💡🧐 Curiosities | Round 13
On mastering our emotions, curation, Solomeo, brand and more
Welcome back to Comma, a conversation with weekly wisdom and wonder to catalyze transformation.
I’m back with round 13 of Curiosities - where I unearth and round up digestible gems of insight on the art of seeking, becoming, and building a life of significance.
I hope you enjoy.
If you do, press the little ❤️ button at the top left corner, share it with a few people who would also enjoy, and subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.
Cheers,
Devin
Joe Hudson on Modern Wisdom
This conversation really helped ground me in the midst of a funk.
It discusses so much of the side of personal development that I think is overlooked.
The non-verbal, feeling parts of us are more important than I used to give them credit for. I still so often am stuck in my head, and find that dropping down into the non-verbal realm of what’s going on in me is the path.
Joe and Chris talk about what this looks like in an integrated, modern context.
Highly recommend.
One way to rethink these platforms is to think about all the users across the 90-9-1 ratio; to figure out how to share a platform's overall value with all its contributors, big and small. In the creator economy, this means rewarding readers and curators alongside creators.
Our digital systems generate noise and there's little the algorithms can do about it. We need curators—good curators—who can help us navigate these noisy waters and promote positive signals.
As you know, I’ve been thinking a lot about the cultural, technological, and media landscape of the future - where we go in a world of infinite and free content, and what that means for our culture, communities, and projects.
I love Tom’s idea of finding a way to re-distribute value to include the curators - the ones that help us sift through infinity; the ones whose taste we like, and the ones who we trust.
I think web3 has the tools to help us do this.
Solomeo, the land of Brunello Cucinelli
Just a few days ago, I left Solomeo after 6 days.
I left inspired, by the beauty and the soul of the place itself, and also by life and mission of Brunello Cucinelli, whose book I brought with me and revisited.
I mean, just look at it.
I shared some brief reflections while there ⬇️ and be on the lookout for some more - I recorded another episode of the podcast that I’ll be sharing soon.
Alison Armstrong on stages of life’s journey
I heard Cal Callahan (host of The Great Unlearn podcast) mention this book and how impactful it had been in emerging from the challenges of “the tunnel.”
I listened to it on the plane ride over to Italy (it’s short, only a few hours), and was nodding along the whole time. It’s a really interesting perspective. I found it to be really helpful at understanding the chapters in the evolution I’ve been going through.
Now, it’s about the stages of development for men, but it does touch on how men show up in relationships with women as well. I think it’s for everyone.
If you cringe at some of the ideas (she calls the stages prince, knight, and king, for example), give another try and listen a layer deeper. Don’t get caught up in the names.
I’d be curious to get your perspective - it felt really eye-opening for me.
I’m not quite sure what to do with the information - like if it will change how I’ll walk through the world vs. simply understanding the chapters of my life differently. But I’m dying to talk with someone about it.
If you give it a listen, give me a shout - I’d love to talk about it.
[Essay]
Seth Godin on brand
A brand is not a logo. A brand is a promise, a story and a shorthand. A brand tells us what to expect the next time we engage with you.
Given that your project isn’t for everyone, the goal isn’t for everyone to understand it. The goal is for people who might take action to understand it enough that they will take action. Every great brand that I know of has as the unspoken next line in their brief: “This might not be for you.”
I used some of these exact frameworks and ideas in some work I’ve been doing for Comma. (👀 Keep an eye out for more soon. 👀)
I just love the way Seth talks about brands. It’s made me reflect so much on what really matters at the end of the day.
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