"In the game of life, nothing is less important than the score at halftime." - Andy Andrews
As I sign off for the first half of the year and take a couple of weeks break, I wanted to thank you. Thank you for the support, the challenge, the topics and incisive questions.
I used to think before I started writing that the act of writing was the golden outcome, but having people smarter than me gently nudge me in the right direction is the real magic of putting material out there.
I had great fun putting together a decision framework, Emotional Intelligence and barriers to action in the first half of the year and hope it served you as reader. I am more excited than ever about the second half of the year. Topics I plan on covering include:
1) How to learn
- How do people learn optimally
2) What is risk?
- We talk about this word so much, what do we really mean
3) Cognitive biases in investing
- What are they?
- What techniques do the best people use to counter that?
- A basic model for investment decisions
And if there is time:
4) Stories
- What are they
- How susceptible we are to them
- How we can craft them to serve us
Beach books for you
I can’t leave you there though. I know many of you will be taking time off work (or even the odd early finish) over this hot period and will want something to read that is genuinely uplifting and relaxing. I find the most relaxed books are ones that you can read for a couple of minutes and then return to relaxing in the sun. This beach reading list is for you.
1) The art of making memories - Meik Wiking
Have you ever thought about how life is a series of memories threaded with a narrative? How can we make those good memories to aid our positive narrative? Meik Wiking of the Happiness Research Institute has an incredibly relaxing way to help you think about what is important - to create and savour those moments leading to positive memories. I like the data and anecdotes Meik uses to help us understand how a playful rather than expectant nature results in more meaningful memories. Once these memories are constructed he also suggests ways to be reminded of them.
2) The things you can see only when you slow down - Haemin Sunim
When you take a break from the day-to-day racing around in our fast-paced world Haemin Sunim asks us to embrace simplicity and gratitude. In that moment of reflection he offers you advice about what peace looks like and how to create the space needed to nurture relationships and enjoy simpler things that are normally crowded out in a hectic schedule. An example of this is: "When you let go of desires and expectations, the world becomes a much more beautiful place. Embrace the simplicity of life."
3) Sapiens - Yuval Noah Harari
Although not pure chill Harari provokes you by reframing what humans are. "The real difference between us and chimpanzees is the mysterious glue that enables millions of humans to cooperate effectively." One truth bomb follows another as he goes through the emergence of human societies, the role of myths in shaping human history and how idea creation has led to advances like science and technology but also has sewn the seeds of future risks in the future. A great read.
I bid you a restful period and hope you get some well deserved rest.
HS
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