Mitch Joel's Blog: Six Pixels of Separation, page 117

Six Links Worthy of Your Attention #530

Is there one link, story, picture or thought that you saw online this week that you think somebody you know must see?

My friends: Alistair Croll (Solve for Interesting, Tilt the Windmill, Interesting Bits, HBS, chair of Strata, Startupfest, FWD50, and Scaletechconf; author of Lean Analytics and some other books), Hugh McGuire (Rebus Foundation, PressBooks, LibriVox) and I decided that every week the three of us are going to share one link for one another (for a total of six links) that each individual feels the other person “must see.”

Check out these six links that we’re recommending to one another: 

s08e18: QAnon looks like an alternate reality game – Things That Have Caught My Attention . “I’ve been reading a few Substack newsletters lately. Several have really impressed me. First up is the extraordinary Dan Hon, who’s worked in tech and civic society for ages. He has a great take on QAnon, which sort of hit the mainstream media this week (though it’s hard not to have heard of it if you’re paying attention online.) His core thesis is simply: You’re playing a game that’s designed to be solved. And as he points out, whether playing a known fiction, or navigating the amorphous, self-reinforcing algorithms that pass for news in the modern world, ‘It’s still the same dopamine, at the end of the day.'” (Alistair for Hugh).
The Unbundling of Udemy – Late Checkout – a Substack by Greg Isenberg . “Greg Isenberg built a platform called Islands, which was basically reddit for the modern world (with constraints on what groups could do). It got traction around Bonnaroo, and was eventually acquired by Wework. Greg is one of the smartest people I know on startups in general and communities in particular (plus he’s got a Montreal past!) He once observed that every line on the original Craigslist—cars, rentals, pet-sitting, companions—is now an entire Internet category. Always one with a quick turn of phrase, he thinks niches and shared learning are the future, and that ‘vast has passed.’ Here are his thoughts on the unbundling of learning platform Udemy and, in some ways, the future of education itself.” (Alistair for Hugh). 
400-year-old Greenland shark ‘longest-living vertebrate’ – BBC . “This shark has been swimming around Greenland since sometime around the year 1600. Oh, the stories she could tell.” (Hugh for Alistair).
The User Always Loses – The Nation . “How humans have been converted into ‘users’, and what that means.” (Hugh for Mitch).
The Computer Game That Led To The Enlightenment – The New Yorker . “New to Netflix this week is a really fun documentary on the advent and ascent of video games called, High Score. A little nostalgia is just what I needed. It took me right back to the early eighties (and beyond). I went from copying code in Compute! Magazine to hours (ad nauseam) on my Atari 2600, and it kept going (and growing) from there. I’ve been enjoying the Netflix documentary, and then came across this article about Ultima. There’s just something about hearing game titles like that… It brings me back to a simpler time. Great stuff here…” (Mitch for Alistair).
What Does Boredom Do To Us – And For Us? – The New Yorker . “As a parent, how many times have you heard the phrase, ‘I’m bored!’ from your kids during this pandemic? I’ve had my fair share. I don’t like being bored. We mask it all now, by simply flicking on our iPhones for hours on end. It’s a distraction from being bored. What’s wrong with being bored? Shouldn’t our kids (and ourselves) get better at being bored? Do we always need to be busy (or entertained)? Is it good for us to be bored? I think it is. Let’s see what this article thinks…” (Mitch for Hugh). 

Feel free to share these links and add your picks on Twitter, Facebook, in the comments below or wherever you play.

Maria Konnikova On Understanding Poker To Win At Life – This Week’s Six Pixels of Separation Podcast

Episode #736 of Six Pixels of Separation is now live and ready for you to listen to.

