The 25th-Century Relevance Filter
Choose work by asking what could remain valuable centuries from now
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Time to result
- ~days to results
- Steps
- 5
- Confidence
- 86%
Johnson says he asked what single thing he could do that would still matter in the 25th century. His filter compares today's activity with what remains visible from earlier centuries: much disappears, while a small set of contributions keeps its relevance. To apply the model, define the candidate work, examine whether its value could persist across progressively longer horizons, and identify what mechanism would make that persistence plausible. Work that matters only because of a current news cycle falls down the ranking; work tied to a durable human problem rises. The filter is deliberately severe and reflects Johnson's personal priorities. It should not be used to dismiss necessary care, maintenance, relationships, or short-term responsibilities simply because they leave no historical trace.
Origin
Extracted from The Diary of a CEO
Core principles
- 01Time strips away most short-lived relevance
- 02A long horizon changes what deserves attention
- 03One durable objective can focus limited capacity
How to run it
- 1
Define the candidate
State the project, decision, or commitment in one sentence and name the capacity it would consume.
Pro tip Compare concrete commitments, not abstract aspirations.
- 2
Extend the horizon
Ask what remains valuable after 10, 100, 200, and 300 years, separating immediate attention from durable consequence.
Watch out Long-range forecasts are uncertain; use the exercise as a filter, not a prediction.
- 3
Find the persistence mechanism
Explain why the contribution could retain value, such as solving a durable problem or enabling later work.
Pro tip Reject candidates that rely only on fame or current fashion.
- 4
Protect necessary work
Separate historically durable work from short-term duties that remain important because people depend on them now.
Watch out Do not use legacy language to neglect health, family, or operational obligations.
- 5
Concentrate the remainder
Allocate discretionary capacity to the candidate with the clearest durable value and revisit the judgment as evidence changes.
Pro tip A single focus can be more useful than a portfolio of weakly relevant projects.
In the wild
After selling Braintree, Johnson says he focused on finding one undertaking that could matter in the 25th century. The question narrowed his attention away from ordinary consumption and toward what he considered a globally meaningful mission.
→ He used the filter to concentrate his resources on his longevity and survival project.
Common mistakes
Treating speculation as prediction
The distant future cannot be forecast precisely. The value comes from widening the decision horizon, not claiming certainty.
Devaluing the present
Temporary work and relationships can be intrinsically important. Preserve duties and sources of present well-being before filtering discretionary work.
Is it for you?
Best for
It is best for mission, career, research, and capital-allocation decisions where enduring impact matters.
Not ideal for
It is not ideal for essential near-term obligations or decisions whose value is intentionally temporary.
From the transcript
“what one thing in existence could I do that would be relevant in the 25th Century”
“you map out what's going to be left of your existence in 10 years 100 years 200 years 300 years”
From the episode
The Man That’s Ageing Backwards: “I Use My Son’s Blood To Reverse My Age! I’m Now 18!” Bryan Johnson