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1% Notes
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
I almost skipped this book because of the cover.
It looked like something you'd find in a waiting room. A good reminder of why they say, Don't judge a book by its cover. I asked Claude AI to recommend short books with maximum value based on what I like to read. This came up. And I'm glad it did.
Ruiz based it on Toltec wisdom passed down through his family in Mexico. Ancient knowledge, but it hits harder than most modern self-help books.
- 95% of what you believe about yourself was decided before you could think for yourself. Ruiz calls these "agreements." You can break them.
- Be impeccable with your word. Every sentence you speak shapes your reality. Gossip is poison. Self-talk counts double.
- Don't take anything personally. What others say about you is a reflection of their world, not yours. This one alone saves you years of stress.
- Don't make assumptions. We invent stories in our heads and get upset about them. Just ask. Even when it feels awkward.
This book is short enough to read in an afternoon but good enough to think about for months. One of the highest ROI books I've ever read.
Stop Making Things for Other People
Rick Rubin is one of the most important music producers alive.
I find him fascinating to listen to. He speaks slowly, thinks deeply, and says some interesting things about creativity. His message flipped my thinking.
I always looked at what people wanted to see or hear and tried to make that. Rubin says do the opposite. Make what you love. Do it because you enjoy doing it. If you love it, others will love it too. Some won't, and that's fine. You can't please everyone anyway.
That's the opposite of how most people work today. We check stats, chase trends, and tweak everything for the algorithm. Rubin doesn't care. He makes what he loves and lets the world catch up.
Worth 10 minutes of your time.
Too Much Choice, Nothing to Watch
I love watching movies. But streaming ruined it for me. Too much choice is the problem. You open Netflix and scroll. Nothing. Switch to Disney+ and scroll again. Still nothing. Half an hour is gone, and you grab a book instead.
A few weeks ago I found movieo.me. Problem solved. Filter by genre, era, length, IMDb score, Rotten Tomatoes rating, and the streaming services you already pay for. One click. A short list of films actually worth watching.
It gets better over time. Mark what you've seen or what doesn't interest you and it disappears. Slowly it builds its own algorithm around your taste. Not what Netflix wants to push.
Try it tonight. Beats another hour of scrolling.
Real talent still hits harder than AI
Everything is AI these days. AI writing, AI images, AI music. Impressive, but it's starting to feel the same.
That's why I love watching real human talent. The Voice is one of my favorite shows for exactly that reason. Ordinary people walking on stage and blowing everyone away with nothing but their voice.
I came across this old clip and had to share it. A young girl on The Voice Kids. She sings Time To Say Goodbye by Andrea Bocelli. Everyone was blown away and moved that someone can do this
No algorithm made that. Just one kid, years of practice, and pure talent. Goosebumps every time.
Tiny Upgrade
The 30-Second Cold Finish
I read Wim Hof's book years ago. One thing stuck: finishing your shower with cold water. Not an ice bath. Just your normal warm shower, then 30 seconds of cold at the end.
The first few seconds are brutal. Then something shifts. You step out of that shower wide awake, skin tingling, ready to go. No coffee in the world gives you that feeling.
I've done this every morning for years now. And I can honestly say I never want to go back. It's one of those things you can't explain. You have to try it. Give it three mornings. That's all I ask. By the fourth one, you'll wonder why you didn't start sooner.
Reading list
What I’m Reading
Here’s what I’ve been reading lately:
- I finished Genius Gut by Dr. Emily Leeming. A fascinating book about how your gut and brain are connected and how what you eat affects your mood, energy, and thinking.
- I started reading Focus On/Off by Mark Tigchelaar. A Dutch neuropsychologist who explains the four reasons your brain keeps losing focus and how to fix them.
- I’m still reading. The Beginning of Infinity by David Deutsch. A fascinating book about how knowledge, progress, and explanations shape everything around us.
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