When Maria Konnikova first entered the world of poker in 2017, it was tough to predict that, within a year, she would have won a major title, made multiple final tables, and amassed close to $300,000 in live tournament winnings. But that’s precisely what happened. Today, in addition to her career as a journalist, Maria plays professionally, traveling the world as she seeks her next poker title in anticipation of her recently published book, The Biggest Bluff. Maria brings a unique background to her poker career: apart from being a bestselling author (her other books include The Confidence Game, and Mastermind) and award-winning journalist, she holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from Columbia University. Her doctoral work was on risky and emotional decision making in uncertain environments—the precise sorts of conditions you encounter at the poker table. Her theoretical findings, alongside her new practical experience, form a powerful combination for insight into the human decision making process in environments far removed from the poker table. Apart from playing and working on her book, over the last year Maria has developed interactive decision making workshops that use poker as a tool to explore your own mind—and help you emerge with a more complete understanding of yourself and a roadmap for improving your thought processes going forward. There is powerful connection between understanding the dynamics of poker in relation to what we need to pay attention to, how to master our thinking, how to see people for who they truly are (and not what they may be pretending to be) and where the “win” in life may actually be. Enjoy the conversation…

You can grab the latest episode of Six Pixels of Separation here (or feel free to subscribe via iTunes): Six Pixels of Separation #736.

Before you go… if you enjoyed this, please subscribe (all new content arrives in your inbox). It’s easy, it’s free and it’s right here.

SPOS #736 – Maria Konnikova On Understanding Poker To Win At Life

Welcome to episode #736 of Six Pixels of Separation.

Here it is: Six Pixels of Separation – Episode #736 – Host: Mitch Joel. When Maria Konnikova first entered the world of poker in 2017, it was tough to predict that, within a year, she would have won a major title, made multiple final tables, and amassed close to $300,000 in live tournament winnings. But that’s precisely what happened. Today, in addition to her career as a journalist, Maria plays professionally, traveling the world as she seeks her next poker title in anticipation of her recently published book, The Biggest Bluff. Maria brings a unique background to her poker career: apart from being a bestselling author (her other books include The Confidence Game, and Mastermind) and award-winning journalist, she holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from Columbia University. Her doctoral work was on risky and emotional decision making in uncertain environments—the precise sorts of conditions you encounter at the poker table. Her theoretical findings, alongside her new practical experience, form a powerful combination for insight into the human decision making process in environments far removed from the poker table. Apart from playing and working on her book, over the last year Maria has developed interactive decision making workshops that use poker as a tool to explore your own mind—and help you emerge with a more complete understanding of yourself and a roadmap for improving your thought processes going forward. There is powerful connection between understanding the dynamics of poker in relation to what we need to pay attention to, how to master our thinking, how to see people for who they truly are (and not what they may be pretending to be) and where the “win” in life may actually be. Enjoy the conversation…

Running time: 54:23.
Hello from beautiful Montreal.
Subscribe over at iTunes.
Please visit and leave comments on the blog – Six Pixels of Separation.
Feel free to connect to me directly on Facebook here: Mitch Joel on Facebook.
or you can connect on LinkedIn.
…or on Twitter.
Here is my conversation with Maria Konnikova.
The Biggest Bluff.
The Confidence Game.
Mastermind.
Follow .
Follow Maria on Twitter.
This week’s music: David Usher ‘St. Lawrence River’.

Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels of Separation – Episode #736 – Host: Mitch Joel.

Before you go… if you enjoyed this, please subscribe (all new content arrives in your inbox). It’s easy, it’s free and it’s right here.

Six Links Worthy of Your Attention #529

Is there one link, story, picture or thought that you saw online this week that you think somebody you know must see?

My friends: Alistair Croll (Solve for Interesting, Tilt the Windmill, Interesting Bits, HBS, chair of Strata, Startupfest, FWD50, and Scaletechconf; author of Lean Analytics and some other books), Hugh McGuire (Rebus Foundation, PressBooks, LibriVox) and I decided that every week the three of us are going to share one link for one another (for a total of six links) that each individual feels the other person “must see.”

