Format

• Hey Friends

• Today’s Sponsor: Clarity Construction

• Thought of the Week: The Next 5 Years

• Mission: What I’m Working On

• Life Design: The Media Company of YOU

• Commerce & Capital

• Trending Now

  • 🎙 Podcasts, Music & Social Audio

  • 🌍 Social Media

  • 📚 Books

  • 📰 Articles

Hey Friends

This week, I find myself thinking about how the 24/7/365 barrage of information bombarding us today just demands a different kind of savvy.

The siren song of celebrity and influencer culture constantly beckons for us to mimic it’s paths to success. But idolizing famous people — platforming or pedestaling other humans simply because you see them on-screen a lot — is a recipe for disastrous disappointment.

Their journeys, shaped by unique circumstances and personalities, do not translate to yours. You have your own life to get living.

Peter Drucker famously said, "You Can't Manage What You Can't Measure" — and the same principle applies here. You often have little to zero visibility into the interior details and vagaries of someone else’s life.

The oxygen of the business world is data-driven insights – we readily set benchmarks and track KPIs for our ventures and boldly dash forward. However, applying this same approach to the "business of you" is far more complicated.

Trusting our gut isn't enough anymore. We need to cultivate critical thinking as a core life skill.

Don't blindly listen to anyone — not even me.

Instead, develop a discerning eye, evaluating everything you encounter with a healthy dose of skepticism. In this ever-shifting economy, a sober, clear mind is your most valuable asset.

We exist in a culture obsessed with comparison. Social media feeds are bursting at the seems with curated videos and snapshots of seemingly perfect lives, fuelling a constant sense of inadequacy, shame and FOMO.

The harsh truth? Most of us are sleepwalking through our lives, a staggering 85% of our actions on autopilot, a mere 15% dedicated to critical thinking and self-awareness. This imbalance needs immediate correction.

The first step on this journey is a thorough self-assessment. In the age of AI, cultivating critical thinking skills is crucial.

If you challenged yourself right now to not just think of your quarterly objectives, not just about your list of yearly resolutions, but instead to map out your personal five year plan — what would it look like?

Embark on the quest of crafting your own personal success metrics – a unique set of benchmarks and KPIs tailored specifically to your ultimate vision of a life you would be proud of.

These metrics should be a constant source of inspiration, regularly reaffirmed to keep you laser-focused on what truly matters. Resist the temptation of comparison – other people's yardsticks will only lead you astray.

The challenge lies in disentangling ourselves from a lifetime of external influences. Parents, teachers, bosses, the media, celebrities, even our peers – they've all subtly shaped our perspectives and provided measuring sticks that may not reflect our true desires.

When we take a step back and zoom out, we often discover a disconcerting truth: many of the benchmarks we strive for aren't ours at all — and never were to begin with. They're originated from sources outside of our true selves — and may not ultimately lead to the happiness and fulfillment we crave.

By reclaiming your personal compass and defining your own unique path, you’ll unlock the potential for a more fulfilling life.

Onwards and upwards,

Moshe Modeira

Editor-In-Chief

Today’s Sponsor: Clarity Construction

_{Design and Build with confidence. Clarity Construction and their roster of top industry experts are with you — every step of the way.}

Thought of the Week: The Next 5 Years

I burst out laughing when I read this. I just love this quote so much — Elliott is a childhood friend of mine, an ethereally brilliant creative who truly is that OG tech geek unabashedly committed to learning in public and sharing inspirational, high-concept mixed-media art with his audience.

For me, the quote encapsulates one of the governing themes I have been feeling this past year, for myself and for everyone.

Don’t be too hard on yourself. You are playing a Tron-style video game of survival, within the prism of an incredibly rigged matrix — with many odds stacked against you.

Self-love is key to your success. The concept of becoming your own best friend has never been more dire. It feels like our species is on the precipice of a revolution – a technological, financial and cultural reset that'll make our heads spin for a long time.

Close your eyes and remember 2019. Think of how much has changed since then. Now think ahead to 2029. What will life look like, and feel like in the not too distant future?

First — AI. Forget cheesy sci-fi robots with a penchant for human enslavement and becoming our overlords. For now, at least (lol), we’re talking about AI completely automating away the mundane, freeing us up to focus on creative stuff – the strategy, the innovation, the design — the things that make us human.

In 2029, humans will focus on big ideas, while AI handles repetitive tasks. Every facet of life as we know it will have long been impacted by artificial intelligence and machine learning. Digital assistants, SaaS, robotics and nanotechnology will be at a quantum level of socio-economic integration that is now difficult to grasp and comprehend.

