https://blog.stephsmith.io/how-to-be-great/ https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2017/08/04/charlie-munger-the-power-of-not-making-stupid-decisions.html - Perhaps “great’, is just “good”, but repeatable. - Charlie Munger: “"It is remarkable how much long-term advantage people like us have gotten by trying to be consistently not stupid, instead of trying to be very intelligent." - Reading, thinking, writing, talking & building. - ”We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act, but a habit.” Aris...
Aug 02, 2019•1 hr 1 min
The world happiness report link: http://worldhappiness.report/ https://s3.amazonaws.com/happiness-report/2019/WHR19.pdf The key variables in the happiness number: 1. GDP per capita 2. Healthy Life Expectancy (HLE). Healthy life expectancies at birth are based on the data extracted from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Health Observatory data repository 3. Social support (or having someone to count on in times of trouble) is the national average of the binary responses (either 0 or 1)...
Jul 11, 2019•1 hr 1 min
Substance dependencies chart: https://images.app.goo.gl/TuXbREvttnqnzbiz6 https://medium.com/s/story/if-connection-is-our-core-human-need-then-why-are-we-so-bad-at-it-a904ae486a48 https://www.ted.com/talks/johann_hari_everything_you_think_you_know_about_addiction_is_wrong?referrer=playlist-new_thoughts_on_addiction#t-26178 "Everything you know about addiction is wrong." "What really causes addiction -- to everything from cocaine to smart-phones? And how can we overcome it? Johann Hari has seen o...
Jun 28, 2019•1 hr 2 min
“Civilisation began the first time a person cast an angry word instead of a rock.” - The Pollyannish Assumption: https://stratechery.com/2017/the-pollyannish-assumption/ - "The First Amendment (Amendment I) to the United States Constitution prevents the government from making laws which respect an establishment of religion, prohibit the free exercise of religion, or abridge the freedom of speech, the freedom of the press, the right to peaceably assemble, or the right to petition the government f...
Jun 13, 2019•1 hr 3 min
Article link: https://www.theschooloflife.com/thebookoflife/emotional-identity/ The questions are: - Self-Love -- If people knew who I really was deep down, they’d be shocked. -- It can be embarrassing to ask where the bathroom is. -- I relationships, it can feel pretty disturbing when someone you like starts to like you back. -- I sometimes feel a bit disgusting. -- When people like you, a lot of it comes down to what you’ve managed to achieve. - Candour -- People tend to think too much. -- I’m...
May 30, 2019•59 min
The big 5 are: Openness. Conscientiousness. Extraversion. Agreeableness. Neuroticism. Mentioning: - The 'Dear HBR' podcast. - Aristotle’s golden mean/ - Nelson Mandela's bio 'A long road to freedom.' - The book 'Don’t sweat the small things.' - Helpfully uncooperative. - Happily irritable - All models are wrong. Some are help. Contact us at [email protected]
May 16, 2019•56 min
This chat was inspired by Philosophize This! by Stephen West and specifically the following episodes on The Frankfurt School: Episode 109 – The Frankfurt School pt. 1 – Introduction Episode 109 – The Frankfurt School pt. 2 – The Enlightenment Episode 110 – The Frankfurt School pt. 3 – The Culture Industry Episode 111 – The Frankfurt School pt. 4 – Eros Episode #112 – The Frankfurt School pt. 5 – Civilization Episode #113 – The Frankfurt School pt. 6 – Art As A Tool For Liberation Episode #114 – ...
Apr 12, 2019•1 hr 2 min
This chat was inspired by Philosophize This! by Stephen West and specifically the following episodes on The Frankfurt School: Episode 109 – The Frankfurt School pt. 1 – Introduction Episode 109 – The Frankfurt School pt. 2 – The Enlightenment Episode 110 – The Frankfurt School pt. 3 – The Culture Industry Episode 111 – The Frankfurt School pt. 4 – Eros Episode #112 – The Frankfurt School pt. 5 – Civilization Episode #113 – The Frankfurt School pt. 6 – Art As A Tool For Liberation Episode #114 – ...
Mar 28, 2019•1 hr 1 min
This chat was inspired by the "Robert Kegan's 'In Over Our Heads' ". Here is a summary of Kegan's framework: - Stage 1 — Impulsive mind (early childhood) - Stage 2 — Imperial mind (adolescence, 6% of adult population) - Stage 3 — Socialized mind (58% of the adult population) - Stage 4 — Self-Authoring mind (35% of the adult population) - Stage 5 — Self-Transforming mind (1% of the adult population) The framework made by Duncan: - L1: I'm not aware of of the rules & principles of the stories ...
