"Live the Library" with @david_perell - a thread.
@david_perell is the most common name on my list of "this is so good but it's a long article, so I'll read it later."
The danger is never getting to something really good.
@david_perell is the most common name on my list of "this is so good but it's a long article, so I'll read it later."
The danger is never getting to something really good.
1/ Started with all of the articles on perell.com/blog/ back to May 2015 (unclear whether this is when David set up his blog, or when these were first posted.
Interesting takeaway: I noticed @david_perell stopped including publish dates in links and none in posts. Why?
Interesting takeaway: I noticed @david_perell stopped including publish dates in links and none in posts. Why?
2/ From the first article, David is talking about education.
People who spend their time thinking for a living will likely always find themselves thinking about how we could all be thinking better.
People who spend their time thinking for a living will likely always find themselves thinking about how we could all be thinking better.
3/ You should build your own roster of professors who will educate you throughout your life.
They should include personal (people you know) and impersonal (people you can learn from online, e.g. "Live the Library")
Most exciting times are when mentors go from one to the other
They should include personal (people you know) and impersonal (people you can learn from online, e.g. "Live the Library")
Most exciting times are when mentors go from one to the other
4/ Fixed vs. Growth Mindset
Writing is a skill you can see develop unlike anything else because you can easily go back and see improvements in context.
@david_perell is a drastically better writer today than in 2015 because he hones his craft.
perell.com/blog/2015/5/16…
Writing is a skill you can see develop unlike anything else because you can easily go back and see improvements in context.
@david_perell is a drastically better writer today than in 2015 because he hones his craft.
perell.com/blog/2015/5/16…
5/ The "SALY Principle" - Same As Last Year
Instagram photographers are different.
Everything we do can be the first time it's done that way. So don't get overly caught up adhering to "how it's always been done." #[[Investing 101 2.0]]
Reinvent your discipline. Break the rules
Instagram photographers are different.
Everything we do can be the first time it's done that way. So don't get overly caught up adhering to "how it's always been done." #[[Investing 101 2.0]]
Reinvent your discipline. Break the rules
6/ An explosion in access to information is pointed out again and again (Wikipedia, YouTube, Udemy, etc.)
Access to information has raced far ahead of the capacity to gain wisdom.
What is the disconnect? Why aren't we in a golden age of education?
Access to information has raced far ahead of the capacity to gain wisdom.
What is the disconnect? Why aren't we in a golden age of education?
7/ "A nation of free [people] need to cultivate the gifts of all it's citizens."
A government "by the people" requires an "educated citizenry."
Our explosive division in politics and our dilapidated education system go hand-in-hand.
A government "by the people" requires an "educated citizenry."
Our explosive division in politics and our dilapidated education system go hand-in-hand.
8/ The world is no longer driven by who has the best ideas.
It is driven by who can shout the loudest, draw the most attention, attract the most clicks.
perell.com/blog/2016/3/14…
It is driven by who can shout the loudest, draw the most attention, attract the most clicks.
perell.com/blog/2016/3/14…
9/ Common thread: @david_perell has always been thinking about how the new economy runs on influential platforms and the ability to build a community around your message.
Prophetic statement in the 2016 election, though a much sadder outcome.
Prophetic statement in the 2016 election, though a much sadder outcome.
10/ "Getting started with writing"
@david_perell used to include a "sources" list at the bottom of an article. Now he puts them as a footnote.
Don't stress about how you're formatting your writing. Just get it out there.
@david_perell used to include a "sources" list at the bottom of an article. Now he puts them as a footnote.
Don't stress about how you're formatting your writing. Just get it out there.
11/ Reminded me of a great story @JamesClear shared recently.
It is not for us to decide how good or bad our work is, but simply to work and let the world react to our expressions.
It is not for us to decide how good or bad our work is, but simply to work and let the world react to our expressions.
12/ talking about AirPods back in 2016, but the idea of blurring the barriers between physical and digital worlds is real.
Zoom has become the first OASIS; a digital world that we work in, socialize in, exercise in.
Its just a matter of time before the virtual world levels up
Zoom has become the first OASIS; a digital world that we work in, socialize in, exercise in.
Its just a matter of time before the virtual world levels up
13/ "The most successful companies will benefit from an intricate grasp of the ever-evolving interplay between technology and culture." @david_perell
Still true looking at Zoom, Clubhouse, Figma, and others; they reflect a cultural norm. Connection, conversation, collaboration.
Still true looking at Zoom, Clubhouse, Figma, and others; they reflect a cultural norm. Connection, conversation, collaboration.
14/ We've seen a generation of business "systems-of-record" get built up to be massive.
Next gen will be personal systems-of-record. Where does your digital life live?
For me: @RoamResearch @googlephotos @googledrive @Twitter @YouTube @dayoneapp
To add: @webflow, others?
Next gen will be personal systems-of-record. Where does your digital life live?
For me: @RoamResearch @googlephotos @googledrive @Twitter @YouTube @dayoneapp
To add: @webflow, others?
15/ School is, by design, reflecting the existing world, and therefore behind the times.