In 2029, cryptocurrencies will be the norm, making international transactions smoother than a freshly paved highway. A competitive economic environment like this would officially dethrone the US dollar as the global standard, creating a whole new financial landscape.

The current shift is already empowering a whole new breed of entrepreneurs. You can be your own boss, build a brand around your passion, and connecting directly with an audience – all thanks to the internet and the booming creator economy.

By 2029, YouTube will be on hyperdrive, the crown jewel in social media strategy for most creators, artists, actors and brands, with a democratization setting in that sees people rewarded for earnestly building communities, sharing knowledge, and turning expertise into education.

There will be bumps on the road. AI will automate away many jobs, and navigating the new financial world will be tricky and fraught with fraud.

But we're on the verge of a paradigm shift, and those who embrace the change – the hustlers, the creators, the go-getters – will be the ones who thrive, and live to tell the tale of perseverance and success.

Mission: What I’m Working On

Writing is an important skill, and I have been working at this craft for 35 years now. I’m working at becoming more proficient at it than I already am, so that I can continue to have the privilege of sharing and communicating.

Writing is the ultimate gateway to intellectual expression because there are almost no barriers between creator and user, unlike other mediums such as recording videos or audio that have technical barriers built into the production experience. Writing is still, after all, pen to paper — or fingers to keyboard.

I’m constantly in awe of the talent, imagination and verbal dexterity of so many of the authors that I read and share with you. I’ve historically maintained a healthy reading habit, a voracious appetite for learning and understanding the world cultivated in my formative years.

For added inspiration when writing, I regularly access this famous blurb usually referred to as Write Music — by American author and writing instructor Gary Provost. It reminds me of the cantor, the rhythm, the staccato of good writing.

Years ago when researching techniques to improve my writing workflow, I came across this Medium article that featured quotes from twenty of the most famous authors of the modern era, with interior commentary about their daily habits, scheduling and processes that led to them producing prolific work.

The article had an extraordinary impact on me at the time, and in reading it again, the sentiment stands. My big takeaways are:

1. Write Daily: It was not lost on me that from Stephen King to Kurt Vonnegut, from Maya Angelou to Earnest Hemingway — all the greats painstakingly carved out daily writing schedules and stuck to them, no matter what else was happening in their lives. Consistency is the key.

2. Exercise like you’re training for an Olympic event: Murakami and Vonnegut were notable for their intense approach to physical fitness, and this mirrors my own outlook. Go all out in the gym and turn your body into a physical specimen. It may seem unrelated — but when you have extra strength, mobility and flexibility, your blood is flowing at optimum levels and brain activity is at its highest. Prime time for you to produce your most enlightened work.

3. Create Quotas / Benchmarks: Whether it be 500 words or 10 pages a day — setting goals is an important aspect of being able to measure and track accountability and progress.

Life Design: The Media Company of YOU

We're living in an age of unprecedented opportunity. The internet has democratized content creation, allowing anyone with enough gumption and vision to build a personal brand – essentially, the media company of YOU. 

But with this new status comes a major challenge: lead flow. As solopreneurs and thought leaders, generating a steady stream of customers, clients and consulting contracts is often the biggest bottleneck to sustaining growth.

If you have any chance of attracting prospective leads, you need clear messaging. Figure out what you want to say, and become the absolute best at saying it.

You need to establish Thought Leadership.

Here's the surprising secret: deep work isn't a mythical beast. Studies suggest that dedicating 30 focused hours to any topic, roughly the equivalent of reading 3 books — is enough to elevate you to expert authority status.

Mastering the craft of communication is crucial. You need to communicate knowledge in a way that resonates with your audience. Hone your writing, speaking, and on-camera skills. Become a compelling storyteller who can translate complex ideas into clear, engaging content.

Most of us are falling into 4 career buckets at the moment: solopreneurship, multipreneurship, entrepreneurship and working for a business / startup. Over the next 5 years, we are all being called to weave thought leadership into our entrepreneurial lives, each in different ways.

• Solopreneur: You’re building a single business around your expertise, often offering consulting services, coaching and creating digital products. Thought leadership is essential for solopreneurs — it helps attract clients and establish authority.

• Multipreneur: You're building multiple businesses, leveraging your knowledge and experience across different ventures. Thought leadership can support each venture, or act as a central umbrella showcasing your overall expertise.

• Entrepreneur: Your focus is on building a scalable, high-growth company. Thought leadership will be valuable, while your focus remains on product development, marketing, and scaling operations.

• Business Professional: Your role is focused on executing specific tasks within an organization. Thought leadership can enhance your career prospects within the company, but may not be your primary objective.

With your domain expertise and honed communication skills, you're ready to attract your ideal clients and customers. Some tactics to tackle the lead flow challenge?

