Hey there,

Thanks for joining me. It's been a great two weeks just relaxing and pursuing my interests. I've learnt that startups are especially hard if you're not technical, gotten my first dose of the vaccine, and signed up for a gym membership. I officially start studying for the bar exam next week, but I imagine that I'll be able to continue writing. In fact, my next article would probably be about my views on careers, which relatedly, is what this issue is all about.

Interesting Finds

Marc Andreesen's Guide to Career Planning: "The first rule of career planning: Do not plan your career." Despite saying this, it's clear that Marc believes that there's a certain approach we can all take when it comes to careers. He wrote this guy in 2007, but I found a lot of it still applicable and helpful as a 25 year old. Be warned, he has rather strong opinions so this is certainly not for everyone.

How to Work Hard: There's this huge blowback against hustle culture, but I think a lot of it is misplaced. The main problem is that work is not inherently virtuous, and many of us are stuck in jobs that we absolutely hate. But if you're working on something meaningful, or in something you believe in, I think that all goes away.

"There wasn't a single point when I learned this. Like most little kids, I enjoyed the feeling of achievement when I learned or did something new. As I grew older, this morphed into a feeling of disgust when I wasn't achieving anything. The one precisely dateable landmark I have is when I stopped watching TV, at age 13."

The Great Online Game: "The Great Online Game is free to play, and it starts simply: by realizing that you’re playing a game. Every tweet is a free lottery ticket. That’s a big unlock. Anyone can play. You can choose how to play given your resources and skills at the current moment. You can level up fast. Financial and social capital are no longer tied so tightly to where you went, who you know, or what your boss thinks of you. This game has different physics and wormholes through which to jump. It’s exponential instead of linear."

This is why I spend time writing my own thoughts and sharing interesting articles with you guys every week. I see it as a way to satisfy my curiosity while having the (very small) chance of some life-changing opportunity. If you've ever considered spending time on the Internet, wait no further. I'd be happy to have you alongside me in this great online game.

Old School Snobs: "The best kind of snob is a throwback to that original cobbler and their customers, someone who can see past appearances or the traditional approaches and instead looks for care and quality".

Interesting history lesson from Seth Godin, and more importantly, a great lesson on never settling.

This Week's Sponsor

Unless you grew up “summering” in the French Riviera or have a Sommelier in the family, sifting through wine choices can be tricky. But it doesn’t have to be.

Bright Cellars is a monthly wine club built by two MIT grads to help you discover quality wines from around the world. Based on your answers to their wine quiz (don’t worry, it’s not hard), the Bright Cellars algorithm makes wine selections that match your specific taste preferences.

Even better, Bright Cellars ships the wine right to your door at your preferred frequency. And if you’re not 100% satisfied, Bright Cellars will send you a replacement in your next box. 

--

As usual, let me know what you think.

Talk soon,

Louis