Active Recall

YouTube: https://youtu.be/8NmU-JIg8ZsBook notes on "Shot Ready" by Steph Curry00:00 Introduction: The Grind of the NBA Season00:20 Steph Curry's New Book: Shot Ready00:43 Growing Up in the Air Canada Center01:16 Lessons from Dell Curry01:34 Mind the Game Podcast Insights02:13 Childhood Memories and Basketball Education03:20 The Mental Game: Confidence and Commitment04:05 Overcoming Injuries and Mental Strength04:32 Changing His Shot Form05:34 Consistency and Mechanics in Shooting06:52 Early NBA Years: Don Nelson's Coaching Style10:14 Mark Jackson's Belief in the Splash Brothers12:51 Steve Kerr and the Joy of Freeform Play15:26 Rituals and the Importance of Consistency17:14 The Euphoria of Winning the First Championship18:57 The 73-9 Season and the Pain of Losing20:26 Visualization: The Double-Edged Sword21:25 Kevin Durant: Pushing Each Other to Get Better27:04 Breathing and Managing Stress31:35 Back to the Mountaintop: Winning Without KD This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit activerecall.substack.com

Microwaving another bag of broccoliThat was the 1 habit I wanted to work on.The rest of the 1-1-1-1-1 pact* 1 habit* 10 pages* 100 reps* 1000 words* 10000 steps Which adds up to 11,111 and maps to* Habit building* Reading* Weightlifting* Writing* and Walking Initially I'm aiming for 500 days but I want to do these daily for the rest of my life. Which means the intensity is lower than other challenges you might come across. Which are great, which I've definitely tried and strayed off of.The PACT idea is from Tiny Experiments. You decide "I will ACTION for DURATION"It stands for* Purposeful: it's about the daily behaviors* Actionable: I know these are doable* Continuous: I'm going for daily for... hopefully decades* TrackableI already do most of these on various days but now I'm trying to be deliberate about getting all of those in every day.So what's with the broccoli?1. One habit every 21 days?This is probably Video-idea Driven Development.I've long wanted to do some kind 10k, 1000, 100, 10 thing but could never figure out how to round out the "1"* 1 minute meditating?* 1 gratitude?* 1 video posted? But last week I realized 1 could be a flexible thing I could use to represent an experiment to try. The 1 also reminds me of the BJ Fogg thing of "Floss 1 tooth":"Think of it this way: You can keep many tiny plants alive by giving them a few drops of water a day. It’s the same with habits. There are still days when my motivation is unusually low for flossing. On those days, I floss only one tooth."I want to document this whole thing through vlogs so, yes, I did think this might be a way to make the videos a littttle less repetitive.I'll be able to align the "1" to some shorter-term goal I have. Right now? Lose some weight. It starts in the kitchen, etc. so I want to eat a bag of broccoli every day.Why this goal? First, it's not an all-day goal. All-day goals become hard.* Tracking food every day takes a lot of effort initially and I always fall off.* Avoiding snacking is another all-day thing* Avoiding anything as a whole is an all-day thing So with these habits I'll aim to make them things I add to the day and can very clearly say "I'm done"With the broccoli I can cook it, eat it, say "I'm done", then feel slight discomfort for 2 hours because I should probably split it into 2 meals.2. We don't have walrus meat so we need to add hard things (10 pages)Earlier this year I read The Wide Wide Sea by Hampton Sides. It's about Captain James Cook. It was an extremely hard life with not so great food on the ships:Midshipman George Gilbert had stronger words for walrus flesh. He described the elaborate procedure the men improvised to make the “disgustful” meat palatable. “We let it hang up for one day that the blood might drain from it,” Gilbert wrote. “After that, we towed it overboard for twelve hours, then boiled it for four hours, and the next day cut it into steaks and fried it. And even then it was too rank both in smell and taste to make use of except with plenty of pepper.”But Captain Cook loved it because of the goal: make maps of the worldHe was finally doing what he loved and knew best: serious cartographic fieldwork, on a big scale, in an unfamiliar place. There wasn’t time for laying down much precision—the minute details would have to be filled in by later explorers—but the general idea of Alaska, its outline, was coming into focus.Anyway, it was a reminder that life can be kind of easy compared to centuries ago. We seek out these hard things because we don't have to hunt for food anymore. Shaan Puri had a great phrase for this sort of content: "toughness influencers"So anyway. Speaking of books, that's what the 10 represents: 10 pages of reading every day.I want a daily practice for building back my ability to focus and concentrate. I know I've read consistently in the past. I can do it again. So I'm aiming to read 10 pages a day. A 300 page book every month.3. "Wake up at 5am and work out": James Altucher & Sahil Bloom (100 reps)It is why the first thing I say, whenever a young person comes to me looking for life advice, they're feeling lost is wake up at 5am and go work out for 30 straight days.That's Sahil Bloom, author of The 5 Types of Wealth, on the James Altucher podcast.I've worked out regularly for more than a decade. But you wouldn't be able to tell!I've spun my tires for too long. As mentioned I want to lose some weight and I've bought into weightlifting being an important part of that.I did sort of shoehorn it into the "100" here because I wanted weights to be a part of this. It sort of works:* 100 kettlebell swings is 100 reps* 5x5 w/ warmup sets is around 100 reps* 100 burpees in a hotel room 100 reps is flexible.I am not. So maybe I need a 100-rep mobility routine.4. Amplify patterns (1000 words)The 1000 is for 1000 words and it's a writing habit. Good things seem to happen creatively during periods where I'm writing regularly.From, Tiny Habits, Anne-Laure Le Cunff talks about amplifying existing activities:Finally, for activities that are already part of your life but which you wish to engage in more regularly, a three-month pact helps reinforce and amplify patterns so you can collect better quality data to guide your journey. Incidentally, three months is roughly the length of the #100DaysofCode challenge and my own challenge of writing 100 articles in 100 workdays at Ness Labs.She amplified things with 100 articles in 100 work days.I already write daily in private. These are just journal entries or notes on my info diet. I don't know if journal is the right word either. Anyway I write in Obsidian or Google Docs or Evernote or whatever app I'm using at the time is. Many days are already 1000+ words.I want to amplify it by measuring it and steering the writing more to writing I'll publish. Scripts for these videos or for Shorts or for blog posts.Daily writing is great in so many ways so I want to keep it up.5. Distract the distraction with another distraction (10,000 steps)10,000 is for steps. You've probably heard of walking 10,000 steps as a goal already. You might have paced around the room trying to get 100 more steps before trying to do this sort of thing.Walking is good for mind and body so I want to have that as a habit. I also can't do 10,000 reps weightlifting or read 10,000 pages in a day. I might be able to blab into a microphone all day to write 10,000 useless words.One thing I really want to use walking for is to relieve stress.In The Comfort Crisis, Michael Easter writes about Dr. Trevor Kashey suggesting he replace food as a reward with light exercise.He recommended that I distract the discomfort of reward hunger with another form of discomfort: light exercise. “Find some ‘calorie negative’ ways of dealing with stress,” he said. “Walking is my number one. It relieves more stress and is health promoting. It leads you to burn calories rather than onboard them. And it removes you from the situation and adds time for reflection, where you can realize that you weren’t really hungry.”Walking is the greatest thing to pair other things with.I have a treadmill desk set up. If I use it and just brain rot with the laptop, I still don't feel as bad as I would have if I was melted on the couch doing the same.But usually I do find myself actually reading and writing when I'm on the treadmill. I can type totally fine.10,000 steps is also a nudge to get outdoors.All 5 of the things in this 1-10-100-1000-10000 plan are daily nudges toward something broader in the long term. I'll do another video on that later. Like, subscribe, but most important: get your reading/writing/walking/lifting in!Thanks for checking this out. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit activerecall.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit activerecall.substack.com

