In this post we’re going to explore one of the most important traits I have sought and still seek to develop since I learned about it. High-agency. But what does it actually mean?
“Life can be much broader once you discover one simple fact: Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you and you can change it, you can influence it, you can build your own things that other people can use.” – Steve Jobs
A high-agency person lives as if they have no concept of what their life “should” be. In other words, they do not passively accept the story that they are told about how their life should play out.
Essentially this means you:
- Challenge conventional wisdom. Ask “why?”. “Why do I actually need a house?”
- Are a source of energy rather than a drain. Everyone has that friend that drains them of energy and they need to recover from afterwards, be the opposite. Fire up your friends to do cool shit.
- Have unconventional interests. You pursue your interests unphased by what other people think.
- Contradict stereotypes. Are you a bodybuilder that can read?
- Don’t know the meaning of a limiting belief.
“When you’re told that something is impossible, is that the end of the conversation, or does that start a second dialogue in your mind, how to get around whoever it is that’s just told you that you can’t do something? So, how am I going to get past this bouncer who told me that I can’t come into this nightclub? How am I going to start a business when my credit is terrible and I have no experience?”
— Eric Weinstein
A high-agency person takes a first-principles approach to creating the life they want. Most decisions they make, they understand the foundational reason for making that decision.

This is a great thread by George Mack about high-agency people.