John MacGaffey
Systems Thinking
If I could teach my younger self one thing, it would be this: If you’re trying to make a sustainable change in yourself or the world, you need to create a system for doing so.
John MacGaffey
Flywheels
Flywheels are so effective, you can even technically use them to power a bus, and in the 1940s, the Swiss did exactly that when they invented the gyrobus.
Recipe for Friendship
Research has long shown that three conditions are essential for forming strong friendships.
Measuring Life
Our lives are increasingly quantified. From the amount in your bank account, to the average speed of your most recent run, it can feel like there's a number assigned to everything.
Reduce Friction
The swimmer who wins the race isn't necessarily the one who moved their arms the fastest. It's the person who swam the most efficiently.
Links for December 12, 2021
🪲 Get Back — Disney+
I'm only halfway through Peter Jackson's three part documentary series on The Beatles, but I can barely put it down. Culled from 60 hours of archival footage, any randomly selected ten minute segment of the documentary would've gone viral on its
Constraints
Beethoven famously composed his best music completely deaf.
Convenience Wins
If you've ever reached for a box of crackers instead of preparing fresh vegetables, you know how difficult it can be to choose the better option when there's more friction involved.
As Long as it Needs to Be
In my final semester of high school, I enrolled in an alternative program known as Senior Year Project. It was a self-directed research project designed to give students the opportunity to pursue a topic of our choosing.
What is Art?
If shooting your friend in the arm constitutes art, what is art, exactly?