Systematize Success #14 - Stoicism, Entrepreneurship & Sleep
Stoicism, Entrepreneurship & Sleep
Hi Friends,
And happy Monday!
I have 3 versatile reads for you this week:
A recent post on what I would consider science-backed stoicism by Barking Up the Wrong Tree, who sadly does not publish nearly as often as 2-3 years ago:
How to Be Happier Without Really Trying (11min)
Your brain is a time traveler: It projects into the past and future constantly and this can be an express ticket to regret and anxiety. Counteract it with mental distance to regain control.
Say your name: “I” creates problems. Eric thinks Eric should talk to Eric using “Eric.”
Get some mental distance: You can’t make the issue go away but you can broaden your perspective. A tablespoon of salt in a glass of water tastes awful, but a tablespoon of salt in a lake isn’t even noticeable.
Reframe: Your body often can’t tell anxiety from excitement so convert threats to challenges by reinterpreting your feelings.
An insightful perspective on entrepreneurship by Kevin Kelly, the founding Editor of Wired. Talk about extreme differentiation….
Don’t Just Be the Best, Be the Only (2min)
“You want to work on something that nobody has a name for.” You don’t just want to be the best — you want to be the only. This applies to the companies you start, the projects you tackle, as well as to how you live your life.
“It’s fine to focus on scaling a wall, but you need to make sure your ladder is leaning against the right wall.” Transforming from short-term founder to long-term steward is a mental shift that many Founders need to start making.
“If you operate on a longer term perspective you have an advantage because everyone else is completely short sighted.”
For the record, I don’t agree fully: in many case, brilliant execution of an old idea can be immensely value-creating, but indeed: if you can be the only, why not capitalize on it.
What do you think?
And to finish with what feels a bit like a joke if you ever worked in consulting (or IB): McKinsey in why consistent good night sleeps are critical:
The organizational cost of insufficient sleep (9min)
For the blissfully ignorant: consulting is still better than a newborn/toddler. I can’t speak about IB, but it probably depends on the bank and the child. :)
Please don’t forget to share if you think this type of insights can help others:
Thanks for reading, and have a well-rested week,
V