Hi friends,

Chag Pesach Sameach and Happy Easter! Let's dive into today's issue, with the super-spicy topic of fear-based productivity.

While we're on the topic, we invite you to join us for the $10K Bootcamp, beginning on Tuesday. It's our biggest event of the year and we'll teach you how to design a system to achieve your goals (while working less).

During our free 3-day bootcamp, you'll learn how to:

• Stay focused on the most important things in life
• Think bigger (versus making smaller things better)
• Stop putting things off until some imaginary future date
• Invest in improving your mind, career and relationships

The sinister side of productivity

​
Let's noodle over these 3 statements:

• I never have enough time
• I have a futile fixation of getting it all done
• I'm overwhelmed by the number of inputs in my life

​

I'm seeing a few heads nod as you scroll through this list. And here's what makes the promise of productivity so compelling.

If we could just eek out more time, organize it all and get on top of things life would be so much better. Simpler.

And we'd be happier.

But if you actually contemplate these statements, you'll see that they all start from a place of fear.

Fear of failure.

Fear of not doing enough.

Fear of irrelevance.

Fear of rejection.

And when our fear receptors are on high-alert, things start to break down. Our fight-or-flight reflex inhibits creativity, leads us to poor decision-making and quietly eats away at our physical health.

This fear soaks our daily lives with anxiety, self-loathing and emotional detachment. Ultimately culminating in burnout.

But does the desire to be more productive always have to originate from a place of fear?

Or can come from a wellspring of joy, levity and ease?

Here are this week's top reads:

// one

Against Ikigai

6 minutes | Every
​

I often express gratitude for getting closer to Ikigai in my own life. For the uninitiated, here’s what that means:

But what if that's the wrong goal? In our outcome-oriented culture, have we misappropriated the term's original meaning - waking up to joy? And what does it mean to diversify your portfolio of meaning, beyond work?

→ Read the post​

// two

I always thought my dad lived an unfulfilled life

3 minutes | Twitter @BleekerCharlie​
​

We all know the secrets to a happy life are healthy eating, caring for others, and having reliable systems to maximize productivity — you with me? What if we've got it all wrong? Here's a lil' Dad Wisdom that argues that the meaning of life is more about letting go of shame and worry, living in the present moment, and eating whatever you want. (Check out Charlie’s newsletter for more insights).

→ Read the tweetstorm​

// three

This is what happens when there are too many meetings

3 minutes | The Atlantic

​
A bizarre twist in the development of remote work that people actually spend more time in meetings than before the pandemic. But if you take a closer look, it makes sense. We have changed the way we work - but not our understanding of what work should look like. What would work look like if we re-defined it from the ground up?

→ Read the article​

​

// four

Getting fired from Deloitte was the best thing that ever happened to me

2 minutes | Twitter @SimuLiu​
​

Did you know that Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) got fired from Deloitte in an open floor plan while holding back tears in front of all of his colleagues? 10 years later he's a Marvel superhero. Here's Liu's an earnest reflection on luck, defining success on your own terms and the courage to follow what makes you come alive.

→ Read the post​

// five

58 things I'd say to my 21-year-old self about money

1 minute | Medium
​

What would you tell your 21 year-old self about money? Some of these lessons resonate hard: wealth isn’t measured on calculators, but actually calendars. Stuff takes up brain space — less stuff = less stress. Buying a smaller home (or dare I say renting over buying) is underrated. Oh, and Instagram is the biggest liar when it comes to money.

→ Read the post​

// from our community

How did a law firm make Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies list?

​
Traditional law firms don't work for most startups. The dreaded billable hour drains them of resources and slows them down. Westaway is an innovative law firm that’s built from the ground up to meet the needs of early-stage founders. Westaway offers startup founders a flat monthly fee for all the legal needs of a growing company. If you're a startup founder check out Westaway.

Below the fold
​

LAST WEEK'S MOST READ

• ​8 ways to make GTD work for you in 2022 (RadReads, 1,636 clicks)
• ​Take the "Think in Colour" quiz (Knack, 441 clicks)

​

And finally, the Succession theme song works with every single TV intro.

With gratitude,

Khe

PS Refer two friends to RadReads and receive our free Weekly Review Cheat Sheet. Here's your unique link: https://sparklp.co/9ac1b50d

PPS Did someone rad forward this to you? Subscribe here.

​Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | LinkedIn | Facebook​