“There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living”
– Nelson Mandela
🧠 mental model:
The only sign of intelligence is if you get what you want out of life
Statistically most people are average – get comfortable going against the status quo
Anxiety is just wasted imagination
Momentum is the most powerful force, but it can work for or against you
c.95% of people mask who they are, with who they think they have to be
It’s impossible to feel lost whenever you’re building something (biz, fam, a skill etc.)
📍Places
“life is either a daring adventure, or nothing at all”
– Hellen Keller
Most people in their early twenties go to uni. I decided to get a job and spend them same years visiting as many cool places as I could. Call me crazy, but I think I gained more sitting on the top of the Italian Alps as the sun rose, than I would have drinking a £1 vodka lime in Newcastle. I’ve listed all the places that I’ve been since then [and rated them] here
🎧 Music
The type of music someone listens to says a lot about them. I like uplifting, fast moving tunes. Some people like sad, slow tunes. It’s no coincidence that these people live a sad, slow life. I’m sure there’s a time & place for Tom Odell, but I’ve never found it. The type of music you listen to will be reflected in your energy. Choose carefully.
“the man who doesn’t read, has no advantage over the man who can’t”
– Mark Twain
In every book, only about 5 pages are worth reading. The problem is you don’t know which those pages are until you’ve finished the book. Today there are lots of ways to occupy your time, but books are a good reason to not look at a screen for a few minutes. You can buy them cheap too. I’d recommend worldofbooks or abebooks if you can’t get what you want locally. 3 books I’ve re-read recently are below:
“the biggest L is having a life so uninteresting that you’re forced to show off things rather than experiences”
Most of the media you consume today will require your attention. Podcast are good because you can play them in the background, and eventually you train your mind to consciously tune in when something interesting is discussed. Below are the top podcasts that sprung to mind. I’ll create a separate list on these shortly.
