On Thursdays, I receive James Clear's short 3-2-1 newsletter. Clear is the genius author of Atomic Habits. He shares some pithy each week, most of it shareable to social media should the reader want to (of course, he encourages it).
Last week's installment about stopped me in my tracks. Not because Clear gives meaning to self-improvement every day in incremental steps, but how he weaved in celebrating others, in this case, the undeniable wisdom of the late Steve Jobs. If you have read Walter Isaacson's biography of Jobs, you know the good, bad, and ugly of Mr. Jobs. It is one of my favorite biographies of a guy who changed the face of computers worldwide, along with the nuances of Apple plus so much more.
However, Clear shares not only the free, newly minted, Make Something Wonderful ebook (hot link below) but an email that Jobs sent himself that is profound (at least to me) that has me thinking on a whole new level. Don't you like to think like that? Deeper? Critical thinking at its best? I certainly do. I want to be stretched that way.
Here is an email from Steve Jobs, who was an innovative and influential figure in the field of technology, who sent this to himself, remarking on how much we all need each other:
"I grow little of the food I eat, and of the little I do grow I did not breed or perfect the seeds.
I do not make any of my own clothing.
I speak a language I did not invent or refine.
I did not discover the mathematics I use.
I am protected by freedoms and laws I did not conceive of or legislate, and do not enforce or adjudicate.
I am moved by music I did not create myself.
When I needed medical attention, I was helpless to help myself survive.
I did not invent the transistor, the microprocessor, object oriented programming, or most of the technology I work with.
I love and admire my species, living and dead, and am totally dependent on them for my life and well-being."
Source: Email sent on September 22, 2010. Featured in Make Something Wonderful
My goal is to binge-read the entire book (it should not take long - it's 270 pages and already downloaded to my computer & mobile phone), then slowly go back and reread and percolate on the wisdom sprinkled between the pages. This book was made free to the public on April 11h - only a few days before I left on my trip.
As I reenter my daily routines, including reading books (I just read Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus https://www.amazon.com/Lessons-Chemistry-Novel-Bonnie-Garmus/dp/038554734X— an excellent novel that is turning into a series on Apple TV https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2023/04/apple-tv-unveils-first-look-teaser-for-lessons-in-chemistry-and-announces-fall-premiere-for-highly-anticipated-drama-starring-and-executive-produced-by-academy-award-winner-brie-larson/ — for book club in two days - 400 pages!).
Make Something Wonderful has shot to the top of my list.
bSoleille!
Terri
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