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Hi Friends,

How are things? I'm going to do something a little funky today. And you're invited, if you are interested. I connected a couple weeks ago with Arlo Hill, a Broadway performer-turned entrepreneur who has pioneered a social product called Second Body. What is it? Well, my college friend, Michael, and I will be talking, while another pair will listen to what each of us say and enact that for others (and us) to observe. 

Drop in to watch here at 2pm ET. Or learn to be a Second and embody one of these conversations yourself!



Here goes nothing :)

Today's Contents:

  • Weekly Song: Stop Crying Your Heart Out
  • Good Reads
  • Wait, what?

Weekly Song: Stop Crying Your Heart Out




I listened to the phrase "Be a long term thinker in a short term world" a podcast interview with Dorie Clark this week. Listen Here

Dorie is a brilliant, piercingly-clear thinker and communicator. She talks about the falsehood of overnight success. How career paths have changed dramatically over the past 20 years. She suggests that you can use this question to be a more effective strategic thinker: What is one thing that I could be doing now that will make my life easier several years from now?

In the context of a course that she led on body language for women, she said that she has little patience for 'victim mentality' and the hopelessness of thinking that 'the circumstances are so stacked against me'.  

To this, she says "yes, and". Her advice: work to make societal change but also meet reality where it's at. 

Later, the instrumental version of Stop Crying Your Heart Out came on my playlist.

I thought 'yes, this is it!' It's so easy to fall into victim mentality mindset. Thank you, Oasis, for the reminder. 

Stop Crying Your Heart Out by Oasis

Get up (get up)
Come on (come on)
Why're you scared? (I'm not scared)
You'll never change
What's been and gone

'Cause all of the stars
Are fading away
Just try not to worry
You'll see them someday
Take what you need
And be on your way
And stop crying your heart out

Just Some Good Reads

The Next Generation of Community Infrastructure. It's supposed to be a VC investing guide, but it seems like a check list for anyone building an online community. 

Is the ship still stuck? I loved this article before I read it because the byline is 'not fun at parties', which I find deeply relatable. It's about running a viral website. 

Personal Branding Ruins People's Lives. Here. The premise: It is, when you fully engage with it, a truly evil way of living - if you are truly trying to create a “personal brand” you are shaving off bits of your personality and positioning them online so that you can manipulate people into believing things about you. 

A friend once asked me if I'm writing the newsletter to promote a personal brand. To which I say: I write this after a long work week. I assure you that I do not have the energy or interest to be all that Machiavellian. I do this to share my observations from the week and because the act of synthesis, commitment to a weekly rhythm, and the conversations that this newsletter prompts are all truly enjoyable for me. Running a background program asking 'What will people think of this? Does it fit with my brand plan' is an intellectual drain. Get rid of it. 

Why is everyone talking about DAOs? Well-written. Well-sourced. Good points made. In Automatter here

What's going on here, with this human? When I started reading this article by Graham Duncan I felt deep annoyance with the over reliance on outside references. But it has some great points and tips on hiring and assessing people. And tactical reference guide at the bottom. 

I liked this tweet:

Wait, What?



FINRA also reports that stock market leverage has increased for 13 months in a row (since March 2020) and is now nearing $850B

How does that compare to other peaks?

  • Dot.com margin debt: $300B

  • 2008 Financial Crisis margin debt: $400B
     

Criminals may have stolen as much as half of the unemployment benefits the U.S. has been pumping out over the past year, with the bulk likely ending up in the hands of foreign crime syndicates.

Yeah...read here. And, uh, the various layers of the US government admitted it. 

What they're saying: “Widespread fraud at the state level in pandemic unemployment insurance during the previous Administration is one of the most serious challenges we inherited," said White House economist Gene Sperling.

Thanks for reading, friends. Please always be in touch. 

Best,
Katelyn

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