Another Excuse Newsletter

Welcome back to the Another Excuse Newsletter. It isn’t just another excuse, but a reason to start that thing you’ve been putting off.

What to expect this week:
👓Perspective - Billion in the Bank
🔨 Tool - frame.io
🍿Consume - Farnam Street
📖Concept - Misogi

Latest Podcast Episode

Today’s guest is Renier Lombard!

Renier is the Managing Director of FLANCE Directive Creators (FDC). FDC is a multi-disciplinary consultancy and agency focused on nurturing business growth. They implement growth strategies that lead to tangible results for their clients.

In the episode, we discuss:

• How his entrepreneurial journey started
• His unique education
• Motivation
• How he got into personal branding
• The importance of building a personal brand
• How being employed is more of a risk

And so much more...

You can check out the episode here.

Perspective

Billion in the Bank

What would you do if you had a billion in the bank?

Yes, it's hypothetical and yes, it's a lot easier for wealthy people to take part in this thought experiment, but hear me out.

The purpose of this question isn't to find out what you would blow your money on, it's to find out what you would do with your time.

If money was no object, would you be spending your days in the same way?

What would you carry on doing and what would you stop immediately?

I know, I know, it's impossible, but really try to give it some thought.

For me, I’d still be doing my podcast. Although it takes up a lot of time, no amount of money could get me to stop.

I'd also be working on some more impactful projects.

So then I ask myself, what are those impactful projects? Why can't I start on them now?

And because I haven't given it as much thought as it deserves, I can't answer those questions.

Can you?

What will it take for you to start those things?

It doesn't have to be a billion dollars, if you really wanted it and it would make you happy, you could start now.

Tool

Frame.io 

This is quite a niche tool and it may not be for everyone.

Frame is a video project management and collaboration tool.

Video editors can share their work with their clients and receive real-time feedback.

The footage can also be displayed as intended in the highest quality possible.

Although this is only for video, client feedback tools like this can speed up the process and avoid confusion.

For most creative work the client doesn't fully understand what goes into each project.

If they're a part of the process, they get a better understanding of why your services are so valuable.

So if you've been sending huge files back and forth, this might be worth checking out.

Consume (Read / Watch / Listen)

Farnam Street

I know the content I recommend can be lengthy at times, but this one may be the longest yet.

Don’t let that deter you because the length of time it will take to consume all of the Farnam Street content is simply because there is so much.

And all of it is of extremely high value.

I’m hooked. I wish I had come across these articles sooner.

They’re written by Shane Parrish who used to work for the CIA. You can see by the titles of the articles listed below, he’s a deep thinker.

He even wrote a book called Clear Thinking.

Some of their most popular article topics include:

• The Feynman Technique: The Best Way to Learn Anything 

• The Difference Between Amateurs and Professionals 

• The Best Summary of How to Win Friends and Influence People

• The Munger Operating System: How to Live a Life That Really Works

• Second-Order Thinking: What Smart People Use To Outperform

• How to Remember What You Read

• The Buffett Formula: Going to Bed Smarter Than When You Woke Up

If those articles don’t intrigue you, then I don’t know what will.

If you do end up reading some of them, let me know. I’d love to have a conversation about them.

Concept

Misogi

Misogi is a Japanese term that refers to a unique and challenging practice of purification.

The original practice involves immersing yourself in cold water, normally under a waterfall, to purify the body and mind.

Entrepreneur, Jesse Itzler, has his version of a Misogi, which is something slightly different to the original meaning but has a similar intention.

His version of a Misogi is to do something once a year that has an impact on the 364 days of your year.

It’s a year-defining activity, that makes the year memorable and less monotonous.

His version of a Misogi should:

• Push you to the limit.

• Scare you a little bit.

• Is for you, not anyone else.

It doesn’t have to be an adventure or a physical challenge. It can be something like having your first child.

The idea is to have one big event a year, and aim to have one every year.

I’ve taken this challenge to heart and I aim to have one every year going forward.

My Misogi for next year is the Hyrox competition.

I have 5 months to prepare and I aim to do my best. I’m not one to sign up for physical challenges, so it’s definitely something different.

Do you have a Misogi for 2024?

Thanks for Reading

Now start something!

P.S. Feedback is welcome and needed! If you’d prefer to send me an email and not respond, you can do so here: [email protected]

Check out my socials below 👇