A content diet review to start the new year. Aiming for weekly but we’ll see! Trying to get back into podcasting by focusing on audio-only. Also check out my latest Shorts.(1) Journey to Michelin chef* YouTube: h woo “i think i want to be a michelin star cook”* Book: “Show Your Work” by Austin Kleon* YouTube: Sam Sulek* YouTube: Matt Choi(2) Fourth Wing → The one thing... do they need to kill so many people?“There is nothing more sacred than the Archives. Even temples can be rebuilt, but books cannot be rewritten.”* Amazon: “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros(3) Shogun → If you like Last Samurai and 1000-page books..."The Emperor and the entire Imperial Court were kept completely isolated in walled palaces and gardens in the small enclave at Kyoto, most times in penury, and their activities perpetually confined to observing the rituals of Shinto, the ancient animistic religion of Japan, and to intellectual pursuits such as calligraphy, painting, philosophy, and poetry."* Amazon: “Shogun” by James Clavell(4) Feel Good Productivity → What if this were fun?"What would this look like if it were fun? I stuck the note to my computer monitor and went to sleep."* Amazon: “Feel Good Productivity” by Ali Abdaal(5) Predator → “Last Action Heroes”Mac: [to Blain's corpse] Here we are again, bro... Just you and me. Same kind of moon, same kind of jungle. Real number 10, remember? Whole platoon, 32 men chopped into meat... We walk out, just you and me, nobody else. Right on top, huh? Not a scratch... Not a f****n' scratch. You know, who ever got you, they'll come back again. And when he does, I'm gonna cut your name right into him... I'm gonna cut your name into him!* Amazon: “Last Action Heroes” by Nick de Semlyen This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit activerecall.substack.com