Check out these six links that we’re recommending to one another: 

Explore Debates – Kialo . “So how do we find common ground? What’s a good way to have reasoned debates around the thorny issues and wicked problems humanity faces? There are plenty of attempts to do this—I came across Kialo recently as one example. Should all humans be vegan? Is pornography ethically wrong? Should there be a universal basic income? If you’ve got an opinion, someone’s talking about it here.” (Alistair for Hugh).
TheirTube . “‘Fish discover water last.’ This expression means that we’re not aware of the things we’re surrounded by, because to us, they’re normal. What’s YouTube like for a climate denier? Radically different from that of the average scientist. So this project created six personas, then used viewing histories from volunteers to create accounts for each persona. Seeing what they think is ‘news’ is eye-opening. But remember, as you’re being shocked, that you, too, live in water you take for granted.” (Alistair for Mitch).
The space between our heads – Aeon . “Will we ever get rid of spoken/written language, and go straight to communicating directly through though? Could anything be more awful?” (Hugh for Alistair).
The demise of the second-hand bookshop – The Critic . “The sad decline of one of the great places to spend a half hour on a rainy afternoon.” (Hugh for Mitch).
Entire Youtube Studio Setup on one desk – DSLR Video Shooter.  “With over one million views, I find myself not surprised by the popularity of this video. I also find myself tweaking and re-tweaking everything from how my monitors are set-up, where the camera goes, extra lighting and more. Welcome to both the work from home revolution and a world where (almost) everybody is being asked to up their video production game. I’m more of a minimalist, when it comes to these types of things, so I found myself drawn to this setup. And, from there, down the rabbit hole I go… on the prowl for the best laptop and external monitor setup that also works with a video camera and ring light. Feel free to share examples below… I’m not satisfied yet…” (Mitch for Alistair).
Why do people go to restaurants? It’s not about the food – 1843 – The Economist . “I miss restaurants, but this whole pandemic still has me frayed and a little raw around the edges. I’m not ready for a full-blown dining experience, while the waiters (with masks, face shields and – sometimes – gloves) do their best to make you feel comfortable (while, secretly, they’re praying that you don’t infect them)… it just doesn’t…feel right? So, what is it about restaurants? I mean, think about it: It’s a place you go to eat instead of making it on your own. Or, maybe it isn’t?…” (Mitch for Hugh).

Feel free to share these links and add your picks on Twitter, Facebook, in the comments below or wherever you play.

Chuck Wendig On Bestselling Books, Creativity And Brilliant Storytelling – This Week’s Six Pixels of Separation Podcast

Episode #735 of Six Pixels of Separation is now live and ready for you to listen to.

I believe C.C. Chapman first turned me on to the incredibly powerful, direct, and funny writing of Chuck Wendig. And while Chuck is an established New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Star Wars: Aftermath, as well as the Miriam Black thrillers, the Atlanta Burns books, Zer0es/Invasive, and his latest fiction breakthrough, Wanderers, I love his writing about creativity and writing more. If you have yet to check out The Kick-Ass Writer and Damn Fine Story, you really should. Chuck, like me, is also a comic book culture geek. He’s worked in comics, games, film, and television. His blog has been running for a touch longer than mine (so… forever) and it’s a never-ending source of great content. It’s called Terribleminds, and he rambles and wrestles with topics as varied as writing, parenthood, food, pop culture, and beyond. His writing is always NSFW, and there’s this honest and truthful edge that is always there, ready to punch you in the face (or make you crack up from laughter). If you want to tell better stories, write better, or embrace your creativity more, this show is for you. Enjoy the conversation…

You can grab the latest episode of Six Pixels of Separation here (or feel free to subscribe via iTunes): Six Pixels of Separation #735.

Before you go… if you enjoyed this, please subscribe (all new content arrives in your inbox). It’s easy, it’s free and it’s right here.

SPOS #735 – Chuck Wendig On Bestselling Books, Creativity And Brilliant Storytelling

Welcome to episode #735 of Six Pixels of Separation.

