The most valuable learning experiences

In the age of AI and algorithms, we often rely on others to do our thinking. Yes, this saves us time and effort, but does it make us worse decision-makers? Do we lose a part of our inquisitive human mind when we constantly ask ChatGPT what we should cook for dinner or how we should structure an email?

Before he became a bestselling author, Sir Terry Pratchett was a journalist who lived in a country house surrounded by animals and greenhouses. I’m sure both of these factors contributed to his skills and imagination. Not only could he practice writing in the paper, but he was away from the bustle of the big city, which allowed his mind to wander and come up with brilliant ideas and stories.

I hope that as machines become smarter, we don’t let our decision-making skills weaken.

💡 Ideas, ideas, ideas… ✏️

As a junior reporter, barely 18 years old, Terry Pratchett took the role of Uncle Jim - the fictional author of Children’s Circle - the section of the Buck Free Press newspaper aimed at children. There was not a lot of perceived value in writing for children, and few reporters expressed interest in doing it.

Terry Pratchett was different - he transformed the space, writing imaginative and funny stories, which contained a seed of his future work.

Undoubtedly the days spent writing Children's Circle allowed Pratchett to develop and practice his unique storytelling voice and slowly improve: he generated wacky ideas, drew simple illustrations, and polished the piece to meet strict newspaper standards.

Now, if he could ask Chat-GPT for ideas, would that have saved him time? Absolutely! But it would have robbed him of the opportunity to practice. And if you want to do something well, you need to practice.

In his essay on generative AI language models, sci-fi author Ted Chiang writes about the importance of the first draft, as it teaches us to form an idea and develop it. By relying on AI tools, we miss that learning experience. Don’t miss out on the valuable learning opportunities that seemingly unimportant tasks provide. This is how we grow as profeessionals.

📚 Shelf Shocks 💥

1. The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper by Roland Allen

If you think Chat-GPT greatly influenced how we think and generate ideas, just imagine what an impact the notebook has had! Since the 14th century, notebooks have helped us keep track of money and sales, log our travels, write works of literature, reach scientific breakthroughs, and more.

But are notebooks still underrated? Can they really help us lead happier, more fulfilled lives? This simple, fun book will reveal the hidden power of this inconspicuous item that most of us see just as a boring piece of stationery.

🎧 Summary

2. Broken Money: Why Our Financial System is Failing Us and How We Can Make it Better by Lyn Alden

Alden tracks money’s historic evolution and writes how technology has helped write its rules. She highlights the flaws in our monetary systems and how they affect everyday people.

Needless to say, money has a lot of power over societies, and those who lack the means and financial literacy are often left struggling. The author describes the future of money beyond physical paper and innovations like bitcoin and decentralised finance, and pushes for collective action to reform the monetary system and make it more fair and less broken.

🎧Summary

3. Thank You for Being Late: An Optimist's Guide to Thriving in the Age of Accelerations by Thomas L. Friedman

Our world is changing - quickly - driven by the powers of globalisation, the market revolution, and the information technology revolution. What can we do in such an unprecedented situation - except feel super stressed and uncertain?

Thomas Friedman has won the Pulitzer Prize three times and possesses an optimistic wit that will guide you through the whirlpool of our modern times and inspire you to adapt. Otherwise, we risk being left behind…

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Fun Links ⏰ ❗️

1. Join the Freelance Business Month 2024!

For the fourth year, I will be involved in organising the biggest event for freelancers and independent professionals - the Freelance Business Month. This month-long event will provide informative online sessions, in-person networking events, and lots of opportunities to learn!

I would like to extend an invitation to everyone in my network who want to become a more confident freelancer and develop skills for independent projects: join me in this years’ edition 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!