Dickie's Digest - Music, Reading, and Exceptional Results
Hey there! Happy Sunday.
Was anyone else shocked when they saw today was August 16th? March to June moved at a snail’s pace, but the summer is absolutely flying by. Soak in the rays while you can.
In this week’s Digest:
Have an epic week!
Dickie
🎶 Your Music and People by Derek Sivers
Derek Sivers is my favorite writer on the Internet. His ability to condense ideas into straightforward directives is second to none. His latest book, Your Music and People, is about way more than music and people.
It’s a masterclass in marketing, creating, selling, building, and forming valuable relationships. The book is 88 short chapters and can be binged in about two hours. You can see my notes on the book here or just read my tweet thread below.
📚 Reading a Book a Week to Accelerate Your Career (link)
When the pandemic started, I thought my reading habit would accelerate. “I’ll finally have time to get through the list of books that’s been piling up.” I thought.
After reading this guide to reading a book a week, I realized I had become more precious about reading. Because I had more time, I would wait until the conditions were perfect to read, like only before bed or on weekend mornings.
Instead, Cedric Chin says we shouldn’t be so precious. We should read for five minutes at breakfast, or for eight minutes while waiting in line. I’m excited to put some of his pointers into practice.
The six main takeaways from the article:
Stop being so precious about reading.
Read 3 books at a time — one hard, one easy, and one very easy.
Read ‘branch books’ differently from ‘tree books’.
Read narrative books on Kindle, and non-fiction idea books on phone or paper.
Turn reading into a habit
Stop reading books you don’t like.
🎆 James Clear on Exceptional Results
This week, James Clear packed an entire book’s worth of wisdom into a single tweet.
His thoughts on how to generate exceptional results:
1) Quantity: You take lots of shots.
2) Quality: You take thoughtful shots.
3) Consistency: You keep shooting for a long time.
4) Feedback: You take better shots over time.
5) Luck: You get a few favorable bounces.”
His ability to package insights into bite-sized snippets like this never ceases to amaze me. I can’t stop thinking about how simple he makes it.
🎧 This Week in Podcasts
I swear the podcast game gets better every single week. Anything you could possibly want to learn about, there is a podcast exclusively dedicated to that topic. I’ve upped my listening to 2x speed with my eyes on getting to 3x.
The first podcast I listened to this week was Shaan Puri and Anthony Pompliano talking creating, selling, working, and growing. Shaan Puri is the host of My First Million, a new podcast I am excited to dive into.
The second podcast I heard this week was an episode of the North Star Podcast with David Perell and Matthew Kobach, chief social media strategist at the New York Stock Exchange. David and Matthew take a deep dive into how Matthew learned about marketing and the importance of building in public.
The third and final podcast I listened to this week was Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong on Invest Like the Best with Patrick O’Shaugnessy. Brian and Patrick talk all things Bitcoin and the future of the financial system.
📚 Kindle Highlight of the Week
The business world is no place to be normal.
The more intense, the better.
Normal people will think you’re insane.
But your fellow achievers will welcome you to the exclusive club. - Derek Sivers
From Your Music and People by Derek Sivers, which I read on my Kindle Paperwhite. I can honestly say the $129 I spent on this Kindle is the best purchase I’ve made in years.
🥃 Chasers
Check out this incredible 4K slow-motion footage of the Beirut explosion. I have never seen anything so terrifyingly beautiful in my life.
Thanks for reading!
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