Do simple things!

This week’s newsletter is a bit different - instead of having the important lesson bit, I will share a longer story and weave a thought-provoking idea in it.

The change might stay, it might now, I guess we’ll wait and see. Let’s go!

💎 You don’t need unique ideas! ❌

While working for a coworking space, me and my colleague were thinking really hard about what cool event to host and people to the space. We wanted something unique, which would stand out from the countless other events in the busy capital. We tried a few, and in the end, nothing stuck.

A few months after I left, I saw that he had created an event called… Drinks and Chat - an event on business networking. Of course, networking was part of all events we organised - and often, it was what people liked best. But to spin that out into its own event? Who would have thought?

Let’s take a detour to the calm forest roads behind my rural village. During my morning run up a hill, l came across an older runner. He was quite surprised to see me and stopped for a chat. He shared he was 63 years old and he’d been running this trail for 40 years. And said I was the first runner he’d met.

The FIRST in 40 YEARS! Yes, it was not a huge village, but I was surprised there had been only two runners for such a long time.

For me, both these stories show that doing something simple, like hosting a boring networking event or running in the mountains - can be much more valuable than you might expect.

Everyone can do simple things… but often, surprisingly, they just don’t! And that leaves the goal open, waiting for you to score, without having the skills of Leo Messi!

Yes, while getting a decent job or finding freelance clients can be challenging in an oversaturated market, doing simple things like messaging a person and asking for a referral can be quite powerful ways to stand out - so simple that others are probably dismissing them.

So trust in the simple things - sometimes they can be the best!

📚 Shelf Shocks 💥

1. The Fourth Turning: What the Cycles of History Tell Us About America's Next Rendezvous with Destiny by William Strauss and Neil Howe

The two historians have found a distinct pattern of 20-year periods - a High, an Awakening, an Unraveling, and a Turning - that has been present during the past 500 years of American history. Through it, they believe they can predict what will unfold in the future.

The book will draw parallels with what came before to illustrate what the future holds and how we can prepare for it. It will also share profound cultural observations and ideas, which span millennia of our humanity’s history.

🎧 Summary

2. Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence by Dr. Anna Lembke

Today, we are surrounded by ways to indulge in pleasurable activities, which trigger dopamine and make us feel happy - at least temporarily. Dr Lembke is a psychiatrist who has observed the damaging effects of overindulging in dopamine and shares how this pursuit ultimately makes us weaker and damages our lives.

Can we find salvation in abstinence and challenging activities? She advises us that this may be a good start, but that we should seek balance. We need to stop blinding ourselves with dopamine, and instead be patient and work towards improving our lives.

🎧 Summary

3. Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative by Austin Kleon

Don’t worry about being unoriginal, Kleon reassures us. Instead, indulge your influences, stay curious, and create you like, not what someone online claims has the best chance of succeeding.

This short book, along with Kleon’s other work, will give you a simple, no-nonsense guide to diving into your creative (or any other) project, without fear of unoriginality or the block of perfectionism stopping you.

🎧 Summary

Fun Links ⏰ ❗️

1. Visualise your audience types like a pro!

Clipt is a staffing agency which provides freelance video editors. What makes them stand out is their landing page, which shows the types of clients they are targeting. Each client persona is modelled after a celebrity and has a cool page with fun drawings, that shows the company understands individual needs.

Check each one here!

You've reached the end of my newsletter. Hooray! If you’d like to see more of my work, you can GET MY BOOK Write Better: A Simple Guide to Better Business Writing or connect with me on LinkedIn for more fun and educational content.

If you have any comments or would like to share what you enjoyed the most, feel free to get in touch! See you in two weeks!