Circle Three 73 / My Favorite Things
This week’s edition has a list of some of my highlights of 2022 across media and life as we wind down the year.
Thanks for reading, and please stay in touch.
Podcasts
Here are three high-value episodes across different categories. (This year admittedly had me listening to a lot of crypto podcasts that I won’t put here.)
Sleep Toolkit: Tools for Optimizing Sleep and Sleep-Wake Timing (Huberman Lab). The episode made me experiment with cold showers, and it revealed that it’s more than just screens that damage my sleep. Highly recommend if you want to improve the quality of your sleep.
#98 Sahil Lavingia: Observing the Present (The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish). An episode of wisdom for life, business, and patterns.
Doomberg and Ben Hunt: The Story Arc of SBF, FTX, & Alameda (On the Margin). Two brilliant minds in their respective fields shed some more light on the explosion in crypto in Q4.
Books
I didn’t read as many books as usual or as desired this year. There’s no particular reason, but likely because of less interest in reading for pleasure with how much news and content I have been consuming generally. (I’ve watched a lot of movies to balance.) Here’s my advice on how to read and my ‘quake books.’ I started a lot of books without finishing them, but three of my favorites from the year:
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg. The book that most reshaped my thinking. My summary from earlier this year, summed up by:
“Just as a piece of land has to be prepared beforehand if it is to nourish the seed, so the mind of the pupil has to be prepared in its habits if it is to enjoy and dislike the right things.” — Aristotle
The Lean Startup by Eric Ries. Re-emphasized the importance of iterating products, measuring results, and asking the right questions. I learned how startup principles apply far beyond the three-person operation out of your mom’s garage.
Apocalypse Never: Why Environmental Alarmism Hurts Us All by Michael Shellenberger. This offered a fresh, needed perspective contrary to the increasingly dire narrative regarding climate change.
Others of Note: Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, Origins by Dan Brown, and Cultish by Amanda Montell.
Experiences
It was a challenging year personally and professionally, requiring a lot of growth and resilience. We’re not out of the jungle yet, but here are some personal highlights of 2022:
Fully appreciating travel opportunities. I’ve always had a love of travel, and am thankful to have traveled to 14 states this year, a good portion of which was for work, weddings, or family celebrations. Omaha and Cleveland were new places for me.
Speaking Opportunities. A handful of speaking opportunities presented themselves this year to groups ranging from CFOs to college students to local Philadelphia communities. I learned a lot about how to prepare for speaking events and appreciate all those who offered opportunities and feedback along the way. All told, I spoke in front of about 500 people (felt like a lot more).
Giving and Getting Guidance. I met a lot of new faces this year, and it made me appreciate the familiar ones that much more. A couple faces — new and old — include mentors and mentees from my alma maters, relationships I want to continue into 2023. Learning flows both ways, regardless of age.
Products / Services
I eliminated a lot of clutter this year but found a couple of new gems. These products made my life easier — and some helped the planet during the process:
Marine Layer. The circle of life. Marine Layer t-shirts were a favorite this year, BUT the Re-Spun program also let me get rid of old t-shirts (any shirts at all) that they recycle and reuse in their shirts. I’m guilty of finding a shirt I like and buying multiple.
The Rounds. Another little efficiency: The Rounds is a subscription service founded in Philly delivering zero-waste products. I get a few items from sponges to toilet paper to snacks delivered each week. Check it out here.
Apple Macbook Air M2. My old laptop lasted 8 years before I was forced to retire the thing. But Apple’s new model has blown me away (the website is pretty cool too). The computer is more powerful and about half the weight of the 2014 model I had. Moore’s law is hard at work
Circle Three
After starting Circle Three back consistently in July, I eked out 20 editions and grew subscribers by 20%. The FirstWatch newsletter writing occupied the majority of my writing focus.
Lyric:
In honor of a few of my favorite things above, here’s a live video of “My Favorite Things” from jazz legend — and longtime Philly resident — John Coltrane.
🎷🎷🎷
Stay Curious,
Dan