Friends of Dave #95: Boys and Girls in America
Understanding what polarizes us is not just a political issue.
First, I want to thank those of you who took the time to click and check out the "Beware of the Mosh Pit" article I wrote last week. Got lots of great feedback -- glad many of you found it entertaining and relatable. It was truly an interesting (and, make no mistake, fun) experience....and I enjoyed writing it.
Been a busy week on this end, so I am not going to be saying too much here. I do want to highlight this week's selection in the "Last Word" section entitled "The Hidden Tribes of America." It is a data driven, comprehensive, non-partisan study conducted to understand how we are being polarized and divided in our country. Easily one of the most interesting things I have read in months. While there are obvious political undertones to why this is important (especially as we lead up to elections in the coming weeks), there is so much great data and insights that can be gleaned that will help you in all of your day-to-day interpersonal relationships. Understanding each other and what may be fueling our differences and "exhaustion" facilitates our ability to work more effectively together across the board. If you read nothing else this week, please take some time to check out and pass along "The Hidden Tribes of America."
I realized as I was compiling the selections for this week that many of them were quite comprehensive or had multiple embedded links. Still worth checking out while you sip your grande pumpkin spiced latte and look for reasons not to rake leaves....
And for you early birds, as you read this I should be running the Red Bandanna 5k run with my oldest son at my alma mater, Boston College. It's a great event run on campus annually in honor of 9/11 hero and alum Welles Crowther. If you don't know about his story, click -->here<-- and watch...and get the tissues...
Have a great weekend everyone!
XOXO
Dave
Dave's Podcast Pick of The Week
LISTEN: No Barriers — itunes.apple.com
I've mentioned him before in the newsletter, but check out the latest podcast from world reknown adventurer Erik Weihenmayer (who I've known since high school and also happens to be blind) and his colleagues at No Barriers. This guy never ceases to inspire...really.
One For You To Noodle On...
The Ultimate Guide to Making Smart Decisions
This comprehensive guide to making decisions is could really be the only thing you read today (actually this week) -- it has a ton of useful embedded links. Compiled by the always insightful Farnam Street blog, it covers how we can intelligently prepare to improve our thinking, avoid stupidity, and make better, smarter, decisions.
4 For Your Day Job...
Understanding and Overcoming Solution Aversion
At its most basic, the concept of solution aversion is the idea that people are motivated to deny problems and the scientific evidence supporting the existence of the problems when they are averse to the solutions.
Fascinating (and somewhat academic) look at how we will often try to convince ourselves that a problem does not exist because we are afraid of what a solution may entail. This is pretty comprehensive, but provides some good insights that will help you and those around you work together to overcome the aversion.
The Most Lucrative Side Hustles
How many people have a hustle on the side? What do they do? And how much do they make? Check out the results of this interesting survey -- it will be useful when you get your side hustle one day (and if you don't think you will, I have a set of Encyclopedia Britanicas to sell you).....
Amazon and Walmart Want to Read Your Vital Signs (and Sell You Stuff) The retail giants just secured patents that will help them determine how you’re feeling and what you might buy.
The Decline of IPOs Is Hurting Small Investors — www.theatlantic.com
The premise is that the number of IPOs is declining, and it could mean that small investors are getting shut out of the most lucrative deals. Some of you might find this debatable or even a good thing, but it is an interesting point of view worth checking out nonetheless.
Your Weekly Dose of Randomness...
Singer Amy Winehouse to return to the stage as a hologram
They tried to make her sing with Tupac Hologram and she said, "Noo noo nooo"....
What better way to celebrate the pending demise of Sears than to provide you link to PDF versions of catalogs back to 1937.....and yes, I am certain that more than one of you will click on this.
Original Big Bird, Caroll Spinney, Leaves ‘Sesame Street’ After Nearly 50 Years
Hard to throw some snark at Big Bird...Instead let's celebrate the man who played the original Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, two of the most beloved characters on television, as his run ends this week.
And The Last Word....
The Hidden Tribes of America is a year-long project launched by the non-partisan More in Common to better understand the forces that drive polarization and tribalism in the United States. This was fascinating, comprehensive but very easy to follow. If you are part of the "Exhausted Majority," you will appreciate taking some time to jump into this in-depth read.