Sharing some takeaways from “Same as Ever” by Morgan Housel and how they connect to the NBA from a casual watcher.* Best Story Wins: MVP narratives* Wild Numbers: Why watch games when you can watch highlights for an hour* Calm Plants the Seeds for Crazy: Load balancing plants the seeds for the In-Season Tournament* Does Not Compute: You miss 27 straight 3-pointers on hardwood, not on a spreadsheet* Too Much, Too Soon, Too Fast: Cars, clothes, and the 2008 crash This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit activerecall.substack.com

I moved all the episodes and the feed to Substack! We’ll see how this goes.On this week’s episode, I recorded in the car and tried to come up with some creativity takeaways from “Demon 79”* No one likes the horns look, what do you want me to look like? (Share those guilty pleasures!)* Use a list! (When you have to eat a frog, procrastinate with murder)* Demon vision to find bad people (You don’t always see the hard work)* “You’re a basher” (Find your format)* Resistance shows up (right after you’ve run the politician off the road) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit activerecall.substack.com

Notes on the podcasts I listened to recently Not Investment Advice: "George Mack: Ignored Ideas, Creativity Hacks, Game Psychology, US vs. UK & Finding The Right Metrics" David Perell: "Kevin Kelly: On Fame, Structuring Ideas, Writing Books, and Founding Wired Magazine" Deep Questions with Cal Newport: "Ep. 263: Overhaul Your Life" The Ryen Russillo Podcast: "Russillo on the Road: Spain Travelogue" The Game w/ Alex Hormozi: "Hormozi Life Hacks You Need To Hear | Ep 605" This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit activerecall.substack.com

I talk about my coffee/gym/dinner routines when living in 3 different apartments in New York. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit activerecall.substack.com

Book notes on "Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention" by Johann Hari This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit activerecall.substack.com

Applying MMA concepts to creativity This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit activerecall.substack.com

Lessons from David Chang's book "Eat a Peach" shoved through the lens of "The Bear" This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit activerecall.substack.com

Book notes for "The Last Action Heroes" by Nick de Semlyen This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit activerecall.substack.com

Let’s see… here’s an automated summary:Rule number five in becoming a chef is to fight for the job you want and aim for a kitchen that pushes you beyond your skills and comfort zone. When going for a job interview at a restaurant, show up early, look presentable, and bring all your equipment in case you're asked to start immediately. Don't give up on a restaurant you believe is the right place for you, even if they initially say they're not hiring. The story of Magnus Nielson highlights the importance of persistence in pursuing opportunities. Stepping outside your comfort zone and being pushed beyond your skill level is essential for growth and improvement. Practice and continuous effort are crucial for becoming a successful chef or artist. Engaging in daily practice and honing your craft is vital for artists to develop their skills. Working hard and continuously is the key to success as an artist or creator. When seeking opportunities in the digital creator space, it's not enough to offer to work for free and do anything. You need to showcase specific skills and accomplishments. Creating valuable content that aligns with the work of established creators can attract their attention and potential collaboration. Timing and luck can play a role in seizing opportunities, but hard work and demonstrating value are essential for making the most of those opportunities. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit activerecall.substack.com

Broaden your horizons: Travel the world physically and digitally, absorb the diverse cultures, cuisines, art, history, and languages. Immerse yourself in experiences and use those to fuel your creativity, as cooking is about more than just preparing a dish. Don't let the language barrier be an excuse, and be open to every experience, even if it's uncomfortable. Learn through doing and experiencing: Art isn't about mastery or understanding but about the act of creation and experience itself. Apply this ethos to any craft or skill, embrace the journey and celebrate the process, not just the final product. Your audience doesn't need to understand your art, but they should feel it. Harness the internet to enhance your creativity: As a digital creator, use the internet as a window to the world, participate in various subcultures, and connect with others in your niche. Find and interact with others interested in similar intersections, build your community, and broaden your perspective, thus enriching your creative journey. And the quotes here…From “Eat a Peach” by David Chang:Go on vacation with your parents. Stuff your belongings into a duffel bag and hit the road yourself. If you’re a college student, study abroad. If you’re already a cook, here’s the good news: you can cook anywhere. Do not let the language barrier be an excuse. You don’t need an interpreter to understand what the chef means when they gesture over to the pile of plates sitting by the sink. You might have to stay in domiciles with questionable plumbing. That’s what being young is for. I stayed in a homeless shelter while I was working in Japan. It was all I could afford.From “How to be an Artist” by Jerry Saltz:No one asks what Mozart means. Or an Indian raga or the little tripping dance of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers to “Cheek to Cheek” in Top Hat. Forget about making things that are understood. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit activerecall.substack.com

