Commentary
"Geniuses differ from ordinary men less in the character of their attention than in the nature of the objects upon which it is successively bestowed." – William James
This may seem a little like navel-gazing, but I wanted to bring you behind the curtain and share the thoughts behind re-launching the newsletter. Responses to my subscriber survey provided valuable input, with hundreds and hundreds of verbatim comments, suggestions, and encouragement. I'm touched by the thought you put into it.
Here's what I found: - The three most liked sections were Top Story/Commentary, Communications / Marketing / Business Strategy, and Mental Nourishment.
- The three least liked sections were Autonomous / Mobility, Retail, and Privacy / Regulatory.
- You want a shorter newsletter.
- You'd find value in a Premium edition without ads, with a regular conference call, or with additional commentary.
There's no question that the newsletter was too long; it just gradually overtook me, like ivy climbing on a building. Before I knew it, it was overwhelming me.
So, I'm committed to a shorter newsletter and more white space, with a tighter focus on the topics that are a priority to you. That doesn't mean other topics won't creep in.
But rather than feeling like I need X number of links for every one of the eight sections of the past version, I'll simply be curating the ones that I think make the most sense each week.
My hope is to continue to provide you with the same level of news spotting, insight, humor and everything else you've come to expect with The Full Monty. But now you'll be able to read it in one sitting.
P.S. I'm still using Flipboard to collect and track the links from which the newsletter is created; if you want more, that's the place to find it. | | Curated Stories
"I have gathered a posy of other men's flowers, and nothing but the thread that binds them is my own." – Montaigne
There's an influencer marketing language problem: successful innovation demands a shared vocabulary. A shared vocabulary follows shared values and a shared purpose. This remains lacking in the industry. Of course, it would be helpful to understand why it is that anyone with followers is necessarily influential; influence connotes action. Other than likes and shares, some influencers aren't influencing anything.
Integrity seems to be wanting lately. How to Be an Ethical Influencer reflects on the need for honesty, trust, and transparency are essential, writes Erin Lowry. Respecting your audience should be #1 on everyone's list.
We Don't Need Social Media. A rather controversial headline, but worth thinking about. People say that there's no viable alternative to Facebook. Does there need to be? Perhaps social media causes more harm than good.
Perhaps the solution is an impermanent social internet — that is, one that is temporary and ephemeral, like Snapchat trained us to be. When people only care what about what you're creating today, what does it matter to have something hanging out there for longer? But it makes advertising that much more difficult to sell...
Uber Black launched Quiet Mode, a button you can press to inform your driver that you don't want to be spoken to. You know, instead of just telling him like a normal human being. Great news for misanthropes and introverts alike.
Similarly, Aer Lingus has introduced a new fare that will allow passengers to purchase the seat next to them to guarantee it will be kept empty. The new fares, available on flights from September 1, 2019, appear to be about three or four times the price of a standard economy ticket. | | For the Curious Mind
"Curiosity is the lust of the mind." – Thomas Hobbes
A decline in history majors and the understanding of our collective past is creating intellectual inequality which could have more devastating effects than economic inequality. Put in perspective of the future predicted above with an impermanent internet, we're in danger of losing perspective.
Speaking of perspective, sometimes innovation doesn't require a huge investment in new technology; sometimes you need to shift your thinking a bit. Just ask the guy with the hangers.
Estate sales are different than yard sales. The estate sale is not a selective culling of possessions; it's a going-out-of-business event for one person's life. And walking through an estate sale is the perfect place to practice your storytelling.
You do know the four powers of stories that unite us, don't you? An imp, a Roman emperor, and a poet await.
| | Recommended Reading
"Let me recommend this book." – Arthur Conan Doyle
This week, I noticed an unmistakable theme of happiness. It's probably no coincidence, as Spring and commencement exercises give us hope and possibilities. But how fascinating that they both reframe the concept of success and help us realize what truly matters to us.
| | | The Algebra of Happiness: Notes on the Pursuit of Success, Love, and Meaning by Scott Galloway has the potential to replace Dr. Seuss' Oh, the Places You'll Go! as a graduation gift. In this no-holds barred look at life strategies, the NYU Stern professor looks inward and asks us to do the same. It's worth considering for yourself, your partner, colleauges, or anyone who wants to focus on the small stuff. | | | | |
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