August 2021
Coasting was the first word that came to my head when I thought of August. But then I went to check the dictionary for the meaning and realized it’ll paint a wrong picture, so let’s just say I managed to keep on going and not break in August.
I’ve finally had my first dose of the COVID vaccine and spent the weekend recovering from feeling weak and strange in my body, hence the delay in sending this out earlier.
Highlights of the Month
- Finally moved into my new apartment quietly. I need to start rebuilding my savings 👐
- I got promoted at work 🥳️
- I’m taking a week off work to rest and do other non-work related things 🛌
Helpful stuff I came across
📚 The CEO Next Door: The 4 Behaviors that Transform Ordinary People into World-Class Leaders
I’m back to reading books on leadership, these two were recommended by Know your Team and they’ve been helpful.
The CEO Next Door looks at data from thousands of CEOs, it shares the 4 behaviors that make for a successful CEO. For me, it’s less about being a successful CEO and more about being more effective. It’s useful to be reminded of these behaviours and the fact that they’re only four makes it easy to reference.
On the other hand, Power explains why people who aren’t very smart or hard working seem to get so far.
+ Power: Why Some People Have It and Others Don’t
🎥 King of Boys: The return of the King
In 2018, I remember being in a cinema hall where people stood up to clap (not sure whether I joined) after watching KOB 1. it was the first time I saw people really appreciate a movie, talk less a Nigerian movie. This follow-up limited series was dope.
+ ’76: An old classic Nigerian movie about a husband who is accused of taking part in an attempted military coup. It’s based on a true-life story.
+ The Creative Brain: This documentary takes you on a journey with neuroscientist and best-selling author, David Eagleman, to meet accomplished professionals from across the creative spectrum, unravel the creative process, and encourage all of us to be more creative.
🗞 Meet Regina Honu, a Ghanaian software developer teaching thousands of girls to code
“The male ego is very interesting, if we’re all working on a problem and I arrive at the solution first, I can’t announce it because it’ll come off as a show-off. I had to learn to bring everyone to my way of thinking and then have us arrive at the solution together.”
This is definitely my favorite article I wrote in August. It’s longer than usual but it’s rare to find someone who is willing to share different aspects of their lives, even their love life. I enjoyed and learnt a lot from Regina’s story.
“Working hard is not just a dial you turn up to 11. It’s a complicated, dynamic system that has to be tuned just right at each point.”
Another one of Paul Graham’s essays that does justice to the topic addressed.
🗞 How To Write A Powerful First Sentence
Josh Spector does a great job by starting this article with a powerful first sentence.
🗞 Why We’re All Capable of Damaging Others
To be a loving person is to wrestle with an always profoundly improbable idea: that however modest our position in society might be, however much we may have been maltreated in the past, however mesmerised we are by the deplorable behaviour of powerful individuals, however shy and frail we are, we are constantly capable of causing other people significant hurt.
Favorite Quote 💭
One of the most reliable signs that you need a holiday is the conviction that you cannot spare the time to take one.
– Bryan Magee
Thank you for reading!
See you on the last Saturday or Sunday in September 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 amazing September!