But things are changing too quickly for us to wait for someone to explain the world to us. You have to learn by experience or be burned by experience.
But things are changing too quickly for us to wait for someone to explain the world to us. You have to learn by experience or be burned by experience.
16/ I read "John Quincy Adams: Militant Spirit" and what struck me most was the degree of self-reliance JQA had at age 10.
He left his Dad and became an assistant to the Minister to Russia.
Our educational system drastically underestimates our kids. We can do better.
He left his Dad and became an assistant to the Minister to Russia.
Our educational system drastically underestimates our kids. We can do better.
17/ "Creativity is just connecting things." - Steve Jobs
I've never been more in tune with my own thought process and creativity than I am when I'm using @RoamResearch
The most creative I've ever felt is when I can seamlessly tie different ideas together.
I've never been more in tune with my own thought process and creativity than I am when I'm using @RoamResearch
The most creative I've ever felt is when I can seamlessly tie different ideas together.
18/ "Great ideas are resting in plain sight, waiting for curious minds to synthesize them." @david_perell
Or in the words of @Conaw
"Good ideas come from when ideas have sex: the intersection of different things that you’ve been reading."
nesslabs.com/conor-white-su…
Or in the words of @Conaw
"Good ideas come from when ideas have sex: the intersection of different things that you’ve been reading."
nesslabs.com/conor-white-su…
19/ Happiness comes from self-reflection.
@jakesaper's advice was to identify the "lily pads of your life" that have led you where you are.
"What would you do if you weren't afraid?"
@jakesaper's advice was to identify the "lily pads of your life" that have led you where you are.
"What would you do if you weren't afraid?"
20/ Before automation wipes out entire categories of jobs it will first limit the quantity of people required.
"What I used to need 20 people for now requires 4 because I started using XYZ software."
Focus on being the kind of person who knows how to be augmented by technology.
"What I used to need 20 people for now requires 4 because I started using XYZ software."
Focus on being the kind of person who knows how to be augmented by technology.
21/ People talk about "reskilling" like it's an event.
Big companies think "retraining" their workers is an important goal one year so they can get back to competing the next.
This is just "learning" but in a hyper-competitive globalized market. It has to happen over and over.
Big companies think "retraining" their workers is an important goal one year so they can get back to competing the next.
This is just "learning" but in a hyper-competitive globalized market. It has to happen over and over.
22/ "Creative work is more likely to be enjoyable and creatives are less likely to lose their jobs to robots." @david_perell
Agreed. But. Have y'all seen songs written by A.I.? It's bumpin'
Agreed. But. Have y'all seen songs written by A.I.? It's bumpin'
23/ One of the first startup pitches I ever heard was a creator platform focusing creatives on their "1K true fans."
The inverse is just as interesting: what are you a "true fan" of? What would you pay anything for more of (@RoamResearch's 5-yr plan?)
perell.com/blog/2017/3/14…
The inverse is just as interesting: what are you a "true fan" of? What would you pay anything for more of (@RoamResearch's 5-yr plan?)
perell.com/blog/2017/3/14…
24/ It's already so much more common to have something be a crucial part of your life and to find out some of your closest friends have never even heard of it!
Good or bad for silos of personality and belief? Seems the more your friends say "I've never heard of it," the better.
Good or bad for silos of personality and belief? Seems the more your friends say "I've never heard of it," the better.
25/ Every time I walk around a mall (remember those days?) I can't help but feel overwhelmed with how much better the experience could be.
The antithesis of the modern mall is Disneyland. Can you imagine if we all had a small local community-centric Disneyland?
The antithesis of the modern mall is Disneyland. Can you imagine if we all had a small local community-centric Disneyland?
26/ I don't get to spend a lot of time thinking about cities. That's why I like following people like @mnolangray
But for the next generation of urban planners, doesn't the reinvention of the shopping mall feel like the wild west? Failing underlying model on huge space?
But for the next generation of urban planners, doesn't the reinvention of the shopping mall feel like the wild west? Failing underlying model on huge space?
27/ @fortelabs on the "holy grail of productivity."
Getting into a "flow state." In improv comedy, there is the idea of "yes, and..." You never reject the premise of what your fellow improvisers put forward, you just accept the new reality.
"Self-censoring quiets down."
Getting into a "flow state." In improv comedy, there is the idea of "yes, and..." You never reject the premise of what your fellow improvisers put forward, you just accept the new reality.
"Self-censoring quiets down."
28/ We should spend more time thinking about ubiquity.
Things upon which the world is built upon even though they're not particularly innovative products. PDFs. Shipping containers
They don't have to be incredible inventions. They are world-changing because they're ubiquitous.
Things upon which the world is built upon even though they're not particularly innovative products. PDFs. Shipping containers
They don't have to be incredible inventions. They are world-changing because they're ubiquitous.
29/ In a world of unending choice, people don't follow brands. They follow people.
And those people often create cult-like movements around themselves and their products #RoamCult
The tools of the future will revolve around those cults e.g. @SubstackInc
And those people often create cult-like movements around themselves and their products #RoamCult
The tools of the future will revolve around those cults e.g. @SubstackInc