Here it is: Six Pixels of Separation – Episode #735 – Host: Mitch Joel. I believe C.C. Chapman first turned me on to the incredibly powerful, direct, and funny writing of Chuck Wendig. And while Chuck is an established New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Star Wars: Aftermath, as well as the Miriam Black thrillers, the Atlanta Burns books, Zer0es/Invasive, and his latest fiction breakthrough, Wanderers, I love his writing about creativity and writing more. If you have yet to check out The Kick-Ass Writer and Damn Fine Story, you really should. Chuck, like me, is also a comic book culture geek. He’s worked in comics, games, film, and television. His blog has been running for a touch longer than mine (so… forever) and it’s a never-ending source of great content. It’s called Terribleminds, and he rambles and wrestles with topics as varied as writing, parenthood, food, pop culture, and beyond. His writing is always NSFW, and there’s this honest and truthful edge that is always there, ready to punch you in the face (or make you crack up from laughter). If you want to tell better stories, write better, or embrace your creativity more, this show is for you. Enjoy the conversation…

Running time: 52:59.
Hello from beautiful Montreal.
Subscribe over at iTunes.
Please visit and leave comments on the blog – Six Pixels of Separation.
Feel free to connect to me directly on Facebook here: Mitch Joel on Facebook.
or you can connect on LinkedIn.
…or on Twitter.
Here is my conversation with Chuck Wendig.
Terribleminds
Damn Fine Story.
The Kick-Ass Writer.
Wanderers.
Star Wars: Aftermath.
Mirum Black.
Atlanta Burns.
Zer0es/Invasive.
Follow Chuck on Twitter.
Follow Chuck on Instagram.
This week’s music: David Usher ‘St. Lawrence River’.

Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels of Separation – Episode #735 – Host: Mitch Joel.

Before you go… if you enjoyed this, please subscribe (all new content arrives in your inbox). It’s easy, it’s free and it’s right here.

Six Links Worthy of Your Attention #528

Is there one link, story, picture or thought that you saw online this week that you think somebody you know must see?

My friends: Alistair Croll (Solve for Interesting, Tilt the Windmill, Interesting Bits, HBS, chair of Strata, Startupfest, FWD50, and Scaletechconf; author of Lean Analytics and some other books), Hugh McGuire (Rebus Foundation, PressBooks, LibriVox) and I decided that every week the three of us are going to share one link for one another (for a total of six links) that each individual feels the other person “must see.”

Check out these six links that we’re recommending to one another: 

Yugoslavia’s Homebrew Computing – Cory Doctorow – Twitter . “Yugoslavia wasn’t as compliant as other countries behind the Iron Curtain, so it was cut off from those countries’ efforts in the early age of personal computing. They built their own—with fascinating consequences such as broadcasting programs as audio that could be loaded from a cassette, and turned into content. This thread by the always-fascinating Cory Doctorow sheds some light on an incredible history.” (Alistair for Hugh).  
Papyrus – Saturday Night Live – YouTube . “I’m saying as little as I can to avoid spoiling the surprise. But this video from a while back came up in a recent discussion about branding, and it’s too good not to share.” (Alistair for Mitch). 
The Hidden Life of Viruses – Nautilus . “The viruses among us.” (Hugh for Alistair).
10 Theses About Cancel Culture – Ross Douthat – The New York Times . “Cancel culture explained… almost.” (Hugh for Mitch).
Helvetica – Gary Hustwit . “One good turn deserves another. If you’re going to post about fonts, I have to add the amazing (and serious!) documentary about everyone’s favorite font (fight me on this), Helvetica. From this documentary, Gary Hustwit and his team went on to create a myriad of amazing documentaries that traipse between art, design and culture. If you have not seen this movie, you really should. Bonus Covid Points: If you’re a member of your local library (and, if you aren’t, what are you waiting for?), many of our public libraries offer Kanopy as a free movie streaming service, and Helvetica is available there. If you don’t have access to Kanopy, Helvetica is still worth paying for. Especially, if you’re a typography nerd like me.” (Mitch for Alistair).
The Embarrassing 1,000-Year History of the Male Power Ballad – Mel Magazine . “I’ve always had this fear/paranoia that I would be hit by a car, rendered unconscious, and people would grab my iPhone to figure out who I was… and then see my embarrassing playlist of cheesy music that I love. What can I say? I’m a sucker a power ballad. Especially those from the hair metal days. Judge me. Go ahead. I don’t judge my earholes (as I once heard Sarah Silverman say). Still… it’s admittedly embarrassing. Here’s a great essay on this, exact, issue. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m in the mood for either Whitesnake’s ‘Is This Love’ or Asia’s ‘Only Time Will Tell’.” (Mitch for Hugh).

