Hello there!
Last week was quite hectic from the work perspective. Work from home has now become like working double hours because of multiple factors like –
- Anyone can call you anytime.
- Networks are slow because of overload traffic due to everyone working from home.
- Even machines are becoming slow because they are constantly being used 50% more than usual.
Physical and mental exhaustion is taking toll.
So didn’t get much time for the reading this past week, but still i dedicated a half of my Sunday to reading. I also worked on defining my core values (check point one of today’s newsletter), that exercise is still going on. Hopefully I’ll finish it this weekend and most likely will publish a blog post around this topic as well.
Coming to the book progress, I moved forward on below books –
- Highly Productive Remote Work by Darius Foroux – 60% done (Kindle)
- Breaking Smart: Season One: How Software is Eating the World – 40% done (an amazing book recommended by David Perell) (Kindle)
No progress on below ones this week –
- “The Sign of the Four” of the Sherlock Holmes series – 40% done only (Audible)
- Becoming a Category of One by Joe Calloway – 20% done only (Audible)
- The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand – 20% done only (Kindle).
Without further adieu, please enjoy this week’s Saturday-Pentacle.
Issue 184 // Week 20 // 2020
A life exercise I’m doing —
Defining my Core Values List – As one of my favourite writers – Darius Foroux tells in this essay –
Just like a healthy root system is essential for a healthy tree, core values are essential for a healthy life. They define our character and the way we live. Without values, we lack clarity about who we are and what we want in life.
— Darius Foroux
I think that until we know our values we sort of become a person who either lives without values or adapts other’s values unknowingly. Until we don’t define our core life values we actually don’t know who we are.
So I’m taking some time from past few days and writing down my values and why I resonate with those values.
For example – Curiosity is one of my values – cause I’m natively very curious about things and why they are the way they are.
I’m currently referencing the list shared by Darius. (Essay link above) to think about many other values as well and drilling down to my top 10 values.
I feel if one sticks to their core values, one can build a strong character which resonates with who they actually are.
A page I couldn’t get enough off —
Animals about to drop album photos – This BoredPanda page was hilarious where the staff shared the amazing photos of Animals who look like they are about to drop the hottest music album of the year.
My personal favourites from this page –
#6 The Band With The Twin Guitarists
#7 The Pop Trio Owls
These made my evening in these stressful times and I laughed.
A video I loved —
Should You Specialize or Be a Generalist? – Many of us are often in this dilemma that should I be a generalist or develop a specialized skillset. In this video, Tim Ferriss answers this question and his awesome answer resonated with me. He suggests being a Specialized Generalist. New word? Huh!
He also shares that the following three skills are essential to be anything in your life –
- Public Speaking
- Writing
- Negotiating
Check out the video to learn more.
Music I’m loving —
Grace of Silence – In the search of some soothing soulful music, I stumbled upon this Handpan Duo. They are just amazing.
Handpan music is just so much pure and blissful. This duo’s chemistry is just fantastic.
Quote which I found useful to declutter –
Loneliness is when you’re missing people, aloneness is when you’re enjoying yourself.
— Anthony de Mello, author of Awareness
Before saying “see you next week”
Here are a few pictures I posted in the past few days on my Instagram. You can check them out here or go to my Instagram for the whole stories and more –
Until Next Saturday!
Thanks for reading.
Himanshu
About Author
I’m Himanshu Sachdeva, a technology professional working in Mumbai, India. I spend most of my spare time making Podcasts, YouTube videos and write on Lifestyle Design and sometimes stories.
Every Saturday, I send out an email newsletter called “Saturday Pentacle”, a list of the cool stuff I explored in the past week, including quotes, photos, books, articles, movies, documentaries and so on!
No spam, ever. Only great stuff.
Saturday-Pentacle // Issue 184 // Week 20 // 2020
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