To Be And To Last #10
This week we explore personal growth through failure and feedback, unfair advantages in business, and a possible path to a meaningful life.
Ikigai: the secret to a meaningful life?
In a world of specialists, could the path to meaningful work be found in generalism? Or more precisely, consecutive specializations? Salman shares the value (and challenges) of choosing to become a modern-day polymath.
Failure is temporary and human
Jack Conte (Patreon’s CEO) published a beautiful talk sharing some of his most “epic failures”. Especially during this global pandemic, I found this to be a necessary and healthy reminder that the constant progressions and steady growth taught in video games and college curricula are neither realistic nor desirable.
Learning hurts
Difficult conversations are uncomfortable, but long-term stagnation is even worse. This thread from Dan Rose (early Facebook) reminded me that I need to seek out difficult feedback, as blindspots - by definition - require outside help. (click to read full thread)
Secondary Power-ups
In the current wave of direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands, Gymshark has made waves as a rising competitor to Lululemon and even Nike. Yes, they’ve nailed their core business of designing, making, and selling athletic clothing, but they’ve also got an unfair advantage: unusually long repayment terms negotiated with their suppliers. I’m fascinated by these types of secondary power-ups: useless if alone but immensely powerful when paired with a core business. (click to read full thread)
To Be And To Last: Thinker Nate Desmond’s weekly roundup of long reads, contrarian thoughts, and hidden jewels that aren’t getting enough attention.
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