Learn: Neil Diamond's creative origin story, Confidence deconstructed, Dale Carnegie 

Read: 3 min

Hola from Buenos Aires, 

Argentina won the world cup and everyone here went bananas. 

The city was oozing with celebrations, smiles, tears, and Fernet con Cocas (the national drink). This drone footage captures the energy beautifully.  

But enough about athletic greatness… This week we're talking about intellectual greatness. (Where does it come from and how can we develop it?) 

3 nuggets, 3 minutes.

💡 Sweet Caroline

Neil Diamond wrote the world-famous hit “Sweet Caroline” in 30 minutes.

But a crucial part of the song sprouted 5 years prior when Diamond was inspired by a 1962 Life Magazine cover. 

It was a photo of Caroline Kennedy riding a pony behind the White House. 

Diamond said, “It was a picture of a little girl dressed to the nines in her riding gear, next to her pony…It was such an innocent, wonderful picture, I immediately felt there was a song in there.”

So he jotted it down in his notebook and ignored it for 5 years. 

And like a boomerang, it came right back around when he needed it most. 

Diamond explained the aha moment, “I needed a three-syllable name. The song was about my wife at the time, her name was Marcia, and I couldn’t get a ‘Marcia’ rhyme... so I had Caroline Kennedy’s name there from years ago in one of my books.”

And boom. An instant classic, written in 30 minutes. But only after the seed was planted 5 years prior.

So what’s the takeaway? 

We’re BOMBARDED with options today. It’s overwhelming to choose our next book, podcast, or project. 

But deep down, tucked somewhere in our intuition, we know when something strikes a chord. And in the midst of chaos, it’s our duty to capture these muses. 

Neil Diamond was struck by a random photo of Caroline Kennedy. He didn’t question it, he just wrote it down and went along his way. Planting the seed for later.

We don't know which seeds we plant today, will blossom tomorrow.

But whenever they do...it could turn out so good. (so good, so good, so good!)

🔍 Etymology of “Confidence” 

The word “confidence” is associated with a FEELING of certainty. 

But the original Latin root “confidere” meant an ACT of trust. (Con = with and fidere = trust)

So we just act confident to feel confident? Well, sort of. But there’s more to it… There’s trust. 

When Neil Diamond was inspired by the Caroline Kennedy photo, his act of trust was writing it down in his notebook for later use.

So when the time came, he was confident he had the perfect puzzle piece to a classic song.

Confidence isn't touting ourselves. It's trusting ourselves. These acts of trust lay the groundwork for confidence.

🤔 Quote

"Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy." - Dale Carnegie

Dale Carnegie said it best. Sean Paul said it second best. Get busy amigos. 

Feliz navidad y feliz janucá!

Mitchell 

Ps. Grandma’s nickname