Feel free to share these links and add your picks on Twitter, Facebook, in the comments below or wherever you play.

Gord Sinclair On This Month’s Groove – The No Treble Podcast

Gord Sinclair is this month’s conversation on Groove – The No Treble Podcast.

You can listen the new episode right here: Groove – The No Treble Podcast – Episode #68 – Gord Sinclair.

Who is Gord Sinclair ?

When I catch myself humming a song, it’s often a riff or lyric from The Tragically Hip (“It was in Bobcaygeon… I saw the constellations… Reveal themselves… one star at time”). In you live in Canada, this may not be surprising. If you live outside of Canada, you’ve probably heard rumblings about this band for a while (the band formed in 1984 and had a breakthrough with their self-titled EP debut in 1987 that was quickly followed by the massive Up To Here album in 1989). To call them rock royalty would be an understatement. In the pantheon of great Canadian rock, they sit up there with Rush, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, The Band, and Bryan Adams. While much of the success of the band is often spoken of in relation to the lyrics and singing of frontman, Gord Downie (who tragically died from brain cancer in 2017), there is no denying that the driving force behind their blend of rock, blues, folk, and alternative is driven by the contagious bass lines of Gord Sinclair. Over the band’s incredible 30+ year career (with close to 15 albums) that saw them grow from college campuses and dive bars to the biggest arenas and stadiums, it’s no surprise that nine of their albums hit number one on the Canadian charts. Gord Sinclair recently released his first solo effort, Taxi Dancers, which is the first release from a member of The Hip since the passing of Gord Downie. The album is deeply personal, and finds Sinclair not just playing bass, but being – as he describes it – a “reluctant solo artist.” One of Canada’s great bass players is back. A moment to celebrate. Enjoy the conversation…

What is Groove – The No Treble Podcast?

This is an ambitious effort. This will be a fascinating conversation. Our goal at Groove is to build the largest oral history of bass players. Why Groove? Most of the content about the bass revolves around gear, playing techniques, and more technical chatter. For us, bassists are creative artists with stories to tell. They are a force to be reckon with. These are the stories and conversation that we will capture. To create this oral history of why these artists chose the bass, what their creative lives are like, and where inspiration can be found.

Listen in:  Groove – The No Treble Podcast – Episode #68 – Gord Sinclair.

Groove – Episode #68: Gord Sinclair by No Treble

Are you interested in what’s next? How to decode the future? I publish between 2-3 times per week and then the Six Pixels of Separation Podcast comes out every Sunday. Feel free to subscribe (and tell your friends ;). 

What Are You Doing With Your Time?

Do I work if I’m not being paid?

Yes.
Hard.
All the time.

What I do professionally is a major part of who I am.

It’s how I define myself.

I am always learning.
I am always reading.
I am always writing.
I am always looking to acquire more knowledge.
I am always looking to learn new skills.
I am always looking for ways to be the best that I can be as a professional.

My salary is not the only reason that I work.

My time spent delivering the result of my work is not the only reason that I work.
I work to create an impact in other people’s lives.

As a professional speaker, I haven’t had my full speaking fee since the end of February.

