# Demi Yilmaz

> Personal essay site of Demi Yilmaz, cofounder of Colonist.io (https://colonist.io). Short essays on mental models, work, communication, health, and family. Lean and contrarian — every sentence pays its rent.

The site at https://demiculus.com is a Jekyll-based blog. Essays are intentionally short — most under 500 words. The voice is direct: no hedging, no "I think", no filler. Topics range across thinking tools, remote work, writing, parenting, ADHD, diet, and growing up.

Demi has also open-sourced a mental model practice list at https://mmpractices.com.

## Essays

- [Midwit Cleanse](https://demiculus.com/midwit-cleanse/): Midwits optimize themselves out of the gene pool.
- [Midwit](https://demiculus.com/midwit/): Smart enough to overcomplicate. Not smart enough to simplify.
- [Unlimited Cap](https://demiculus.com/unlimited-cap/)
- [Low Mana](https://demiculus.com/low-mana/): Minimize the mental energy others spend interacting with you.
- [Communication](https://demiculus.com/communication/): A good proposal is graspable in five seconds.
- [Remote Work](https://demiculus.com/remote-work/): Remote isn't freedom. It's a different discipline.
- [Better Writer](https://demiculus.com/better-writer/): Five sentences beat a hundred.
- [Not Answering](https://demiculus.com/not-answering/): Indirect answers are a collaboration tax.
- [Specificity](https://demiculus.com/specificity/): The more specific, the clearer the message.
- [Compliments](https://demiculus.com/compliments/): "Good job" is the most dangerous phrase for growth.
- [Chaos vs Clarity](https://demiculus.com/chaos/): Workplace productivity depends on the balance. More chaos, more negative productivity.
- [Stand Out](https://demiculus.com/stand-out/): How to stand out when applying for a job.
- [Hidden Rules](https://demiculus.com/hidden-rules/): Written rules are the decoy. The real ones stay hidden.
- [ADHD](https://demiculus.com/adhd/): How my ADHD shows up.
- [Diet](https://demiculus.com/diet/): Nutrition deficiencies can shrink adult height by 15%.
- [Health](https://demiculus.com/health/): Fixing the health deficiencies.
- [Child](https://demiculus.com/child/): Raising a child from pre-pregnancy through the early years.
- [Inherited Traits](https://demiculus.com/inherited-traits/): Kids inherit behavioral and nutritional traits. Ask the grandparents.
- [Dropout](https://demiculus.com/dropout/): School's not a place for smart people.
- [MMO](https://demiculus.com/mmo/): MMOs compress decades of human coordination into a weekend.
- [30 Years Old](https://demiculus.com/30/): Meme pack for turning 30.
- [The Black](https://demiculus.com/onur-black/): A short story by Onur Solmaz.

## Pages

- [Home](https://demiculus.com/): Recent essays and short bio.
- [About](https://demiculus.com/about/): Background, games played, books read.
- [All essays](https://demiculus.com/essays/): Full essay index.
- [Resume](https://demiculus.com/resume/): Work history.

## Optional

- [RSS feed](https://demiculus.com/feed.xml): Subscribe to new essays.
- [Sitemap](https://demiculus.com/sitemap.xml): Full URL list.