Happy Sunday!
The collective curse of knowledge expands every day.
Innovation is accelerating in technology, medicine, and other modern marvels. More and more of what seemed like science fiction a year ago has become integrated into our standard operating perspectives. Things have changed so quickly and seamlessly we can’t appreciate what’s happening.
If you’re reading this and thinking, “What’s changed?” I’ll tell you: everything.
It’s impossible to keep up with anything today. There is just too much information available about everything you could ever want to know. This is the crux of the problem. Not long ago, if a technology had the potential to change the world, it would be breaking news. Now, there’s something new every other day with this potential.
Technology is advancing faster than the vast majority of humanity can perceive it, understand it, and utilize it. The economic and opportunistic ramifications of this are difficult to comprehend. If you think wealth disparity is bad now, just wait until Artificial General Intelligence is unleashed into the world.
The future is already here — but it’s not evenly distributed. Your path toward utopia versus dystopia is a matter of perspective.
Never before has our ability to filter and discern information represented such a massive strategic advantage.
What a time to be alive.
Noteworthy in November
😴 Vacation from obligation — Sarah and I took a day to visit a vegan bakery, wander around two bookstores, indulge in happy hour, and watch a movie. Our only goal was to have no specific goal for the day. Full credit to Sarah for reminding me how important days like these are.
🙌 Multi-Channel Content Creators — After struggling to define a target niche for too damn long, I picked one. I’m chasing my curiosity and leveraging the growing complexity of the online creator economy. Within days of deciding, I received an exciting opportunity.
👻 PGA Approved Ghostwriter — The Premium Ghostwriting Academy introduced a new program to match approved ghostwriters with prospective clients. Earlier this week, I was matched with someone I’d describe as a near-perfect client. The timing and circumstances were so serendipitous I had goosebumps. I can’t say much else right now, but I’m excited to see what happens!
Three Lessons Learned in November
I. The more you pay attention, the more you notice.
Attention is the most valuable commodity of this era.
It’s the one thing every enterprise in the world is trying to extract from you. We’ve heard the story that time is our most important resource, but it’s our attention that defines the value of our time. We take great care to protect our time, yet we still give our attention away all the time.
Paying attention is a skill. One that requires practice and patience. Only when you slow yourself down will you realize how valuable your attention is.
When you start to notice your attention, it becomes a superpower.
II. The secret to getting started is to stop thinking.
One of my self-diagnosed toxic traits is over-planning.
Over-planning becomes overthinking, and overthinking becomes paralysis. I get stuck preparing for possibilities instead of contending with reality. And when reality disrupts my plans (as it often does), the urge to start a new plan arrives like a rising tide.
The best way to stop yourself from being swept away, back into the cycle, is to swim. Dive into the cold, crashing water. Face the fear and discomfort of not knowing.
When you’re stuck at the start, don’t think. Just start swimming.
III. Don’t multiply by zero
Every day is a climb.
You have things to do, places to go, and people to see. On top of that, you have to take care of yourself. Try to exercise, eat right, sleep well, remember to drink water, and everything else the human body demands.
With so much to do and so little time, it’s easy to become complacent. It’s tempting to treat yo’self by giving in or giving up as the day goes on and the climb keeps going. But all it takes is one misstep, one questionable decision, to lose your footing and start a slide of unintended consequences.
You won’t make it to the summit every day, but on the days when you feel like going for it, remember that every choice matters.
Don’t multiply by zero.
3 Interesting Resources
- How I Write with David Perell (Spotify)
- 9 Timeless Lessons About Human Psychology – Morgan Housel on Modern Wisdom (YouTube/Podcast)
- 20 Key Principles To Understand The World by @G_S_Bhogal (X Thread)
I’ll leave you with a quote 🤔
“Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence.”
— Robert Frost
Until next time, remember to live and let go,
Scotty
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