Music of the Week
Dumpstaphunk is a funk and jam band from New Orleans featuring Ivan Neville, Tony Hall, Ian Neville, Deven Trusclair, Alex Wasily, and Ashlin Parker. The band was formed in the early 2000s during Jazz Fest in New Orleans. Ivan is the son of Aaron Neville of the Neville Brothers and nephew of Art Neville of The Meters and Neville Brothers. Music runs in this family’s blood. A few of my favorite songs include United Nations Stomp, Do You, and Sheetz Music.
Quotes of the Week
A very little key will open a very heavy door. – Charles Dickens
The more you give, the more you will receive, because you will keep the abundance of the universe circulating in your life. – Deepak Chopra
We believe that a fundamental measure of our success will be the shareholder value we create over the long term. – Jeff Bezos
When looking to hire someone, I look for three things. One is their ability to learn. Do they know how to learn? Two, I look for intrinsic motivations. Is this really truthful? And three, I look for resilience and ability to endure. – Sebastian Mejia
Articles of the Week
“We don’t get to choose whether we live in normal times or not. We only get to choose how we respond.” Here’s How I’m Preparing For The Next Four Years
Book of the Week
Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future by Peter Thiel, Blake Masters, argues that there are still uncharted domains to explore. And, new inventions yet to be created. Entrepreneur Thiel argues that we live in an age where technological innovation has stalled. Thiel says that innovation should not be limited to computers and Silicon Valley. Any industry or business can achieve innovation. Learning to think for yourself is the skill that Thiel argues every leader must master. Doing something that someone has already done takes the world from 1 to n. Doing something entirely new takes the world from 0 to 1. Tomorrow’s great entrepreneurs will avoid competition altogether by building unique businesses. The book presents an optimistic viewpoint for us all. It starts with a new way of thinking about innovation. Asking the right questions allows us to find value in places we least expect. Check out Invent and Wander: The Collected Writings of Jeff Bezos | Disney’s Land: Walt Disney and the Invention of the Amusement Park That Changed the World | The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers | Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration | Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman for additional books on entrepreneurship.
Podcasts of the Week
Business Breakdowns is my deep dive into the businesses I want to learn more about. Recent espoidies I enjoyed include Peloton: Reinventing the Wheel | The New York Times: The Empire Strikes Back | Charles Schwab: The Trillion Dollar Gorilla | LVMH: The Wolf in Cashmere’s Conglomerate | Trader Joe’s: Grocer to the Overeducated and Underpaid | Netflix: The Original | SpaceX: Rocket Ship | Apollo: Conoisseurs of Complexity | Gooshead: Insuring Coverage
Bonus
Entrepreneurship Lessons from Thomas Edison
Steve Jobs – The Lost Interview
