WORK LESS WEDNESDAY
WLW #122
🔮 1. Where I Was Last Week – The Sphere In Vegas
From April 18-22, every night from 8pm-12am, I can guarantee I was having my face melted.
I went to 4 nights of Phish at the Sphere in Vegas.
I’ve never experienced anything like it.
The sound in that space is unreal.
Not to mention you are literally surrounded by an orb of screens.
Words can’t really do it justice, but you can check out some videos of it on Phish’s YouTube channel.
10/10 highly recommend.
If you don’t believe me, check out what Drew Carey had to say about it (NSFW).
P.S. People keep asking me for recommendations on where to start with Phish, so I put together a quick playlist of some easy entry points…
If you want to dip your toes into my favorite band, here’s a playlist with some tracks to start with from studio albums: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4Tshjwe3M02EUQw7Lm3P73?si=4e6df29829094a4a
But Phish is really all about the live shows.
If you want to listen to something live (which I recommend), start here: https://open.spotify.com/album/2lCNMTbwN2kPwy4MKy0OV3?si=uXXpL_qFQWmfKrT43GjXEQ
🤖 2. Is AI Going To Take Your Job? – Video By Zach Heyde
AI anxiety.
It’s everywhere.
Some industries are getting hit quick.
Others fear they are next.
But should we be worried?
I’m resonating with this take from world-class composer, YouTuber, (and my client!) – Zach Heyde.
Right now, there’s a lot of fear in the world of composing that a new AI tool (udio.com) is going to take everyones jobs.
Zach is not convinced.
This video is geared towards composers, but I believe the principles apply to any business/industry.
Zach’s 3 tips:
- Be a human.
- Embrace your complementary skills.
- Don’t compete on price/speed.
Watch the 6 minute video here.
📕 3. Book I’m Reading This Week – The Practicing Mind by Thomas M. Sterner
This 150 page book is worth checking out.
Here’s a summary:
“Present moment awareness is an essential ingredient in life if one expects to experience any degree of authentic peace and contentment.
But, the Western mind is always restless, never content with the moment.
Its internal dialogue is always firing off thoughts filled with emotional content and pulling the individual out of the present and into the past or future.
Individuals raised in Western culture are becoming increasingly more aware of their overall sense of mental exhaustion, their lack of discipline and their inability to focus on demand.
They are willing to expend the energy necessary to experience inner peace and a quiet mind that is waiting to follow the direction of their will.
They are realizing that the endless struggle to fulfill the insatiable appetite of instant gratification is fruitless and tiresome at best.
They are ripe for a new path in life and eager for a new set of instructions.
This is the purpose of The Practicing Mind.
It comprehensively deals with helping the individual understand exactly what present moment awareness is, how we are raised in a manner contradictory to this, and how we change our mindset to make this a part of our daily living.”
🍽️ 4. Pottery I’m Getting Into – East Fork
One of my clients Alex Leiphart has been raving about this brand in his newsletter.
His reason for buying:
“Their longevity since 2009, the assurance of easily replacing or expanding our collection, and the artisanal touch in every dish. Plus, seeing them withstand the hustle of our favorite restaurants was the final seal of approval.”
Turns out their flagship store is literally right down the street from me in Asheville, NC. 😅
Yesterday, I dropped in and picked up 4 beautiful espresso cups and a glass carafe for my office.
Now we’re planning a full overhaul of our dishes.
If you’re into nice things, check them out.
📌 5. Three Quotes On Value Pricing I’m Pondering
- “Buyers tend to believe that they get what they pay for, and higher fees actually convey higher quality for most buyers. Higher fees also guarantee a higher level of buyer commitment, and commitment, not compliance, is key to producing a return-on-investment mentality, rather than a cost-reducing mentality.”
- “Money is not a resource, it is a priority. The idea is to be such a high priority with such a great ROI that the client reallocates funds to you and away from something else.”
- “Value is often a function of NOT agreeing, NOT being supportive, and NOT being a “yes person.” How willing are you to disagree, question basic premises, and refuse impossible expectations?”