The Information Barrage
In a recent discussion, I was saying that my reading and information consumption habits have undergone a sea change in the last few years. There is a deluge of information these days. Every other day, there is a new book which comes on my watchlist. Every day there are at least ten new episodes from the 20-25 odd podcasts I subscribe to. Every day there is some new web series, movie, documentary, lecture or interview that I add to my “Watch Later” list. Every week I get a new magazine delivered at home staring at me from the bookshelf waiting to be read.
How to tackle this?
Raise the bar. I have now raised my bar significantly. Unless the content captures my attention and/or gives me something new, I am quick to set it aside.
Be ruthless. I am now more than happy to dump any book, video, podcast, magazine article etc that I do not like.
Have trusted curators. Use curators and curation services. I love going to museums. Museums typically employ curators whose role is to build a collection. Their job is to collect material that will help educate, entertain and inspire people. Be your own curator. Also, have trusted curators who bring good stuff from what they have learnt to you. There are a number of great curators on social media for every topic of interest. Follow them.
Sometimes, it is better to revisit something you have already consumed, especially if it is a classic, because you may find something new.
Another very important aspect, as highlighted in this article is, “I’ve started to think of productive time as divided into three segments. There is a time for input, for output, and for putting it all down.”
Most of the time people, including me, keep hopping from one piece of content to the next, without giving enough time for our minds to absorb the material fully.
On a completely different track, another good article is this piece on the reasons for the failure of SVB.
“One of the key reasons SVB is so deeply seeded within startup-land is because of venture debt, its specialty.”
Venture debt is a very risky game. You are lending to startups with unproven and inconsistent revenue streams. Add ALM to it and you are sitting on a powder keg.
Thought of the Week
By all means like a stock, but don’t try to be best friends with it forever. Instead, spend time nurturing positions that are being kind to you.
~ Nick Radge
Video of the Week
Intelsense Insights
Hitpicks on Smallcase: A technofunda approach to short-to-medium term investing.
https://intelsense.smallcase.com/smallcase/INSMO_0006
As always an excellent article. Special thanks for guiding on how to AVOID NOISE and filter the information. Thanks once again. dr.vikas