I have not felt well for weeks. I’ve had a couple weekends stolen from me where all I could do was lay in bed but other than that, it hasn’t been too extreme. But, I just can’t seem to get on top of it and have struggled with a persistent malaise. Hard to focus on anything when you don’t feel well.😩

I’m all caught up on my other shows so I’m finally starting to watch Shōgun. 📺

A friend is having ankle surgery tomorrow, and besides texting, I mailed him a handwritten note. I hope this analog greeting in his mailbox post-surgery lifts his spirits. Does anyone else prefer receiving snail mail over (or, in addition to) digital greetings for things like this?

“For the first time, OpenAI’s public structure and leadership are simply honest reflections of what the company has been—in effect, the will of a single person. ‘Just: Sam.'”

OpenAI Takes Its Mask Off - The Atlantic

📺 Watching Slow Horses S4, E4.

Slow Horses season 4, Episode 4

I read this Dear James: I Hate My Post-college Life article in The Atlantic today, which ties into a chapter from David Brooks' The Second Mountain I read last night. Both highlight the challenges young people face—particularly around navigating their newfound “freedom”.

The power of habit.

Pull quote from a book titled, “The Common Rule” by Justin Whitmel Earley.

Over the past weekend, a strange confluence of circumstances created the context in which I introduced my daughter to this song. Nothing like a nostalgic trip to the 80s. I thought it would elicit eye rolls, but I actually caught her sharing it with her boyfriend yesterday.

Album cover for Din Daa Daa by George Kranz.

I’ve been going since 4:00 a.m. this morning and I’m hitting an afternoon wall. 🥱 I’m hoping a coffee and perhaps a brisk walk will allow me to rally and have a strong finish to my day.

I checked in with a coworker who was out on Friday because he wasn’t feeling well. I learned that one of the contributing factors was that he felt “peopled out”. I’m glad he acknowledged that and gave himself the time off. It also reminded me of this:

Snoopy and Charlie Brown staying in bed

Our church is currently going through a sermon series on prayer. Coincidentally, my daily Readwise review included the following highlight today:

An excerpt on prayer from the book, “Run With the Horses” by Eugene Peterson.

Was sorting through some old papers in a desk drawer and found this. It’s been quite a while (as evidenced by the old branding) since Alaska Airlines set these down on the tray table with the in-flight snacks.

Alaska Airline prayer card - Psalm 9:2

Even though it’s available, I think I’m going to defer updating to iOS 18 until a dot release. Maybe I’ll wait for the update that contains Apple Intelligence. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Hidden Potential: Prologue

Although I just started reading the book Hidden Potential by Adam Grant 📚, I wanted to start summarizing the notes and key points I’ve captured as I’ve attempted to actively read through the content. My hope is that it will aid in my retention of the material as well as provide a reference for later. Especially since I’m reading this as part of the book club I belong to at work and we’ll be discussing it when we meet in a couple months.

Here’s a closer look at some of the key insights I noted in the prologue:

  1. Redefining Potential: Grant challenges the conventional notion of potential, asserting that it transcends initial capabilities. He asserts that everyone has hidden potential. The key is to unlock it. Grant referenced a landmark study where the lead psychologist concluded, “What any person in the world can learn, almost all persons can learn, if provided with appropriate… conditions of learning.“

  2. Aspiration over Ambition: The distinction between ambition and aspiration emerges as a focal point. Grant underscores the significance of aspiring to become a certain type of person rather than merely achieving specific goals, shifting the focus from short-term accomplishments to long-term personal growth.

  3. The Evolution of Character: Grant argues that character, far from being static, is a set of learned capacities that enable individuals to live by their principles. As the Nobel laureate economist James Heckman concluded, character skills “predict and produce success in life.“

  4. Scaffolding for Growth: The concept of scaffolding serves as a metaphorical framework for facilitating learning and development. Grant illustrates how providing initial support and gradually transferring responsibility to the learner fosters autonomy and self-directed growth, akin to the process of constructing a sturdy edifice.

  5. Collective Empowerment: Through the example of the Raging Rooks chess team, Grant illuminates the potency of collective intelligence. He advocates for a collaborative approach where individuals aim not to be the smartest in the room but to elevate the collective intelligence.

  6. Measuring True Potential: Grant redefines the yardstick for assessing potential, positing that true potential is not gauged solely by peak achievements but by the journey and growth undertaken to attain them. This perspective reframes success as a continuous process of self-improvement and resilience.

Although just the prologue, I’m already hooked by Grant’s use of data, research, and story to drive home his points. I’m really looking forward to the chapters ahead.

I’m using my phone to scan the notes and handmade cards I’ve received from my kids over the years. Even though I now have a digital copy of everything, I’m still having a hard time putting the physical copy in the recycling bin. Does anyone else struggle with this? Any encouragement you can offer?

Currently reading: Hidden Potential by Adam Grant 📚 I’m only one chapter in so far but am already struck by the tension that exists between our natural human inclination to seek comfort and the reality that the best way to accelerate growth is to embrace, seek, and amplify discomfort.

When it comes to exercise, I’ve determined there are two types of soreness: the bad sore that actually hurts and limits your ability to function normally, and the good sore that simply serves as a reminder that you’ve exercised. I like the good sore.

This morning, while walking in my neighborhood, I (a pedestrian) narrowly avoided a collision with a food/grocery delivery driver at a busy intersection. Despite having the walk signal and her facing a red light, she rolled into the crosswalk, only stopping when my hands were on the hood of her car. Thankfully, she braked in time to prevent any harm. She was apologetic, but unfortunately, she was also distracted by her phone, engaged in a lively conversation. The dangers of driving while distracted seems to be a growing problem that could soon rival driving while impaired. Perhaps using a hands-free device could have made her more aware of her surroundings. 🤷🏻‍♂️

It’s interesting how the scope expands so easily. Yesterday, I started thinking about getting a bike and budgeting for that and now I am thinking I also need to get a trailer hitch installed on my car to accommodate the new bike rack that I’ll also need to purchase. 💸

Embracing a new adventure! 🚴‍♀️ My bum knee and aching joints have convinced me that running doesn’t enjoy me. So, I’ve swapped my sneakers for a stationary bike. But I miss the fresh air! I’m considering investing in a bike—maybe a gravel bike? 🤔 Any seasoned cyclists out there? I’m all ears!