A few thoughts on being kind

I saw this quote today that absolutely wrecked me...

"If everyone in the world wrote down their problems and put them in a hat, would you risk grabbing one or keeping yours?"

Opportunities dance with those already on the dance floor.

How to build a network (non-cringe way):

  • if you see something you like, tell the creator

  • if you think of someone, tell them

  • if you come across a helpful resource, share it with a friend

  • if you’re working on something, ask for feedback AND IMPLEMENT it

  • connect friends with friends

  • buy your friend’s products

  • curate your favorite creator’s ideas

  • host events

  • start a group chat with a shared goal

  • post content about what you’re learning and doing

  • ask your friends “who’s someone you think I should meet?”

  • start a podcast and interview people you admire

  • TLDR: to get a friend, be a friend

Writer Noah Stonewell on making a difference:

“A CEO once told me he shoves 5 mints in his pocket every morning.

He has a rule:

Throughout the day, each time he unwraps one and sticks it in his mouth, he must seek out someone to compliment.

5 compliments a day and fresh breath.

Brilliant combination.”

Writer Gurwinder on using AI:

“Automate only the skills you’re willing to lose.”

A few thoughts on being kind

If you ask the grass, the zebra is the monster, and the lion is the protector.

A monk takes his boat to the middle of a lake to meditate alone. After a few hours of silence, he feels another boat collide with his.

With his eyes still closed, he feels the irritation building. Someone is out here, on his lake, interrupting his peace. By the time he opens his eyes, he's ready to scream at whoever was careless enough to crash into him.

The boat is empty. It had drifted loose from the dock and floated to the middle of the lake on its own.

In that moment, his anger disappeared. After all, you can't be furious at an empty boat.

Envy no man because for whatever you see, a price was paid.

“Envy says more about the envious than the envied.” — Naval Ravikant

Envy is a sign you don’t know the other person well enough.

Envy is a sign you don’t know yourself well enough.

Six blind men heard that an elephant had come to town. Each wanted to know what it was like, so they went and touched it - one part each.

The first touched the side. "An elephant is like a wall." The second touched the tusk. "A spear." The third grabbed the trunk. "A snake." The fourth felt the leg. "A tree." The fifth touched the ear. "A fan." The sixth grabbed the tail. "A rope."

They argued the rest of the day. Each was certain. Each was right. And none of them understood the elephant.

A man walking along the beach noticed a boy picking up starfish one by one and throwing them back into the ocean. The tide was going out. Thousands of them were stranded on the sand.

The man watched for a while, then walked over. "What are you doing? There are miles of beach and hundreds of starfish. You can't make a difference."

The boy picked up another one and threw it into the surf. Then he looked at the man. "I made a difference for that one."

Until next week,

Jay “Kindness Costs $0” Yang

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