Weaponizing Hyperfocus

Computers are a means of individual expression and liberation. Computers can turn your weakness into strength, and allow you to live your life on your own terms.

In Weaponizing hyperfocus: Becoming the first DevRel at Tailscale, Xe laso describes how they turned an IRL weakness into a strength, and do things their peers can’t.

You might know Xe from the Anubis, the DDoS protector they created, the one with the anime character on the loading page.

Xe describes a form of ADHD, which I don’t have (I think), and the role they carved for themselves was a reframed form of DevRel, a parka I’ve donned when needed but is not something I wear day to day. So in terms of specifics I can’t relate to their story.

What I can relate and attest to is how computers give us the freedom to live a life that is tuned to our personality, our strength, our mental quirks, our eccentricities. Computers level the playing field; people who would’ve been ostracised and unable to find meaningful employment, and a general sense of meaning in their life, even a few decades ago can now leverage computers to live their life to their fullest potential.

Hard work is needed, yes, but what really helps get one on the road is a creative reframing of the circumstance. Xe’s specific story is a concrete example of how one might go about doing that.

Man may tolerate the rain for awhile
but soon he looks for shelter
while ducks quack happily for
rainwater is their sustenance

  — Rumi