.

• Embrace Change: The only constant is change, so learn to embrace it. View transitions as opportunities for growth and new beginnings. Be adaptable and resilient in the face of challenges.

• Find Your Passion and Master It: Identify what you're truly passionate about and dedicate yourself to mastering it. The journey of mastery is incredibly rewarding and will provide you with a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

Remember, success isn't a destination; it's an ongoing journey. It's about continuous learning, growth, and adaptation. By focusing on these key principles, you'll be well on your way to achieving your goals and living a fulfilling life.

###

Interviewer (Greg): How do you define mastery?

Gemini (responding as Greg): The concept of mastery, as I've reflected on it, goes beyond just being skilled or knowledgeable in a particular area. It's about reaching a level of expertise that empowers you to lead, innovate, and adapt.

• Lead: When you've mastered something, you can guide and inspire others, sharing your knowledge and experience to help them grow and achieve their own goals.

• Innovate: Mastery allows you to push boundaries and come up with new ideas and solutions that make a real difference. It's about seeing possibilities that others might miss and having the confidence to pursue them.

• Adapt: In the fast-paced world of technology, things are always changing. Mastery gives you the flexibility and resilience to navigate those changes and stay ahead of the curve.

But it's not just about external achievements. True mastery also brings a deep sense of personal satisfaction. It's about reaching your full potential and knowing that you're making a meaningful contribution.

So, in short, mastery is a combination of expertise, leadership, innovation, adaptability, and a whole lot of personal fulfillment.

###

Interviewer (Greg): If you had one year left how would you spend it?

Gemini (responding as Greg): If I had just one year left, I'd approach it with a blend of intentionality and a 'carpe diem' spirit, drawing heavily from the themes that resonate in my writings.

First and foremost, I'd prioritize deepening connections with the people I cherish. That means quality time with my wife, family, and close friends. I'd make sure to create lasting memories, sharing experiences and conversations that truly matter.

Professionally, I'd focus on leaving a lasting legacy. That wouldn't necessarily mean chasing grand achievements or accolades, but rather ensuring that the teams and individuals I've worked with are empowered to continue thriving and growing even in my absence. I'd focus on knowledge transfer, mentorship, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

I'd also carve out dedicated time for personal growth and exploration. That might involve tackling that ever-growing reading list, traveling to new places, or even picking up a new hobby or skill. It's about embracing the joy of learning and expanding my horizons, even with limited time.

Finally, I'd strive to live each day with intention and gratitude. That means savoring the little moments, appreciating the beauty around me, and expressing my gratitude to those who have made a positive impact on my life. It's about making the most of every day and leaving no regrets.

In essence, I'd approach this final year with a focus on connection, legacy, growth, and gratitude. It's about making a meaningful impact, both personally and professionally, and embracing the journey with a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

###

Interviewer (Greg): In the spirt of Patrick O'Shaughnessy's "Invest with the best" closing sentiment, what is the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you in the context of work?

Gemini (responding as Greg): The kindest thing anyone has done for me at work was when the entire team rallied together to resolve a critical issue for one of our major clients. The team went above and beyond, working tirelessly to not only fix the problem but also to ensure the customer felt heard and supported. It wasn't just about resolving the technical issue; it was about demonstrating a genuine commitment to the customer's success and embodying the values we strived for. That act of collective dedication and going the extra mile truly exemplified the spirit of teamwork and customer focus, leaving a lasting impression on me.

Reflections on this conversation

I was very surprised by the face validity of what the LLM was able to parse from my writings, describe and reference.

• The bolded response statements were the Gemini’s emphasis

• The ability to find and reference examples was almost uncanny

• The amount of filler added (does, I think?) sound like me per my setup instructions when beginning this experiment

What has my interest piqued now is the concept of “version controlling” yourself with a sufficiently large corpus of text. What you believe, how you act, your principles at a given time. Like version controlling code, being able to pinpoint how your views evolve and what you felt about a set of concepts could prove to be very useful especially with the ease of interactivity an LLM provides.

Future utility in terms of extrapolating from some variation of this to help apply “judgement” to new situations, however; is what I’m most interested in exploring next.

1. I plan to more fully explore some of the implications and reasons why recent inflections have led to this insight and what ideas may emerge from it.