Nat Voisey

Last year I didn’t write anything on my birthday, so I don’t have anything to compare myself to.

I’m also writing this in October… I haven’t reflected well. I meant to write on ambition as well. It’s important to reflect on your actual birthday.

Reflection

I’ve been reading a lot. More than I have in my whole life.

I don’t like technology, it isn’t helping me.

I own more Apple products than I’ve ever owned in my life.

I have a house.

I no longer have an office.

Some have focus playlists, some have All Day by Girl Talk, I have Renegades of Rhythm.¹

This is my focus music.

DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist showed me what mixing and scratching really is.

1. Comes with a free musical history lesson provided by Afrika Bambaataa’s vinyl collection.

Directing a company.

Reading a lot.

Learning every day.

Focus on internet discussion, not consumption.

Writing metaphors, encouragements, analogies, and things I’m reading.

Tina Fey mentions in her book that no one knows what she does.

I had no idea she wrote Mean Girls or created the show 30 Rock. I also forgot (or didn’t know because I’m young,) that she was a head writer on SNL and a host on Weekend Update.¹

Tina Fey is incredible!

I also read Colin Jost’s book recently where he talks about being a head writer and Update host which is remarkably similar to Tina Fey’s, except he’s a Harvard Nerd and Tina Fey is a Chicago Improviser. 

I enjoyed her stories about pushing through men’s decisions:

• “The audience doesn’t want to see a scene between two women.” (p.109)
• Not making a commercial about menstrual pads solely because the men didn’t know what they were talking about.
• “I don’t care if you like it” by Amy Poehler

I’m learning about this at the moment. 

The first rule of improv is ‘yes, and’. To keep the ideas moving you have to agree with your partner and add something.

As an improviser, I always find it jarring when I meet someone in real life whose first answer is no. “No, we can’t do that.” “No, that’s not in the budget.” “No, I will not hold your hand for a dollar.” What kind of way is that to live?

P.105

Advice on “Me Time” when you’re a mom:

“Sleep when your baby sleeps.” Everyone knows this classic tip, but I say why stop there? Scream when your baby screams. Take Benadryl when your baby takes Benadryl. And walk around pantless when your baby walls around pantless.

P.303

Things Tina Fey learned from Lorne Michaels

Gentle and Soft, by The Blue Jean Committee

It is naïve to think you can go without.

You are a fool to think you are better than sleep.

It is inexperienced to go without sleep. Like a child who never learns.

How can you interact if you don’t have good sleep? Even your dreams won’t interact with you.

Great thread in general.

A lot of this can be simplified to three questions:

1. What problem is your company solving?
   
   If you don’t get an answer, beware. If the answer sounds vague, beware. If the answer makes no sense, beware. If the answer is multifaceted, beware. This suggests that the company will not even begin the process of becoming profitable.
   
   
2. Who has this problem?
   
   You should get a clear picture of an actual person. If not, beware. If that person has no money, beware. If that person has no pull within an organization, beware. If that person is high maintenance or fickle, beware. This suggests that the company will never find the revenue they seek.
   
   
3. What’s your solution?
   
   If the solution doesn’t actually address the problem, beware. If the solution is too expensive for the customer, beware. If the solution can’t be differentiated from its competitors, beware. If the solution has no competitors, beware. If there are a dozen solutions, beware. This suggests that no matter how amazing the technology or technical team, the company will not be able to execute on its business plan.

Entrepreneurship is like one of those carnival games where you throw darts or something.

Middle class kids can afford one throw. Most miss. A few hit the target and get a small prize. A very few hit the center bullseye and get a bigger prize. Rags to riches! The American Dream lives on.

Rich kids can afford many throws. If they want to, they can try over and over and over again until they hit something and feel good about themselves. Some keep going until they hit the center bullseye, then they give speeches or write blog posts about “meritocracy” and the salutary effects of hard work.

Poor kids aren’t visiting the carnival. They’re the ones working it.

via Hacker News, Josh Ackerman, also Kottke

Here’s what I suggest:

• First priority: Your physical health. (No health → no life.)
• Second priority: Reasonable financial security. (No food → no health.)
• Third priority: Good relationships with friends and family. (Depressed → no mental health.)

After that you can do whatever. The game you’re playing doesn’t have any rules and there’s no way to win.