EOY Reading List I

shoot your shot

Hello everyone,

I hope this newsletter finds you well. This week, I wanted to fulfil the promise I made last week and share with you some of the articles I've read and found interesting from the beginning of the year. I will continue to send a list of articles I've read weekly until the end of the year.

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1. Pay for things twice: I found this particularly interesting about the importance of paying the second price for things. The article argues that most things we buy have to be paid for twice: once in dollars to gain possession of the item, and again in the form of effort and initiative to gain its benefits.

   This second price can be much higher than the first, and paying only the first price is like throwing money in the rubbish. In pre-consumer societies, there was less emphasis on paying the first price and more on paying the second price, which involved doing the work necessary to use what one had. Industrialization has reduced many first prices but has given us more to consider paying for. The article suggests that our modern lifestyles can feel self-defeating because we keep paying first prices, creating a debt of unpaid second prices. The solution is to avoid paying unnecessary first prices and focus on paying specific second prices to enjoy the rewards of our purchases.

   For example, you spend $5 to buy a book. Paying for the book is the first price. If no one reads the book, it is similar to throwing away that amount. We must work (by reading the book) to benefit from the book.

2. Radical Candor:

   Minh D
   describes the friendship she built with her friend T. They have built a trusting relationship based on the concept of "radical candor," a term coined by Kim Scott in her book of the same name. Radical candor involves being open and honest with each other, challenging each other directly but caring personally.

   They can talk about anything and offer each other support and advice without the fear or guilt associated with offering advice or help

   For example, when the author was struggling at work, T. was there to listen and offer advice, and when T. was struggling with her internship, the author was able to empathize and support her. The author also talks about how they seek out relationships with people who can take constructive feedback but also show compassion and care. The author encourages others to build relationships based on radical candor and be open to receiving honest feedback from loved ones.

   The idea is that you and the other person hold space for each other. When the other person needs you, you’re there without trying to make it about you, and vice -versa. You know that your intentions are pure and in each other’s best interest.

3. Fake life, true wealth: The author,

   varianceswap
   argues that true wealth is not measured in money, but in the number of people who are willing to do favours for you. The author suggests that the truly wealthy are able to obtain what they want by calling upon people in their network who owe them favours. This may involve hiring a financial advisor to secure access to events and networks, hiring a college advisor to get their children into prestigious schools, attending donor dinners and events, and staffing their non-profit with reputable people who share their vision. The author suggests that it is easier to convert true wealth into monetary wealth than vice versa, and that many billionaires have failed in their attempts to obtain political power. The article also mentions the importance of maintaining appearances in order to retain relationships and access to networks of people. The Godfather, Don Vito Corleone understood this.

   Now all this looks lost to most people including me, especially when you consider those people post-economic¹ But with this, it is clear that after quitting the rat race, you would most likely enter another race, the appearance race, for good reason.

4. be an asker: being able to ask in any situation is a wonderful skill. Yes, a skill. Lost your way? ask the locals. a service not working? ask the service provider why?

   Being able to ask for what you want is a key part of being able to advocate for yourself, and that it is a valuable skill to have in both platonic and professional relationships. This reminds me of a friend who isn’t afraid of shooting their shots

That’s all for this week.

See you next week.

1. fuck you level,i.e and beyond the need for money itself.