February 2022
Hi there,
February had many firsts for me. If you had asked me last year which middle east country I’d like to visit, Saudi Arabia wouldn’t have been the first option on my list. Well, I visited Saudi Arabia in February and it was enlightening.
For the the more or less challenge, which got it from—Josh Spector’s newsletter—I did more mindful breathing this month, although not as much as I’d have loved to. It’s quite delightful to know that my mood can be uplifted just by taking out time to breathe differently.
Highlights of the Month
- I visited Saudi Arabia for a conference. This trip was unnecessarily stressful and enlightening. I should write about my experience.
- Signed up as a founding member of Sporting Lagos, a new football club financed by Paystack’s CEO. Although I love football the main reason I parted away with my money for this is that I’m curious about what it takes to build a great football club from Nigeria.
- Started a new newsletter on the Blockchain and Web 3, it’s under a wider publication called Rupt. I’m writing this newsletter because I’m curious about the Web 3 space and there’s no better way to learn about it than trying to explain to other people. I’ve written two editions written so far, you should sign up here to learn more.
Helpful stuff I came across
📚 The Right Story: The Secret to Spreading Your Ideas – Bernadette Jiwa
“Stories that are personal and emotionally compelling engage more of the brain, and thus are better remembered, than simply stating a set of facts.”
Every book by Bernadette Jiwa is a hit. After reading her book, I decided to experiment with a few new storytelling ideas with the story of Saudi Arabia—it has taken me forever to do this tho.
📚 Ignore Everybody: and 39 Other Keys to Creativity: MacLeod, Hugh – Hugh MacLeod
“You don’t know if your idea is any good the moment it’s created. Neither does anyone else.”
Picked up this book after seeing it on Seth Godin’s recommendation list. A short easy-to-read book packed with thought-provoking ideas.
The American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson once remarked:
“In the minds of geniuses, we find—once more—our own neglected thoughts.
”In other words, geniuses don’t have thoughts that are in the end so very different from our own; they have simply had the confidence to take them more seriously.
This article resonated well with me because I’ve always been an advocate of not just always consuming content but also looking within.
🗞 Meet the 19 year old Nigerian building his own blockchain empire
“The salary was ₦70,000. When I got it, nobody could talk to me. I was the biggest boy I knew. My parents couldn’t believe you could get a job during the pandemic when companies were laying people off. Though the salary isn’t enough reason to not study medicine, they finally saw what I had seen since 2015.”
I enjoyed reading this article by a colleague.
🎥 Obama: In Pursuit of a More Perfect Union
This documentary tells the story of Barack Obama from his early days till the end of his presidency. I enjoyed it because it shows the sacrifices he had to make, how intentional he was about his life and the complexities of politics.
🎥 Quincy
Quincy Jones is that guy who produced Michael Jackson’s thriller and the ‘We are the World’ Song. His career spans 70 years in the entertainment industry with a record of 80 Grammy Award nominations, 28 Grammys, and a Grammy Legend Award in 1992. This documentary looks back at his life. One of my favourite parts from the documentary was a statement he made when he was reflecting on his third divorce:
I realized from the time I was a little boy to that moment, I was always running…always trying to fill up that black hole in my soul.
I ran because there was nothing behind me to hold me up.
I ran because I thought that was all there was to do.
I thought to stay in one place meant to die. All I could think of was my kids, how my success had been at their expense in so many ways.
There is a lot you don’t know about Kanye West, even if you believe you do. Netflix’s “jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy,” tells the story of Kanye’s life and legacy over 21 years. I enjoyed watching this. Reminds me of the importance of documenting your experiences.
Favorite Quote 💭
“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.”
Luke 16:10 NLT
Thank you for reading!
See you on the last Saturday or Sunday in March 2022 – 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 exciting March!