Square 32 Consulting

2023 was the year AI exploded into the mainstream. It was also the year workers, artists and activists stood up against bosses and tech giants using it degrade their jobs and communities. I wrote about the rising movement of new Luddites for @TheAtlantic: theatlantic.com/technology/arc…

In an age overflowing with information, our challenge isn't finding more, it's filtering While previous generations were striving to gather knowledge, we must strive to curate it, simplify our pursuits, and guard our focus as our most valuable asset

Intelligent people know how to get what they want. Wise people know what's worth wanting.

Invite a little brainstorming into your family boardroom (the dinner table). s.hbr.org/47MfWMn

well well well.... how the turn tables

Before you discover what you love: fewer commitments, more experiments. After you discover what you love: fewer experiments, more commitments.

When you start respecting yourself, your energy, and your needs you attract people who do the same. When you release your role as the fixer and chaser, you start attracting responsible adults who not only take, but give.

If your manager is failing to provide you with the necessary resources during onboarding, there's still a lot you can do to turn the situation around. s.hbr.org/3vIz8NA

Normalize making time to do nothing.

"Meditation is intermittent fasting for the mind. Too much sugar leads to a heavy body, and too many distractions lead to a heavy mind. Time spent undistracted and alone, in self-examination, journaling, meditation, takes us from mentally fat to fit." @naval

8 minimalist habits for a clutter-free 2024:

We are looking for someone to talk with my kindergartener about her writing so she has the opportunity to share with someone and to get feedback on her writing. Taking a leap and asking some of her favorite authors: @MarlaFrazee @WillHillenbrand @MoWillems @The_Pigeon

On January 1, 2014, I wrote a letter to my future self just before graduating. Today, 10 years later, I opened it. This hit me hard. Everyone should do this.

“There isn’t one right way to listen all the time. Instead, great listeners adapt the way they listen to help the person speaking accomplish their goals and meet their needs.” Broaden Your Influence by Adapting How You Listen sloanreview.mit.edu/article/broade…

.@amandapetrusich shares her favorite albums of 2023, including strange, beautiful records by Lana Del Rey, Noname, Sufjan Stevens, and more. nyer.cm/EQhBvZA

Every transaction is paid for at least three times. First, with the money you pay. Second, with the time you spend. Third, with the reputation you create through your behavior. Being pleasant, reliable, and easy to work with might cost you a little more time. Perhaps even a bit of extra money. But the long-term returns from a great reputation usually outweigh the cost of a single transaction. Most of the value in life and in business arises out of good relationships.

"The modern devil is cheap dopamine." @naval

Don't make up your mind. "Knowing" is the end of learning. @naval

Ali Abdaal finished first in his class at Cambridge, became a doctor, and then built a YouTube channel with 5 million followers. Here's what he's taught me about creative work: 1. Get going, get good, get smart—in that order. 2. If you're stuck, embrace the FBR Method: Fast, Bad, Wrong. Ali wrote the first draft of his book in seven days flat. Quantity leads to quality. 3. Prolific over perfect: If you want to get good at something, you have to put in the reps. 4. Be a Guide, not a Guru: Your writer's block will disappear once you stop trying to be the person who knows everything, and start being a friendly guide instead. Tell your story. Share what's worked for you. You don't need to have all the answers. 5. Do the verb instead of being the noun: Your identity can limit you. Make videos instead of being a "YouTuber." Publish essays instead of being a "writer." Labels tie you down. Action frees you up. 6. Work hard to find the work that doesn't feel like work. The more time I spend with Ali, the more I realize that he's always working in a way that doesn't feel like work to him. 7. Search for the work only you can do: Ali couldn't find a competitive edge in academia. As he once said to me: “The only way to win the academic game was just to work really, really hard because at the highest levels of academia, I had no natural advantages.” 8. You can thrive as a communicator without a bunch of new ideas. Interpreting existing ideas in a fresh, distinct, and personal way is more than enough. Just think of your favorite teacher from school. How many of their ideas were original? Same with writing. 9. Be real, not perfect: Ali's videos aren't 100% scripted. He speaks off the cuff, as if he's talking to a friend. 10. If you're stuck on an article, ditch the Google Doc and text a friend about what you're trying to say instead. 11. You don't need to be an expert to share what you've learned along the way. C.S. Lewis once said: “The fellow-pupil can help more than the master because he knows less. The difficulty we want him to explain is one he has recently met. The expert met it so long ago he has forgotten.” 12. Algorithms are designed to put the right things in front of the right people at the right time. Put them to work for you. I've shared the full conversation with @AliAbdaal below. If you'd rather listen on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple, check out the replies.

Mindfulness is more than meditation — and there are many ways to get kids to enjoy the benefits. mashable.com/article/mindfu…