Mar 14, 2019•1 hr 2 min
This chat was inspired by Tim Minchin's 9 Lessons For Life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoEezZD71sc&t=701s https://medium.com/speak-louder/9-lessons-on-life-from-tim-minchin-822ab14d92df Key quotes: - 1. You don’t have to dream - 2. Don’t seek happiness - 3. Remember, it’s all luck - 4. Exercise - 5. Be Hard on Your Opinions - 6. Be a teacher - 7. Define yourself by what you love - 8. Respect People With Less Power Than You - 9. Don’t Rush Contact us at [email protected]
Feb 21, 2019•1 hr 2 min
This chat was inspired by Zat Rana's "The Simple Art of Not Being Miserable" https://medium.com/personal-growth/the-simple-art-of-not-being-miserable-b374f42bc318 Key quotes: - “When they are hungry, they fast. When they are unoccupied, they meditate.” - “When someone seeks,” said Siddhartha, “then it easily happens that his eyes see only the thing that he seeks, and he is able to find nothing, to take in nothing because he always thinks only about the thing he is seeking, because he has one goa...
Jan 22, 2019•1 hr 1 min
This chat was inspired by the "Jordan Peterson: Integrating Your Shadow Self (Jung)" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDQ8DiP_Y_A One of the main research pieces the blog mentions is "Poverty Impedes Cognitive Function" We also touch on: - “One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.” Karl Jung - "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck" Mark Manson. https://www.harpercollins.ca/9780062457714/the-subtle-art-of-not-giving-a-fck/ - ‘You have no r...
Jan 11, 2019•1 hr
This chat was inspired by the "Thinking about poverty and thinking" by Ollie Lovell. http://www.ollielovell.com/pedagogy/thinking-poverty-thinking/ One of the main research pieces the blog mentions is "Poverty Impedes Cognitive Function" https://clime.newark.rutgers.edu/sites/CLiME/files/mani_science_976.full_.pdf We also touch on: - The Obstacle Is The Way: Ryan Holiday - Martin Seligman: Post Traumatic Growth - Viktor Frankl: Man’s search for meaning. - Nietzsche: "He who has a why to live can...
Nov 29, 2018•59 min
This chat was inspired by the "6 core Human Needs" by Tony Robbins. https://www.habitsforwellbeing.com/6-core-human-needs-by-anthony-robbins/ The 6 needs are: - Certainty - Variety - Significance - Love and connection - Growth - Contribution We also touch on: - "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service to others." Winston Churchill. - Contact us at [email protected]
Nov 13, 2018•59 min
This chat was inspired by the podcast "Philosophize This" - Stephen West. http://philosophizethis.org/ Specifically discussing the Hellenistic Age and the four schools of: Epicurianism, Stoicism, Cynicism & Skepticism. We also touch on: - "Pain + Reflection = Progress" - Ray Dalio - Stoicism: Base happiness on things you can control and not on things you can’t. - “Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of harming another; you end up getting burned.” Buddha - The Publ...
Oct 30, 2018•55 min
This chat was inspired by an artile from The New Yorker "Why Facts Don’t Change Our Minds" - https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/02/27/why-facts-dont-change-our-minds Key parts from the article for discussion: "Contrary to conventional wisdom we are not entirely rational beings, or, that we do not base our reasonings entirely on facts. Instead, according to researchers our decisions / beliefs are driven more a social construct in that our we geared toward collaborative rather than logical th...
Oct 02, 2018•57 min
This chat was inspired by a book titled Insight by Tasha Eurich. https://www.insight-book.com/AboutTasha.aspx Key parts from the book for discussion: “95% of people think they are self aware but studies show that 10-15% people actually are.” What Are Your Values? Understanding our values—that is, the principles that guide how we want to live our lives— is the first pillar of insight. Values help us define the person we want to be, as well as set the stage for the other six pillars. Here are a fe...
Jul 25, 2018•59 min
This chat was inspired by a talk Alain de Botton gave on Romanticism. Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPOuIyEJnbE In the ensuing discussion we also touched on: - Monogamy, explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCGyLjBjuGI - ‘Romantic realism’: the seven rules to help you avoid divorce: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/jan/10/romantic-realism-the-seven-rules-to-help-you-avoid-divorce - Owen Benjamin "why women are crazy and men are stupid": https://www.youtube.com...
Jul 18, 2018•1 hr
This chat was inspired by Social and emotional learning (SEL) which is the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. https://casel.org/what-is-sel/ In the ensuing discussion we also touched on: - Steven Pinker - Enlightenment Now: The Case for...
