Today’s as good a day as any to try something I’ve wanted to do for a while. It’s a reminder of what many of my favorite blogs from 10 years ago would do on weekends, and what some spectacular sites still do: provide a list of the best of the week, for your weekend reading enjoyment.
Without further ado …
Scott Galloway, “Yogababble“
“[W]e looked at the S-1 language of a bunch of tech firms and made a qualitative assessment of the level of bullsh*t. Then we looked at their performance one year post-IPO. We believe there is an inverse correlation that may be a forward-looking indicator for a firm’s share performance.“
It’s easy to laugh at Adam Neumann. It’s harder to reconcile with what Prof. Galloway rightly points out as the overreaching emphasis on meaning in mission. I like meaning and mission as much as the next Millennial — and I think businesses with real values are better preferable to the other kind — but how do we separate the meaningful missions from the BS?
[Tip o’ the hat: this came via SYPartners‘ excellent monthly letter.]
Graham Duncan, “Letter to a Friend …“
“If you can find the thing you do for its own sake, the compulsive piece of your process, and dial that up and up, beyond the imaginary ceiling for that activity you may be creating, my experience is the world comes to you for that thing and you massively outperform the others who don’t actually like hitting that particular ball. I think the rest of career advice is commentary on this essential truth.“
Yes, he’s writing to a friend who might start a new investment platform. But, as he says, many of the points are relevant to anyone starting (or considering) a significant undertaking in life and/or work.
[Tip o’ the hat: this came via Khe Hy’s totally rad newsletter.]
[PS: Speaking of Grahams, you should read Paul Graham’s blog, too.]
Casper ter Kuile, “When Work Culture Becomes a Work Cult“
“‘The primary role of clergy is rarely defined as “the social construction of reality”…Yet that is precisely what clergy do,’ writes Lebacqz. And with mission-driven organizational leaders increasingly playing the role of moral, pastoral and even spiritual leader, it is — in part — this power that leads so many good-hearted people into destructive situations.“
I look forward to Casper’s newsletter every Friday. You should, too. This week’s is, for my money, especially packed with insights and connections.
And perhaps we should all consider his practice of a “digital sabbath” from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday? That’s no bull.
Colin Steele 