5-Bullet Monday #36 (14/09/2020)

Happy Monday!

I’m back to work after a period of well-deserved holidays ;)

How are you adjusting to getting back to work?

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I did some catching up on a few things so no new articles this week. I should get back to the regular publishing schedule soon (and I am very excited about new posts I want to write).

I published my notes to “In Defense of Food” by Michael Polan. A great read if you’re into nutrition and eating for productivity and performance. Read my book notes here.

Here is your weekly dose of “5-Bullet Monday,” a list of what I’m pondering and exploring.

What I’m watching —
I watched a few documentaries as well. Two that stuck with me were “The Dawn Wall” and “Free Solo“. First, let me clear something up: I’m not a rock climber. I’ve done it maybe a few times in my life. But these two documentaries are not about rock climbing at all. What I thoroughly enjoyed (even though I still think they’re bananas) was the challenge and preserverance of these individuals. The amount of work they dedicated to a single project and goal. The way they just kept working and refining their techniques and skill in order to conquer a mountain. Lots of lessons in both documentaries for productivity and performance (I also enjoyed the friendship part of The Dawn Wall). What’s a great documentary you’ve watched recently?

On taming your inbox like an ER Doctor —
This article from Harvard Business Review talks about how doctors tamed their inbox during the Covid-19 crisis. Here’s a snippet: “Email is commonly abused as a tool for putting work on somebody else’s desk without having to confirm that they can take it on. During a crisis it is essential that the person initiating an email solicit a closed-loop response that the message has been received, that the delegated party can complete the action, and that he or she will reply again when the job is done.” Even without being on a crisis, you can apply these techniques to your own email management.

What I’m reading —
The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber. I admit the title put me off starting this book for a while, but I’m thoroughly enjoying reading it now. A quote that resonated with me: “If your business depends on you, you don’t own a business—you have a job. And it’s the worst job in the world because you’re working for a lunatic!” If you own or operate a small business, this book is a must (notes on it coming soon).

Quote I’m pondering —
I finally read Dune over the holidays (it had been on my reading list for a long time). If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it. Even if you are not the biggest fan of sci-fi, Dune is so much more than a sci-fi book. A quote that I particularly enjoyed (known as “The Litany Against Fear”):
“I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.”

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Please give me feedback on Twitter. Which bullet above is your favorite? What do you want more or less of? Other suggestions? Please let me know. Just send a tweet to @dansilvestrecom and put #5BulletMonday at the end so I can find it.

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Have a great week ;)

Dan

P.s. I’ve changed the format (yet again :D) based on feedback. Now, announcements and new posts will be on top, with the 5 bullets to things I’m finding interesting. Do you prefer this format or the previous one? Hit reply and let me know. Your feedback is very important to me.