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No. 319 | February 13, 2026
Welcome to this week’s Friday Five—a short dose of insights, inspiration, and favorites to start your weekend with clarity and focus.
Music of the Week
Hermanos Gutiérrez was formed in Zürich a decade ago by two Ecuadorian-Swiss brothers, Alejandro (guitar, lap steel) and Estevan (guitar, percussion).
Their sound blends instrumental, Latin, and Western into something cinematic and transportive. It works at any hour.
Start with Cerca De Ti, Mesa Redonda, and Hijos Del Sol.
Quotes of the Week
This week I’ve been thinking about managing disruptive emotions—anger, anxiety, fear—by cultivating inner calm. To me, this means focusing on what I can control. Ignore the anxiety-inducing noise competing for attention. These quotes capture that idea:
“You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” – Marcus Aurelius
“There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.” – Epictetus
“We suffer more often in imagination than in reality.” – Seneca
“Man conquers the world by conquering himself.” – Zeno of Citium
“Discipline equals freedom.” – Jocko Willink
“A calm mind brings inner strength and self-confidence, so that’s very important for good health.” – Naval Ravikant
Article of the Week
“Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years.” – Bill Gates
Innovation, not economics, is the moat. That’s Elon Musk’s argument at SpaceX and across his companies. The goal: innovate faster than competitors can respond.
When you’re solving hard problems, innovation is table stakes. You also need a long-term horizon. Building a reusable rocket is the obvious example. It took years of failed landings before they figured it out.
The lesson: Innovate your way forward. Do things differently. Build what doesn’t yet exist—and think long-term while you do it. Building anything new takes time. Embrace that.
For more on innovation and long-term thinking, read my article:
📝 Elon Musk and SpaceX: Why Difficulty Is the Ultimate Moat
Book of the Week
Steve Wozniak invented the first true personal computer. Steve Jobs figured out how to sell it. Apple was born.
Apple ignited a computer revolution that reshaped the world. Each leaned into his strengths.
In iWoz, Wozniak tells the story behind Apple’s first machine, and the mind that built it.
Key lessons that stuck with me include:
- Radical honesty and ethics are non-negotiable.
- Learn how things work—don’t just memorize answers.
- Build something genuinely good for people.
- Mastery takes time; patience compounds.
- Think independently. Question everything.
- If you’re going to do something, do it well.
- Don’t follow the crowd. Constraints are optional.
- Happiness is a choice.
Podcast of the Week
Coca-Cola is sugar water. And yet it’s Christmas, summertime, friendship—an entire mood in a bottle.
The story of Coca-Cola is one of scale. It weaves through World War II and investors like Warren Buffett.
The team at Acquired tells it from the beginning. It’s long, but fascinating.
For lessons on scale and building an enduring brand, listen to the episode:
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