No. 554 — December 10, 2023 — Read on FS — Free Version

FS

"Within your circle of competence, you operate with an advantage. As you approach the perimeter (the limitations of your knowledge), your advantage starts to reduce. As you cross the perimeter, not only does your advantage vanish, but it transfers to other people. Suddenly, you find yourself playing in an area where others have an edge."

— Source: Circle of Competence

Insight(s)

1.

"People are disturbed not by things, but by the view they take of them."

— Epictetus

2.

"Don't be afraid your life will end; be afraid that it will never begin."

— Grace Hansen

3.

"There is a connection between freedom and self-confidence: When you are kept from expressing your deepest needs and wishes, you lose trust in their validity and in your own judgment. You survive by finding out the rules and following them, thus hiding what you really want. You make it your purpose in life to please others rather than to affirm yourself."

— David Richo, How to Be an Adult in Relationships

Tiny Thought(s)

1.

You can buy people’s skills but not their hearts.
You can buy people’s time but not their loyalty.

The most valuable things must be earned.

(Share this on Twitter)

2.

Instead of always trying to be your best, ask yourself how to avoid being at your worst.

(Share this on Twitter)

TKP

The kids and I listened to the first 25 minutes of this episode on ego versus mastery orientation in the car, and it sparked a great conversation.

"Why do kids love to learn? Because learning is fun. Why do kids go out on the golf course [and] want to play until the sun is set and they’re out there all night? Because it’s an amazing sport. It’s super fun. It’s just a fascinating…, get lost in the game. So, at what point in educational development do kids start to dislike school? Happens around third grade. What happens in third grade? We start giving kids grades.

So what happens is there’s a shift from a mastery orientation to what’s called an “ego orientation.” … When you ask people with an ego orientation, “Hey, why do you do what you do?” what you’ll often see is, “Well, I like to beat other people” or “I want to prove something. I need to prove myself to other people.” Or it’s some version of image management — like you’re trying to show off and prove yourself to others."

— Dr. Gio Valiante

Gift Ideas

A few things I discovered this year (or use constantly).

• The best mattress
• These socks
• AG1
• Post sauna hydration
• Niche Zero coffee grinder
• My Eightsleep
• Le Pen
• This pizza oven

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Thanks for reading,

— Shane

P.S. If you're looking for a present for a friend who loves learning, grab them a copy of my book Clear Thinking or gift them an FS membership.

P.P.S. These overnight oats are the ones my kids eat three days a week and ask for if they don't have them.