• Content Marketing: Create valuable content – blog posts, videos, podcasts – that establishes your authority and attracts people interested in your industry.

• Social Media Engagement: Actively participate in industry conversations, build relationships and show your expertise.

• Public Speaking: Video storytelling and public speaking gigs will enhance your street cred and attract potential clients.

• Digital Products: Offer deep-dive, topic-specific digital resources / long form content — tutorials, courses, ebooks and webinars.

The key as a content creator and creative entrepreneur today in 2024 is to experiment, track your results, and constantly optimize for over-giving. It's not just about building a brand; it's about building a community where your expertise empowers others. 

Commerce & Capital

Trending Now

🎙 Podcasts, Music & Social Audio

The Hidden Cost of Being A Deep Thinker - Chris Williamson X Alok Kanojia: Another banger from Modern Wisdom as Chris Williamson sits down with Healthy Gamer’s Dr. K, Alok Kanojia. Kanojia’s firm specializes in tackling the unique mental health issues and levels of depression found in Gen Z and Millennials, especially those with high amounts of self-reported exposure to social media, online pornography and online dating apps. The journey begins with submitting to the costs of deep thought, which requires you to enter a vulnerable mental space of introspection, analysis and action-preparedness.

Get Your Money Out of Canada - Ph.D. Economist James Thorne, Breakthrough Academy: I appreciated the unvarnished, frank economic discussion with implications not just for Canadians but also for Americans. The message could not be clearer: diversify your investments, diversify your holdings, look to new frontiers of opportunity. Thing is, with a global outlook comes the need for learning, research and information-gathering. Which necessitates humility and submission to process. Are you up for figuring out how to effectively navigate the tsunami of fiscal uncertainty in the months ahead?

🌍 Social Media

What’s the most unsexy, “boring” business you’ve ever seen that makes a ton of money? Scott L on X: One of the great ways to use X is to find nodes of extremely valuable crowdsourced information. Private Equity maven Scott Larson asks a question we have all thought of — and the internet wins the day with hundreds of insightful answers. My personal favourite “boring business” has always been paper cups. I personally have always loved the Dixie Cups story — a “niche” market now ripe for disruption after Dixie’s decades-long dominance faltered during Covid. If anyone can create an ecologically sustainable paper cup that can be produced at mass scale - there is a billion dollar company right there).

My Richest Mentor Told Me … Codie Sanchez on X: Codie’s message is well taken. Moving slowly, paralysis by analysis and losing momentum are formidable obstacles in your pathway to success as an entrepreneur. Time is fleeting, thus “momentum is everything in a startup", Sam Altman once said. "Startups that win keep winning, and startups that lose keep losing."

📚 Books

When I Stop Talking, You’ll Know I’m Dead by Jerry Weintraub: An illuminating read, this is a story of a brash, fast-talking Brooklyn-born, Bronx-raised Hollywood producer, friend and confidante to almost all of Tinseltown. There is a charisma to Jerry that oozes out of the pages of this book, documenting an impressive career, a quintessentially American story of love and luck that seems quaint in these more cynical times. There are universal lessons of courage and perseverance to be found here for entrepreneurs, creators and artists alike.

The Way Of The Superior Man by David Deida: I’m reading this again after first reading it in 2021, and knowing then that what I was reading was the kind of esoteric knowledge that would have to be returned to again and again. David Deida explores important issues in men’s lives―career, family, women, intimacy, love and spirituality and grapples with them in a raw, head-on fashion that you will never forget. There is uncommon wisdom in this book that will have you looking over your shoulders as your read. There is no escaping that men need to level up in 2024. This book is an ambitious guide for living a more aligned masculine life of integrity, authenticity and responsibility.

The Almanack of Naval Ravikant by Eric Jorgenson: I have been a fan and follower of investor, business commentator and philosopher Naval Ravikant for several years now, marvelling at the profundity and timelessness of his sage wisdom on virtually all aspects of entrepreneurship, life design and skills optimization. Finally getting around to reading this famous curation of Naval wisdom, only now understanding all these years later that Naval himself didn’t put the Almanack together - Eric Jorgenson, Tim Ferriss and Jack Butcher come together for this one.

📰 Articles

Mexico’s likely next president is a scientist. Politics has her mostly quiet on climate threats - Gripping AP News coverage of Claudia Sheinbaum, a popular Mexican Presidential Candidate current leading in polls. The fiercely contest Mexican federal election will be called on June 2, with either Sheinbaum or main rival Xóchitl Gálvez set to become Mexico’s first ever female Head of State and with major implications for Mexico’s immediate political, economic and cultural future.

We would love to hear your thoughts! Leave your comments below. See y’all next week 🙏

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