Weekly Mix #165 - Concepts, Uber, Coachability, Mental Illness & Biking Gear

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I hope you managed to get some sleep this week and didn’t watch too much news.

I’m happy about the election result. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, my experiences living in the US are that it’s filled with ambitious, kind, hard-working people who care about each other, and care about being American.

I have no doubt that whatever the divide that remains there over the next 4 years, it’s a country that will continue to lead with entrepreneurial spirit and grit.

In this week’s newsletter:

Blog Post: Why Your Project Needs a Concept

Book Notes: Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber by Mike Isaac

Podcast: Code Cubitt: Coachability is Critical - The Knowledge Project

ArticlesMental illness is on the rise due to COVID-19. Could psychedelic drugs be the ‘game changer’?

Chris Burkard’s Iceland Crossing Gear List (Video)

U.S. election maps are wildly misleading, so this designer fixed them

The Parallelogram House Helps Reshape a Sleepy Canadian City - Dwell

Tweet: Deciding to take on a new project

Video: Kate McKinnon as Rudy Giuliani on SNL

Photo: Night rides

Have a wonderful week!

Graham

Blog Post I Wrote: Why Your Project Needs a Concept

The analogy of a concept car came to mind as we were planning our next episode at work, and debating the best approach. Often, iterative changes are the norm, especially when moving quickly.

This post explores the use of a concrete concept as a means of communicating and aligning on a vision via the example of the concept car.

Book Notes I Added: Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber by Mike Isaac

This book is written more as an account of Uber, rather than providing lessons. It’s written by a journalist, after all.

It raises tough questions, like what is a good founder? and what level of paranoia is necessary in competitive industries?.

An entertaining story for those interested in Uber and the tech industry, but read more for entertainment than for learning.

Podcast: Code Cubitt: Coachability is Critical - The Knowledge Project

Code is an investor with Mistral VP, based in Ottawa. I added my full list of takeaways in this Twitter thread. Here are a few:

What makes a good founder? It’s a person who has a vision for the future that doesn’t exist today, and the drive to make it happen.

The best founders, when challenged, absorb the advice, discuss it, and then chart their own path.

What separates great CEOs is their ability to see the future, and to communicate that vision to cofounders, employees, investors and customers.

A key attribute in a great founder: flexibility. Those who have lived tougher lives tend to have more flexibility, more willingness to change and adapt and do what’s necessary to succeed.

Aim to be the dumbest person in the room.

Failure is okay. It’s a feedback mechanism to allow you to improve.

Networking hack: play detective. Everyone in the room has something to teach you, and you need to find it.

Code’s consumption strategy is volume. “There’s an ocean of knowledge out there, and I’ve got to swim through as much as I possibly can.”

There are three levels of happiness: The five senses: things we feel, do, listen to, taste, see, smell that make us feel good.

Learning: the endorphin rush you get when you understand something you didn’t before.

Philanthropy: giving and teaching.

Articles:

Mental illness is on the rise due to COVID-19. Could psychedelic drugs be the ‘game changer’? - Omar Mosleh - Toronto Star - I’ve been following the steps forward in psychedelic research since reading How to Change Your Mind (highly recommend). Oregon recently made steps on legalizing mushrooms and decriminalizing other drug use, and this article mentions how Canada is taking steps too. The potential for treating mental illness is promising

Chris Burkard’s Iceland Crossing Gear List (Video) - Bikepacking.com - I’ve followed Burkard on Instagram for a long time, and he’s a fantastic photographer. He bikepacked across Iceland this summer, and this video and post lays out the gear he uses. Two interesting pieces are Sealskinz waterproof socks (I have a pair for sailing), and his Infinity bike saddle, which he swears by for long-distance riding (it looks like it has the middle cut out).

U.S. election maps are wildly misleading, so this designer fixed them - Mark Wilson - Fast Company - A great illustration of how data visualization can tell a powerful story.

The Parallelogram House Helps Reshape a Sleepy Canadian City - Dwell (may need subscription) - I’ve been spending a lot of time gathering inspiration from Dwell lately, as I learn and think more about designing a house. This house in Winnipeg is beautiful inside and out (though I’d like to see some Winnipeg winter shots), and I love the unique shape.

Tweet of the Week: Deciding to take on a new project

I don’t know who needs this reminder, but something I need (constantly):

This is a subtweet for every single one of you pic.twitter.com/ZS6GhfsdDs

— Megha Mohan (@meghamohan) October 24, 2020

Video I’m Watching: Kate McKinnon as Rudy Giuliani on SNL

You may need to be in the US (or have a VPN) to watch this video, but well worth the watch if you can. Partly so funny because McKinnon has a hard time keeping it together, but the absurdity of it all is hilarious too.

Photo of the Week: Night rides

It’s now dark after work, which makes it a little tougher to get exercise in. The solution I’ve been enjoying lately is night rides on the local trails, made possible by some NiteRider lights:

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