Jun 27, 2018•1 hr 1 min
This chat was inspired by an NPR artcile - Americans Are A Lonely Lot, And Young People Bear The Heaviest Burden. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/05/01/606588504/americans-are-a-lonely-lot-and-young-people-bear-the-heaviest-burden In the ensuring discussion we also touched on: - Brene Brown - Daring Greatly: https://www.amazon.com.au/Daring-Greatly-Brene-Brown/dp/1592408419 - Susan Pinker - The Village Effect: How Face-to-Face Contact Can Make Us Healthier and Happier: https://www...
Jun 07, 2018•1 hr
This chat was inspired by All In The Mind - ABC Radio National « » Placebo power. http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/allinthemind/placebo-power/9613346 In the ensuring discussion we also touched on: - Is there scientific proof we can heal ourselves? | Lissa Rankin, MD. TED Talk. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWQfe__fNbs&feature=youtu.be - The power of believing that you can improve | Carol Dweck. Growth Mindset. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_X0mgOOSpLU - Meditation App Headspa...
May 23, 2018•55 min
This chat was inspired by The Mission's 'The Founders Of The World’s Five Largest Companies All Follow The 5-Hour Rule' - https://medium.com/the-mission/the-founders-of-the-worlds-five-largest-companies-all-follow-the-5-hour-rule-and-they-re-9ca82e93f3fc Quotes we like: - "First, the definitions. I define a voracious learner as someone who follows the 5-hour rule — dedicating at least five hours per week to deliberate learning. I define a polymath as someone who becomes competent in at least thr...
May 02, 2018•59 min
This chat was inspired by Wait But Why's 'How to Pick a Career (That Actually Fits You)' - https://waitbutwhy.com/2018/04/picking-career.html Tim Urban In the ensuring discussion we also touched on: - 80,000 Hours 'Career Guide: Part 1: We reviewed over 60 studies about what makes for a dream job. Here’s what we found.' https://80000hours.org/career-guide/job-satisfaction/ - Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3XTzVzaHQEd30rQbuvCtTQ - Masters of Scale hosted by ...
Apr 25, 2018•59 min
This chat was inspired by 'The First Seven Years Are Key to a Successful Life' by The World Bank - http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2014/06/05/the-first-seven-years-are-key-to-a-successful-life Fav quotes: - Scientific evidence suggests that the first 1,000 days are the most important in a child’s life. Providing quality services and reaching out to parents with tailored support during this critical period pays off with increased cognitive skills, significantly improved education o...
Apr 19, 2018•54 min
Subscribe to podcast here: https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/cloud-streaks/id1363413519 This chat was inspired by 'The Most Important Thing In A Relationship' by Kris Gage - https://medium.com/@krisgage/the-most-important-thing-in-a-relationship-fde6e9087d6f Fav quotes: - 'Emotional stability and emotional self-sufficiency.' - We look for happiness from others, but this is an unreliable source of happiness… And here’s the thing: it’s not their job to fill our emotional needs.” In the insuring ...
Apr 13, 2018•57 min
This chat was inspired by 'Pale Blue Dot' - https://www.designluck.com/pale-blue-dot/ In the insuring discussion we also touched on: - Carl Sagan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Sagan - Hedonism: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedonism - Agency: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agency_(philosophy) - Albert Einstein: "A calm and modest life brings more happiness than the pursuit of success combined with constant restlessness." - Sam Harris: https://samharris.org/ - Consequentialism: https://en.wi...
Apr 05, 2018•57 min
This conversation is based on: Darius Foroux - The 21 Most Important Questions Of Your Life http://dariusforoux.com/21-questions/ And references the following: - Pixar's Inside Out: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inside_Out_(2015_film) -John Gottman - Relationship Expert: https://www.gottman.com/about/john-julie-gottman/ - The Science of Happiness - Berkley: https://ggsc.berkeley.edu/what_we_do/event/the_science_of_happiness - Masters of Scale with Reid Hoffman: https://mastersofscale.com/ - Abst...
Mar 28, 2018•57 min
This conversation references the following articles and talks: - Will the Future Be Human? - Yuval Noah Harari at the WEF Annual Meeting 2018 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npfShBTNp3Q - Cambridge Analytica Uncovered: Secret filming reveals election tricks -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpbeOCKZFfQ - Neuralink and the Brain’s Magical Future -https://waitbutwhy.com/2017/04/neuralink.html - The Singularity Is Near - https://www.amazon.com.au/Singularity-Near-Ray-Kurzweil/dp/0143037889 Please ...
Mar 24, 2018•48 min
