Pool Party Szn @ Sunday School
Hey friends!
A few months ago I was sure that by this point in 2020 I could stop calling this a “COVID project” and it could be simply a regular project…but here we are, still going strong.
COVID era is tough on the brain, even for those that don’t normally struggle with mental health. Make a point to connect with friends and share positivity week.
You’re not here to learn about COVID, and I’m done talking about it.
Before we start, I want you to know that I want to hear from you.
If there’s something interesting you liked, I want to hear about it. Just reply to this email and it comes straight to me.
Okay, let’s get to class!
Homeroom
My Essay: The Power of Vulnerability
I published this essay over a month ago and it was a bit out of my element. I was inspired by Michelle Obama’s tour for her book Becoming, which is very open, and wanted to explore the topic more. I broke down the idea of vulnerability into 3 pieces:
Share Weakness, Give Power
Share Struggle, Gain Purpose
Share Yourself, Receive Respect
I wholeheartedly believe in the power of being open. It’s what makes you unique. I think this explains it best:
Pool Party
This week I’m starting with the fun stuff because you’re going to want to use this for the rest of the summer.
Do you need a soundtrack for your summer chill sessions? I’ve got you…
This entire project IS A VIBE. Not only do they play music that will make you go buy a pool just to sit next to it and listen, but they nail every aspect of their brand, which is a retro computer look with a Miami Vice feel. I shared this tweet about their branding that feels incredibly right:
Thank me now or thank me poolside.
Intro to the Passion Economy
Article: The Passion Economy and the Future of Work - Li Jin
The economy has been shifting from something cohesive toward something more fragmented for several years. Now, COVID is running the economy through its magical accelerator machine and this shift has been amplified. Here’s what I mean:
Think of the 1960’s era of work. If you need to picture it, think Mad Men. This period, and the post-WWII years leading up to it, was the heart of the “company man” culture. Companies took care of their people and their people devoted their careers to the company.
Today, this is all breaking down. We’re trending toward individual creator models and people are monetizing individuality. This essay by Li Jin from VC giant Andreesen Horowitz is the best explanation of where the economy is heading.
My encouragement: play around with your passions and explore the foundations of monetizing your personality. You are a brand. In daily life, we’re unique for the circles we live in, but online your interests fit a niche full of people everywhere in the world. Participation in the Passion Economy seems unattainable, but if you give it a go you may find how you fit into the picture.
Idea Systems
Essay: The Idea Trap - Bryan Caplan
This essay outlines how economies/countries/systems move through cycles of good or bad ideas. It’s a 3 step cycle:
Good ideas cause good policies
Good policies cause good growth
Good growth causes good ideas
The same can be true using the cycle if you insert the word “bad” instead of good. The most interesting point: Caplan suggests that the only way to break the cycle is luck.
Right now it feels like we’re in a bad cycle (probably depending on your political leanings). I’d argue that the cycle extends beyond only our current administration, so you can all agree with me on this in one way or another.
We’re really missing out on our share of luck at the moment. There’s a perfect storm that’s brewed in 2020 has made it a tough year, but I’m optimistic. There are a lot of good ideas floating around right now, and if we’re lucky, those good ideas will turn into good policies, good growth, and more good ideas.
Chemistry
🤯Mind-blowing fact here. The periodic table of elements (1869) pre-dates the invention of the electron microscope (1931).
Seth Godin says that this achievement is “a bit like identifying all the colors in a box of crayons in a world with nothing but very dim light."
Science….
Quote of the Week
This pairs well with this week’s theme of the Passion Economy.
“People on the Internet are increasingly becoming companies. Creatives use the Internet to shrink the world and connect with like-minded people at the tails of the bell curve for obscure interests. Building an online audience is already a leading indicator of entrepreneurial success.” -David Perell
Photo of the Week
I’m really missing travel right now. I travel a lot for my job, both domestically and internationally, and I’ve been missing this during the pandemic. I took a dive into some photos from my favorite trip ever to Ireland and Scotland. This is me at the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland.
That’s all for this week, thanks for attending!
If you appreciate Sunday School the best compliment you could give is to share with someone else who you think would appreciate it too. Click here to share:
See you all next week!
-Ryan