Get Tuesday! - November 19, 2024
Welcome to Get Tuesday!
Have you ever noticed the small dash between a person's birth and death dates on a tombstone? That seemingly insignificant line represents everything - every moment, choice, adventure, and connection that happened between those two dates.
This week, we're exploring how to make that dash truly count. We'll unpack life principles that energize and propel us forward, dive into why the human experience is our most profound compass, and discuss why having a personal philosophy isn't just philosophical - it's practical.
From understanding what moves you to creating meaning in your daily actions, we're here to transform that tiny dash into a bold, vibrant story of purpose. Onto our content this week:
Make the dash count
I’ve seen this a few times, and it really resonates. I recently saw Sahil Bloom talk about it, so it’s worth another share.
When looking at people’s lives marked in years (i.e. 1956 - 2023), it’s the dash that really matters. Right?
That dash holds everything. Every ounce of a person's life captured in that single, small, insignificant line.
A visual way to explore that is to look at a Memento Mori (a reminder that you will die) calendar, like the one shown here. Each circle represents a week of life.
Principles
Nabeel shares 63 life principles here, all of which are tough to articulate using words. But I loved it.
Six of my favorites:
Once you are ok with people telling you ‘no’, you can ask for whatever you want. (Make reality say no to you.)
Moving fast forces you to strip things down to the bare bones.
You are probably too risk-averse. Write out the worst things that can happen, realize they’re not that bad, then take the leap.
Doing things is energizing, wasting time is depressing. You don’t need that much ‘rest’.
Don’t network, make friends. Writing online is great for bringing interesting people your way. Having a wide network of friends really makes a difference to the opportunities you get and how easy it is to launch your projects.
Any given “bet” you take is likely to fail. Success is making lots of “bets” and trying as hard as possible at each of them. P(success) is higher the more bets you take & the better your execution per bet. (This is also why fast cycle time is so important). Ravin first articulated this to me.
Why human experience matters
Via The Patient Experience Journal
This excerpt from the Patient Experience Journal highlights the importance of human experience in healthcare, emphasizing that it is not merely a "nice to have," but a fundamental principle that should guide all aspects of the healthcare system.
The authors underscore the importance of human connection and empathy in healthcare, arguing that by prioritizing human experience, healthcare professionals can create a more just and compassionate system that delivers value to all stakeholders.
Human experience is at the core of healthcare. The author emphasizes that healthcare is fundamentally about "human beings caring for human beings" and that human experience matters now more than ever.12 This highlights the importance of recognizing and valuing the human element in all aspects of healthcare delivery.
A shared responsibility to prioritize human experience extends beyond healthcare. The author challenges readers to recognize the importance of human experience not just within the healthcare setting, but in all aspects of life.267 This call to action encourages individuals to act with compassion, understanding, and respect, recognizing our shared humanity and responsibility to each other
This is where I see the human experience going – it should be all around us.
Parting thought
One of the best lessons I learned from working with Pete Carroll:
You need a philosophy and you need to write it down.
And re-write it; go over it regularly.
Life is too hard -- and too complicated -- to try to wing it and expect to do the right thing.