Shout out ChatGPT for this summary:In this recording, I share my thoughts on the importance of intersections and imitation in creativity. Drawing from David Chang's "Eat a Peach" and Jerry Saltz's "How to Be an Artist", I argue that aspiring creators should cast their nets wide and cultivate a broad set of skills. How, you ask? Well, it involves stepping out of your comfort zone and exploring different fields. Imagine chefs experimenting with recipes from a cookbook - we can all apply the same approach. Now, let's add an interesting twist. Think of combining different interests, much like Steve Jobs blending calligraphy and technology, or MKBHD melding tech with ultimate Frisbee. Intriguing, isn't it? So here's my tip: Find your intersection and dive into it. It's a unique blend that could lead to your breakthrough in the creative world.That sounds probably better than what I would’ve come up with.Here’s the David Chang quoteStudy Shakespeare instead. Even if you're 100% sure that you want to be a chef, I would still urge you to go to college over culinary school. Culinary technique makes cooks. If you want to be a chef, you need a far broader set of skills. […]I was a religion major and studying the Bhagavad Gita changed my life. So did studying logic and Godel's incompleteness theorems. Joining the debate club, practice, piano, write for the college newspaper. […]Pick a state school with a low tuition in a vibrant food city. Like Austin, Houston, Los Angeles. Chicago San Francisco or New York and get a job in a restaurant or a bar. And then Jerry Saltz’s quoteFeel free to imitate. We all start as copycats. People who make pastiches of other people's work. Fine. Do that. However, when you do this, focus, start to feel the sense of possibility and making all these things your own. Even when the ideas, tools and moves come from other artists. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit activerecall.substack.com

FIRST: THANK YOU to prior subscribers. I understand if you unsubscribe because I haven’t sent anything in like years and now will be emailing more frequently. (Or for like 4 days straight before another years-long hiatus…)A ChatGPT summary of what I blabbed about on the mic.Get ready for some mind-bending tips to be a better creator. Ditch that cooking school dream – because it's not about the degree, it's about the experience. Learn for free and harness the power of the internet to build your skills in the kitchen.For artists, your story is what makes you unique. So, tell it! Embrace the baby steps and build a library of work that shows off your talent.Finally, when it comes to being a creator, don't be afraid to blend conformity with innovation. Find a balance between what everyone else is doing and what sets you apart. Absorb, reject, and add what is uniquely yours.These three powerful tips – ditch the degree, embrace your story, and blend the familiar with the fresh – will set you on the path to being an extraordinary creator.And here are the quotes I used. From David Chang’s “33 rules of how to be a chef”:Don't go to cooking school. Theoretically cooking schools are a great idea. They provide a curriculum, experienced instructors and job placement opportunities. Degree from the culinary Institute of America will open doors to a perfectly comfortable career track in a hotel restaurant or corporate kitchen that pays a decent salary with benefits. a little bit moreMake no mistake. Cooking schools are businesses that are selling you on the illusion that you will emerge from their programs as a bonafide chef. They prey on your not realizing that you can learn all of this stuff for free. And Jerry Saltz’s “33 lessons for how to be an artist”Don't be reigned in by other people's definitions of skill or beauty or be boxed in by what is supposedly high or low don't stay in your own lane. Drawing within the lines is for babies, making things add up and be right as for accountants. Proficiency and dexterity are only as good as what you do with them. But also remember that just because it's your story, that doesn't mean you're entitled to an audience. You have to earn that. Don't try to do it with a big single project. Take baby steps and be happy with baby steps. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit activerecall.substack.com

Trying to find a format that I can keep up.Here’s the—I know, I know—ChatGPT summary of what I just recorded:The user talks about starting a daily 10-minute podcast, inspired by David Chang's book "Eat a Peach" and Jerry Saltz's "How to Be an Artist." They plan to discuss each of the 33 rules for becoming a chef from Chang's book and each lesson from Saltz's article in each episode. The user also considers incorporating design principles from their experience as a UX designer and insights from Russell Brunson's book "Expert Secrets."The user reflects on the importance of finding one's voice and overcoming embarrassment to create content. They acknowledge that although the quality of their content may not be high initially, it's crucial to start and keep making stuff to develop a unique voice. The user reminisces about their early blogging days, aiming to rediscover that voice through this podcast project.Anyway. That’s the first episode. It was a good reminder that audio-only is so much easier to make than even a barebones video. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit activerecall.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit activerecall.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit activerecall.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit activerecall.substack.com