Derek SiversA
self-proclaimed entrepreneur and avid student of life, Sivers says, “I
make useful things and I share what I learn.” He does, too. Not only in
writing, but in currency.
In explaining why he’s given away
several companies to charity, he explains: “Two friends were at a party
held at the mansion of a billionaire. One said, “Wow! Look at this
place! This guy has everything!” The other said, “Yes, but I have
something he’ll never have: Enough.”
Sivers explains that he
lives simply, hates waste and excess and really is content with a
livable apartment, a functional laptop and that’s about it. This simpler
approach to living gives him the “priceless freedom to live anywhere
anytime.”
“Having too much money can be harmful. It throws off
perspective. It makes people do stupid things. It’s not that I’m
altruistic. I’m sacrificing nothing. I’ve just learned what makes me
happy. And doing it this way made me the happiest. I get the deeper
happiness of knowing the lucky streak I’ve had in my life will benefit
tons of people—not just me.”
I like this last statement,
especially, because he (rightly) acknowledges that financial success is
largely dependent on luck; being in the right place at the right time.
Various authors, ars technicaArs
Technica was founded in 1998 by Ken Fisher with one simple aim—“to be
technically savvy, up-to-date, and more fun than what was currently
popular in the space.” Since then, with a core editorial staff, the site
has evolved into one that churns out technology news and policy
analysis, reviews of gadgets, software and hardware as well as
scientific advancements.
It has become a trusted source in the
industry because, as it states on its site, “ars technica innovates by
listening to its core readership. Readers have come to demand
devotedness to accuracy and integrity, flanked by a willingness to leave
each day’s meaningless, click-bait fodder by the wayside. The result is
something unique: the unparalleled marriage of breadth and depth in
technology journalism.”
It is that, too. I read it every day.
Penelope Trunk, Advice at the Intersection of Work and LifePenelope
Trunk is a decorated writer who also happens to be afflicted with
Asperger’s Syndrome. So here you have a brilliant woman, hardly any
filter on what she says, and a very inviting writing style. You will
read every blog post, like this recent one titled “Living Up to Your
Potential”:
“I confess that I don’t feel like I’m working to my
potential. And it makes me feel sick. I know the signs. It starts with
me not being able to cope with my to-do list. It all looks too
overwhelming. So I scale things back: I take out everything that has to
do with starting a company.
“The next stage of not living up to my potential is that I can’t read anything. I tried to read the
New York Times
magazine cover story about fixing a marriage. I can’t open it, though.
The woman who is the author wrote about her own experience. Fuck. I
should have posted about that.
“I should have written the post
about how our couples therapist fired us because neither of us seems to
be capable of getting past our horrible childhoods long enough to
connect with someone in a real way. He fired us, but then I used my
amazing negotiating skills to convince him to take us back and then I
had a screaming fit in the therapist’s office and said he’s incompetent
and doesn’t give us clear direction. It was a good moment, actually.
Because now that I fired him, instead of him firing me, I am fulfilled
in my need to ruin relationships with people all around me and I now
have space to let the Farmer get close to me.”
If I could only choose one blog to read, it would be hers.
That's all I have room for, but be sure to check out these, too:
• Julien Smith,
In Over Your Head• Maria Popova,
Brain Pickings• Bob Hoffman,
The Ad Contrarian• Ad Age:
Small Agency Diary•
John Stanmeyer
•
ProPublica• Chris Brogan,
Human Business WorksNo,
Seth Godin isn’t anywhere on this list. He has some good stuff, but
it's bumper sticker philosophy. Quit repeating him all the time, folks.
CA