Sam Paddock

This week I became a citizen of Deia, Mallorca for a few months while on sabbatical with my family. For the next week I'm going to experiment with tweeting a ton about the experience. Here's a look back at the first week - 🧵

Hey @gethuxe, I've been so excited to see the app. Any chance of dropping some early access codes now that it's the start of a new week?

Video of the devastation from the veld fire at Drakenskloof and the oasis of gardens and houses that survived.

It's fire season. And this weekend the most devastating fire tore through our property in the Bainskloof area. After the devastation we will have front row seats to the rejuvenation of this incredible part of the Cape Floral Kingdom. drakenskloof.com/post/wild-fire…

I'm in planning mode. Alongside professional plans, I'm also working on our family plan. I call it our One Page Family Plan - borrowed from corporate strategy and planning and simplified for the most important unit in my life, my family. By answering the questions “who are we”, “why do we exist”, “where do we play”, “what do we have to do”, and “how are we going to do this in the next 90 days”, my wife and I try to do our best thinking together. We've been doing this for 8 years. And now that we're in the middle passage of our lives, this work, and the alignment that flows from it, feels like some of the most important work I could be doing. I created a template for a One Page Family Plan if the same rings true for you: docs.google.com/document/d/1jT…

The U-bend: life is great at 30, tough at middle age, and the best in old age.

Just got back from a 4-month sabbatical; I'm updating the kids daily responsibilities and thinking about how to do pocket money right. Kids are 6. I did a quick draft, asked ChatGPT to help me improve my thinking, and now have something much more thoughtful to review. Generative AI: Helping everyone be a better everything.

Good service means that you feel held in pursuing what you paid for.

We're making two nights available at Kerala as part of the Underdog annual auction. Starting bids at 40% of value. Great way to make memories for 3 or 4 families. More here > tinyurl.com/uda2023

I watched @chris_eubanks96 win @MallorcaChamps 2 weeks ago. Today he goes through to quarters at @Wimbledon. He ranked 150+ a year ago; now he’s 31. All of this 5 years after turning pro. Despite a late start, I think he could be a GOAT.

@GeorgeEadie Full happy!

Back home.

@asanwal I think it’s more about share of wallet. Ozempic et al are expensive as share of overall average spend, leaving less disposable cash. Given these drugs are taken for a period, I think it’ll delay medium to long-term investments (new car, holidays, savings)

Inflections create opportunities What industries win/lose when Ozempic / Wegovy become truly mainstream? Losers - fast food / CPG - gym / diet industry - plus size clothing Who else loses or wins?

Related/unrelated: watching animated movies from the 50s and 60s together as a family is bringing us all joy!

If there was any doubt we descend from apes, my 6-year old son’s TV seating position…

@dineshgovender @Anele Variety is the enemy here. Gotta go hard and fast at one thing (cereal) and keep em full until mid-morning breakfast, before lunch, second lunch, early dinner, …

@Anele Kids need to be trained for hotel breakfasts. Otherwise they just nibble, and 30min after you leave, they are hungry in hard currency 💵

I moved to Deia, Mallorca with my wife and twins from South Africa for a 3-month sabbatical. So the delta is different from your move from the UK, and not as deep given less time, but much of what you shared resonates, particularly around the pace of life and community. These two things are mutually reinforcing. And I don’t want to lose it.

1 year ago, I moved from the Uk to Mallorca, Spain with my wife and 4 children 🌴 A few thoughts ☀️ 1) Sunshine makes an immense difference to your overall health. 2) A great day can be as simple as a beach, a cool box and a towel. 3) Children are happier when they're outside. 4) Time close to or in the sea is great for the soul. 5) You can't go against culture, only with it. 6) Eating well doesn't have to be complicated. Simple ingredients cooked well is the game. 7) Processed food is out of control in the Uk. 8) Baseline health standards are much higher in Spain. 9) Obesity is much less tolerated. 10) Big families are loved and encouraged. 11) Children are the center of the universe in Spain. 12) Teachers hug, kiss and comfort the children at school. It's a travesty this is not allowed in the Uk and other countries. 13) Learning languages at age 5 is play. 3/5 languages by early 10's is the target. 14) 4 children can attend the best private international school for the same cost as 1 child private in the Uk. 15) Teachers are vastly underpaid. 16) Great teachers are immeasurably beneficial for your children. 17) Everything takes 3x as long, in some cases 10x. 18) The slower pace of life is enforced. 19) Paper is still the default. Digital is lagging way behind. 20) People don't fuck with the police. The Guardia Civil will destroy you. 21) 99% of the police (especially Guardia) are in incredible shape. 22) Healthcare is fantastic. 23) Attempting to speak in Spanish (even when a clear beginner) is always well received. 24) Shift from Socialist to Conservative is starting. Taxes should come down. 25) Digital nomad visas are now available. 26) Although painful, there's huge opportunity for innovation. 27) Long lunches and late dinners are incredible. 28) Being out late with your children is normal. 29) The school run is the ultimate networking opportunity. 30) Splitting twins into separate classes is extremely beneficial for their development. 31) Having 4 children in 4 classes is the social life hack. 32) Nothing happens quickly, you have to accept it. 32) If you can live in the sun, you should. 33) You will make closer friends by moving somewhere with intention as other people have done the same. Likely you share similar values. 34) Taking your children to the beach after school is one of the greatest pleasures in life. That's it for now :) May add some more as I think of them!

@AmandaMGoetz @EvokingGenius And with lasting impact?

@sampaddock @EvokingGenius Loved it so much.

I’ve been in therapy 1-2 times a week for 6+ years. Therapy is like emotional Home Depot– every time I go, I get another tool. A big driver for success in life is making non-emotional decisions.

I’ve spent a ton of time digging into AI. I can’t find better tools than ChatGPT and MidJourney; ChatGPT is not a platform, it is the thing; individual productivity is the main application; software developers first, then everyone else.

My twins would do this. Almost brought me to tears thinking about it.