You Are What You Eat, Da Vinci, Vince Staples, & Web3 (Find Something Cool)

At a glance:

• ☁️ Thinking: You are what you eat
• 📕 Reading: Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson
• 🎧 Listening: Ramona Park Broke My Heart by Vince Staples
• 📹 Watching: The Wonders of Web3 w/ Naval Ravikant, Tim Ferriss, & Chris Dixon
• ⚡️ Bonus: “Big things coming”

Hi makers,

This week has been heavier than normal. Mostly because it is the 10 year anniversary of my dad passing away. If you’ve ever lost someone without resolving big issues, it can haunt you for awhile. I still am working through tough times with my dad, and it hurts to know we won’t ever get to have the important conversations we needed to have.

Other than that, I released an awesome interview with Rory Sutherland, the vice chairman of Ogilvy, one of the most prestigious ad agencies in the world. We discussed how "Logic" Is Holding You Back From Your Next Creative Breakthrough. Listen here!

Here are some cool things I found this week:

☁️ Thinking: You are what you eat

As an online creator, one of the hardest tasks to find is using the internet without it using you. The ability to shut it off and focus on the sound of your own thoughts is a superpower.

Social media removes space for you to think in a clear way. You’re bombarded with other people’s thoughts, opinions, and ideas - leaving no space for your own.

I have been consuming a lot of low quality social media lately and in turn, I’ve had low quality of mind. Scattered, unfocused, unmotivated, and far from creative.

I am working on ways to increase the quality of my inputs ( I’m pretty sure the solution is... just read more books) to fight the crappy stuff that is trying to steal my attention.

What is your content diet like? Could it use some adjustments like mine?

📕 Reading: Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson

I have been re-reading this Biography since Luke Burgis brought it up on the podcast awhile back in reference to Da Vinci and Michelangelo’s mimetic rivalry (learn about mimetic desire in our podcast).

One relatable thing about Leonardo: he procrastinated on any project he didn’t enjoy. Like, would frequently get commissioned for paintings and just... never do them. He would send messengers to the client letting them know he simply didn’t feel like it.

Among his many quirks, it’s reassuring that even one of the greatest artists of all time struggled with delivering his boring client work too.

🎵 Listening: Ramona Park Broke My Heart by Vince Staples

It’s been difficult for me to find rap artists and tracks that feel original lately. Maybe this is a sign that I am getting old. haha

This new Vince Staples record is just refreshing.

When Sparks Fly is my favorite track. Only upon listening to it a few times did I realize its not a love song to a person, but to a gun. Vince is masterful at these moments of multiple meanings and leading you one direction when it might mean something else underneath.

If you love hip-hop, you’ve already been listening. If you don’t listen to it that often, this record is a great entry point to the genre.

📹 Watching: The Wonders of Web3 w/ Naval Ravikant, Tim Ferriss, & Chris Dixon

This could have fit under the ‘listening’ section since its just an audio only podcast, but I felt I needed to include it.

I am unsure of Web3 and what I think it may or may not be. It could flame out. It could be the future. Where I land on it? Place small bets and let the market prove the value before I make big bets.

BUT, if you want to hear the maximalist case for Web3 and crypto - this episode is a great place to start. Naval is a hero of mine in business and life, and Chris Dixon is a respected early adopter in the space.

Tim does an excellent job of asking all the “dumb” questions so its easy to follow and play catch-up if a lot of the terms feel unclear.

⚡️ Bonus: “big things coming”

People actually got mad at this hilariously true tweet by Joshua. What a strange time to be alive.

That’s all I have for this edition! See you next week with a new podcast. Have a great week and find some time to make something cool!

-Alex