Writing this in April of 2024. Keen readers might notice that is four months past the end date of 2023. Well I hope on this list is something like “better late than never”. And perhaps that is true. Also, I will be writing this in absentia, updating even now. Unlike my first round in 2022, this posting seems more personal to me. A little raw. Also, I get a little loose with the definitions of “advicings” here. Not only is it a made up word, a “verbing” of giving advice, but also here I have mixed in what would better be called musings.
- Be excited, get excited when you greet someone. They remember it.
- Happiness is standard of living minus envy. Similar to gratitude. – …
- We should all know the scope of criminality of our own state.
- Platforms are still amazing businesses. “We all make and take <x> on <y>.”
- Taxes are everywhere. Software ate the world, but not before taxes.
- One of the essential characteristics of democracy is the distribution and relent of power.
- Democracy has to defend against fascists. Not fascism but the persons themselves. Leaders should be boring. Cult of personality.
- We are already cyborgs. How long do you go without your phone? I bet it’s short.
- Clothes are uniforms. Whatever someone wears or their hair is the uniform for the individual game they are playing. If it’s looks ordinary the game might be easy for you to understand.
- We are always practicing to be the person we are going to be. – Michelle Obama.
- Asset-light models (e.g. Uber, AirBnB) are great businesses and great living motivational mannequins.
- Skills can rot in our heads. Use or loose.
- We only hear the advice we are ready to accept. – Not mine. I like to think of this a different wavelengths we can tune into.
- Still believe civilizations, and religions are organically-derived and organized problem solving systems.
- Strive to be a better story teller. Better, not longer. Harari showed us that stories create our world.
- A good story can be short. Did I feel like the hero? Beginning, middle, end, and a lesson.
- Crossing your legs is not seen as closed-off as crossing your arms. Maybe this is because closing off the heart is more offensive because it’s protecting something more precious than what the limbs are protecting.
- Days are still too short but also too long without a nap.
- Dream to Plan to Promise.
- Promises are expensive, but we should make more to ourselves. We can afford to extend credit to ourselves. The bank of “me” is always open and the personal debt can be extended.
- Priorities are tradeoffs.
- Care a lot about only a few metrics. Example: Cycle time and regressions.
- Before Series C all focus should be 100% product-market fit. That’s it.
- The End of History has ended. We have seen all kind of regressions.
- I still love the dream of MLK Jr. of a world without prejudice. 2023 seems to have stepped away from this goal.
- Silence is an underrated tool. In conversation it’s the negative space that allows focus and depth.
- Greatness is in the agency of others. – Scott Galloway.
- RACI should be ARCI. ARCI is properly ordered. Acronyms are not always correct.
- AI feels like a magic jukebox, but not yet a magician.
- Decomposing complexity is still one of my main occupations.
- Observations are more useful than rules.
- Paleolithic biology, medieval institutions, and god-like technology. – I will find this attribution.
- The <x> economy is more encompassing that referring to an “industry”. For example you could say the Therapy Economy seems to prey on the suggestibility of children.
- Idolatry is real. Some people like unironically using the words goddess, and god.
- Master, lord, king, queen should be titles we find in history books.
- Change or scream about change.
- Anger, like wearing black, is never out of style.
- Things worth saying are worth saying twice.
- Things worth saying are worth saying twice.
- Cars are basically how you feel driving it, and which shiny logo is on the front.
- Brand persistence = have a style and don’t deviate. This is what I’m trying to do in my band. Have a “sound”, and stick to it. Example: A writer’s voice.
- Culture hires in a company might be expensive, but so is poor communication.
- Tension is good but a varying levels. That’s how guitars and pianos sing. Same for us.
- It would be crazy if we always saw each others breath.
- Saying “What’s the chance…”, or “Would it be crazy…” has high chance to be successful and not crazy.
- People are the best, and people are the worst.
- Do you want to win arguments, or do you want to solve problems? – Rory Sutherland
- Religion is where reason does not overcome.
- If you don’t have a passion, maybe you should borrow one, or adopt one.
- Record your self doing “the hard thing” what ever that is for you. And approach your own criticism as a kind mother, not a stern father.
- Better late than never is good for night owls. Early and ugly maybe is even better.
- It is still hard to write a great idea with thumbs.