Do your activities make your life better?

Edition 15th

Apr 30, 2023

Hola Folks,
The last few weeks have been a little rough, my mom got sick, I’m taking care of Upekha (my cat) with a fracture, and work hasn’t been much motivating lately. This weekend, I plan to reflect and share my thoughts in the next edition.

On a bright note, google's VP of Design, Ivy Ross subscribed to my newsletter 🥳

For now, I’m evaluating what activities are draining me, I’m using the framework from Luca’s book only (100 Truths that You’ll learn too late). Let’s go and see if it helps you. (reply to this email or comment below) ✨

American History X is one of my favorite movies. Academy Award nominee Edward Norton plays the role of a young adult who spent years in gangs, professing toxic political beliefs together with toxic acquaintances. A turning point in the movie, in which the main character begins to consider setting his life straight, is when his history teacher from high school asks him: "Did [any of those things] make your life better?"

We often engage in activities that are not good for us, especially if done in high volume. Some examples: drinking, frequenting friends who are still fleeing from responsibilities even after their 20s, watching TV or playing video games till 2 am on a weekday, working at a company which we don’t enjoy, complaining...

The key question is: did any of these make your life better? If not, it is time to stop it.

It is the landmark of addiction to repeat something bad for us, even after we know it is bad for us. Don’t behave like an addict.

ACTION:
What activity of yours do you regularly engage with even if it does not make your life better?
Can you substitute it with something more likely to improve your life?
Do not focus on stopping the former. Focus on substituting it with the latter

📖 Read

1 // Title Transitions

Michelle Varghoose

writings are pure bliss. This piece got me into a contemplative mood. "What are the five things that describes you", she explored this fundamental question quite deeply through her different phases of life. "Whatever those five things are for you today, they won’t make the list in ten years. Not that you still won’t be some of those things, but they won’t be the five most important things about you."

➡️ Read more

2 // How to build great products with game design, not gamification
Recently, I was building a game, not really a game but self-improvement app designed as a game. Can’t reveal much here but this essay by Rahul Vohar of Superman helped me a lot to understand how to gamify your product (Hint: It’s not just about using rewards points, leaderboard etc)

➡️ Read more

🎧 Listen

From Google to self-employment journey. Loved this episode!! Anne post leaving Google as global marketing lead went on to start her own startup but she later realized that she was running from most questions of her life. She then left her startup and then her real pathless path started, enjoy :)

One of the regrets people had on their deathbeds was that they worked very hard.

“I wish I didn’t work so hard. This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners”

I can 200% relate to this!! The whole idea of reward seems so vague to me, you are corrupting your intrinsic motivation in this way. As Daniel says, “People hate being controlled with carrots & sticks, and only intrinsic motivation lasts.”