It’s taken a while to settle into the new year. This year is dedicated to protecting my energy! I’ve simplified this newsletter to make it more doable for me since I write a lot these days. What do you think?

Highlights of the Month

• I’m back jogging, I use the Nike running club app and it’s good.

• Crossed 250 days on Duolingo where I’m learning German. I decided to just continue doing only German, instead of adding French. I also started the Adaptive Leadership course on Acumen.

• I experimented here with stock recommendations. Testing a few ideas around personal finance.

Helpful stuff I came across

📚 Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters

This is a book I’d read over and over again ❤️️

Why is getting your heart’s deepest desire so often a disaster?

“Anything can be an idol, and everything has been an idol.”

+ The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company

🎧 Jane McGonigal: The Psychology of Gaming [The Knowledge Project Ep. #101]

I’ve always said I want to be the parent that has time to play games with his kids, well this podcast reminded on why playing games are important and what they do for us.

🎥 The Office + Tony Parker: The Final Shot

I started last year watching How I met your mother, then when I got tired because it took too long to find their mother. I moved on to Fresh prince and I’d have finished if Netflix didn’t take it off on the 30th of December. Well, this year I’ve started with The Office and it’s ridiculously funny.

The story of Tony Parker, a former French American Basketball player is inspiring. I enjoyed watching it.

🗞 Critical Mass: Everyone listens to Walter Mossberg.

A long read on one of the most influential tech journalists.

A week after Eric Schmidt became the C.E.O. of Google, six years ago, he went to see Mossberg. “He had just written an article about Google,” Schmidt says. “I wanted to get his insights. He was very gracious in saying, ‘This is what works. This is what doesn’t.’ He’s seen everything.” Schmidt says of him, as one might of a wine writer, “He has a good nose.”

Learning Curve 2020: Some of the most helpful books, articles, podcasts, videos I came across in 2020

I’ve been doing this since 2017, here’s 2020s own. Interestingly looking at what I read or watched helps me remember what that month was like for me. Also, it’s helpful for me to just easily check the list when I want to make a recommendation to someone.

Favorite Quote 💭

“If you’re not drowning, you’re a lifeguard.” — Seth Godin

Thank you for reading!

See you on the last Saturday or Sunday in February 2021 – so help me God!

Did you come across anything helpful or something that got to you? Please share with me. Also If you have any feedback please reply via email

Have an awesome February!