I have studied harder (much harder) on how to create better events virtually.
I have studied harder (much harder) on how to create more relevant content for my customers.
I have studied harder (much harder) for when in-person events do start back up.

Even though I have been doing virtual events for over a decade, there’s much more competition and content out there.

I don’t want to be like the others.
I want to be better than the others.
I want my customers to have a better result.

Without being paid to do it…

I learned more about cameras.
I learned more about lighting.
I learned more about microphones.
I learned more about recording software.
I learned more about better live-streaming.
I spoke to more experts about their experiences.
I practice – on my own – constantly, just to improve.

Just to be ready.

Just to be better.
Just to be the best.

Even when there’s not a pandemic, I’m thinking.

Working.
Studying.
Doing the work.
Doing the homework.

Do I work when I’m not being paid?

I do.

How else do I improve?
How else do I deliver a better result?
How else do I make my customers have a better experience?
How else do I prepare for an uncertain short-term future?
How else do I prepare for an uncertain long-term future?
How else can I help others be their best, if I am not prepared to be my best?

If your excuse for going back to work is that you need more time to prepare, what have you been doing with all of your time until now?

Waiting for your boss to tell you what to do?
Waiting for the government to tell you what to do?
Waiting for someone else to give you a plan?
Waiting because it’s summer, and you don’t work during the summer?

“I’m not being paid for the days that I am not working.”

“Do you work on your unpaid days?”

This is what other professionals are saying as the world starts to open up.

The answer is – always – a resounding “yes.”

Yes, I work on unpaid days.
Yes, I work on days that I am not in the office.
Yes, I work late into the night to be prepared for tomorrow.
Yes, I wake up early and work for the day ahead.
Yes, I work on weekends if things have changed.
Yes, I am working harder than ever, so that if things suddenly change, I have something more to share.

That’s what a professional does.

Whether they work for themselves.
Whether they work for someone else.
Whether they are in a union.
Whether they are being asked to (or not) by their boss.
Whether they work in the summer (or get the summer off).

I guess it depends on how you define work.

I guess it depends on how you define success.
I guess it depends on how you see yourself.
I guess is depends on the result that you want your work to deliver.
I guess it depends on the impact that you want your work to have on others.

If you need anything, I’ll be right over here.

Working.

Are you interested in what’s next? How to decode the future? I publish between 2-3 times per week and then the Six Pixels of Separation Podcast comes out every Sunday. Feel free to subscribe (and tell your friends

Marcus Whitney On Creative Entrepreneurship – This Week’s Six Pixels of Separation Podcast

Episode #734 of Six Pixels of Separation is now live and ready for you to listen to.

Years back, we had unconferences. Gatherings of interesting people who would make up the contents of the conference on the spot. You could speak, contribute, whatever… as you wish. BarCamp Nashville invited me to come and take part back in 2007 (thanks, Dave Delaney). That’s where I first met Marcus Whitney, who was one of the organizers. Watching his ascent over the years has not been surprising to me. I could sense his work ethic and desire for success when we first met. Marcus is now CEO of Health:Further (a strategic advisory firm in the healthcare space). He’s also a Founding Partner of Jumpstart Health Investors (one of the most active venture capital firms in America focused on innovative, healthcare companies with a portfolio of over 100 companies). Want more? He’s also co-founder and minority owner of Major League Soccer team, Nashville Soccer Club. His brand new book, Create and Orchestrate, is about claiming your creative power through entrepreneurship. Marcus is also the producer and host of Marcus Whitney Live, a livestream interview show, and Marcus Whitney’s Audio Universe (his podcast). Marcus is a member of the board of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation, Instruction Partners and an Arts Commissioner for the city of Nashville. Not inspired at work these days? Try this episode. Enjoy the conversation…

You can grab the latest episode of Six Pixels of Separation here (or feel free to subscribe via iTunes): Six Pixels of Separation #734.

Before you go… if you enjoyed this, please subscribe (all new content arrives in your inbox). It’s easy, it’s free and it’s right here.