#14: Which China Pattern You Choose

#self-love #negative-self-talk #aging #prioritization #business-history

Apr 14, 2023

👋 Hello and welcome to this week's edition of Pursuit. In a world where we are drowning in information but starving for wisdom, I spend over 10 hours each week learning about living a fulfilling life, productivity, and building great products. I feel grateful to bring the highlights of my findings to you, saving you time in your search for wisdom. So go ahead, give it a try, and subscribe now if you haven’t already.

This week’s discovery:

😌 The Most Important Friend We Have is Ourselves - #self-love
🤦🏼‍♀️ How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome - #negative-self-talk
👵🏼 A Second Curve to Intelligence - #aging
⚖️ The Prioritization Principle - #prioritization
🕹️ Nintendo: Yakuza, and the Legend of Donkey Kong - #business-history
⭐ A quote, CliftonStrengths, and music tracks…

😌 The Most Important Friend We Have is Ourselves

From the survival of a plane crash:

In the pursuit of a fulfilling life, it is crucial to remember that the most important relationship we have is the one we have with ourselves. Without a solid foundation of self-love and self-acceptance, all other relationships and endeavors will be plagued with friction and struggle. It is a common belief in society, upheld by many religions, that guilt is a necessary emotion for growth and connection to something greater. However, this belief is misguided. Guilt is a useless emotion that only serves to hold us back. Instead, we must strive to rid ourselves of guilt and replace it with self-compassion and kindness. When we approach ourselves with love and understanding, we can change the dialogue we have with ourselves and grow in a positive direction. Remember that mistakes and missteps are inevitable, but they do not define us. Treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding you would offer a dear friend.

🎧 2-min

🤦🏼‍♀️ How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome

If you want to succeed, don't waste your time trying to fix your weaknesses. Instead, focus on your strengths and lean into them as much as possible. Performance feedback can often be misguided, with too much emphasis on improving weaknesses rather than enhancing strengths. Remember, superpowers are what will truly set you apart. Don't let your weaknesses be liabilities, but also don't try to be amazing at everything. As long as you can excel in your strengths, you'll be on the path to success. And if you ever feel like an imposter, remind yourself that people are likely not thinking about you as much as you think they are. Just focus on being the best version of yourself and let your superpowers shine.

🎧 4-min

👵🏼 A Second Curve to Intelligence

Life is a peculiar thing, you know. We start off thinking we can take on the world, getting better at everything we do. But then we hit our forties and things start to change. We notice we aren't as sharp as we used to be, and we start to burn out. However, there's a second curve to intelligence that kicks in. It isn't about cracking codes or solving problems. It's about wisdom and pattern recognition. Your mind might not be as quick as it used to be, but you have all this knowledge and experience tucked away up there. The good news is that this kind of intelligence improves as you get older. So keep at it, keep learning, and keep doing what you love.

🎧 5-min

⚖️ The Prioritization Principle

It makes sense, then, that what attracts me to people is their principles: those who have strong values and do not falter. And prioritization is the most principled act of all. I want you to tell me what version of you I’m seeing. What lingers on your mind first thing in the morning. The thought you fall asleep to. In the crevices of your silence, what grows?
Your handwriting. The way you walk. Which china pattern you choose. It’s all giving you away. Everything you do shows your hand. Everything is a self-portrait. Everything is a diary. — Chuck Palahniuk

📖 4-min

🕹️ Nintendo: Yakuza, and the Legend of Donkey Kong

In the early days of Nintendo, the company's biggest customer was the Yakuza, who ran gambling parlors and casinos throughout Japan. These establishments required thousands of packs of playing cards, which Nintendo supplied, building a successful business and an interesting distribution network. While some may question the wisdom of having the Yakuza as a major customer, it allowed Nintendo to develop significant power in the market.

As Nintendo was debating the name of their new game, the landlord of their warehouse in Tequila showed up to demand rent. They were way behind on rent because the company wasn't making any money. The landlord, an Italian man named Mario, started jumping around and ranting and raving, waving his arms in the air, and with his big bushy mustache, he became the inspiration for the game's main character. They named the character Super Mario as a tribute to him, and the game became a huge success, selling thousands and thousands of copies.

If you are interested in the history of business, don't miss out on listening to the entire episode:

🎧 3.5-hrs

⭐ A quote, CliftonStrengths, and music tracks…

CliftonStrengths: One of the most valuable practices I've implemented for self-reflection is taking the CliftonStrength test from Gallup. I was introduced to this test by a dear friend, Elham, and it has been a game-changer. After discovering my top strengths, I began noticing how they manifest in my daily life. This awareness has enabled me to lean into my strengths, overcome imposter syndrome, and ultimately find greater satisfaction in my work.

🎧 You’ll find mostly Ethnotronica, Organic House, World, and Organic Electronic here: