These five creators inspire me the most
David Perell does a wonderful job bringing rich ideas into view.
He also expresses the power of writing as a tool for thinking. Writing serves to digest - breaking down ideas is about making connections between ideas.
If we’re going to grasp an idea, this is how we do it.
If you’re wanting to learn to write, find a good answer to the question, “If I were to give a TED Talk, what would it be on?”
That would be your path — what can I pontificate on?
And as some of you will know, “pontificate” etymologically is about “building bridges.”
You are able to build those bridges through writing.
Perell captures that wonderfully as he concentrates a treasure trove of thought into a single stream of writing.
Julian Shapiro is another greater writer on the web.
His podcast Brains delves into the power of storytelling.
And, hey, I also sympathize with one of his big dreams: to buy a ranch and get away from everything.
He says that’s how he grew up, and readers here know that’s my story too.
These are all the reasons I’m after it too.
Remote work is probably the most exciting business development of our time.
And Julian is pathing an inspiring path that should encourage us all to build big things that let us go after our biggest dreams.
Ali Abdaal is the productivity king.
As a YouTuber, he reigns as the master of having a crazy number of things happening in life.
And he does it with incomprehensible grace.
The man exudes an inner calm.
Perhaps in part this has to do with his former job as a doctor — a profession where panic certainly has no place.
Ali creates fantastic systems that everyone can use to help bring their wild rides into focus.
Believe me, I’ve needed a lot of his suggestions.
When Sinatra sings,
There were times, I’m sure you knew,
When I bit off more than I could chew
I feel that.
Ali is helping creators, and anyone with a hectic life, bring a little more domestication to the wilderness of our worlds.
Austin McConnell is a YouTuber and a filmmaker.
Not only do I deeply admire Austin for the fact he remains committed to his local area, I appreciate his willingness to do playful challenges, such as trying to make an animated movie in 48 hours or creating his own superhero cinematic universe.
Of course, this is the sort of stuff I’ve been up to, playing with different possibilities and ideas.
And he covers a massive array of topics, varying in really niche things.
All around, he inspires me to think of a path forward as a filmmaker who doesn’t want to go to a major metropolitan hub.
Sam Parr and Shaan Puri host My First Million.
These two entrepreneurs make you reframe your thinking to find a great business idea or to tackle your business problems.
These guys do brilliant work.
Listening to the podcast instills incessant ambition.
The web is full of brilliant people doing brilliant things.
Let’s do the same.