Five Things — March 2021
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Dear friends,
I hope this letter finds you well and safe. Spring is here and according to Scott Galloway this might be the best time to start your own business.
If you enjoy reading this newsletter, please recommend it to a friend who might also like it. Just send her/him this website www.alexnewsletter.com
Thank you for your time,
Alex
#1 A look at Goldman Sachs’ culture by one of its Managing Directors
“Are You Destined to Deal?” With Goldman Sachs Managing Director Jim Donovan (YouTube, first 12 min)
Hearing top-level executives pitch their company’s to college students is a great insight into their culture. The environment is less formal and the executives need to balance reality and expectations for potential candidates.
After the latest Working Conditions Survey from Goldman Sachs was made public (link), where some junior people claimed 120-hour work weeks, I was curious to learn more about Goldman’s culture.
In this video, Jim Donovan, a Managing director from Goldman Sachs explains what are the 10 skills (6 tangible and 4 intangible) required to be successful in the firm. Jim is very structured and very clear on what is expected from new associates, and it is a fascinating talk (the first 12 minutes are enough).
#2 The most expensive work of digital art was sold for 69 million USD
Beeple Explains The Absurdity Of NFTs (YouTube, 7 min)
Do you know who Beeple is?
Watch this video and get to know Mike Winkelmann, known professionally as Beeple, who sold his digital artworks for $69.3 million at Christie’s in 2021, becoming the third-most-expensive living artist.
In this video, you will also learn about NFT’s (non-fungible tokens) and crypto digital art.
#3 Why this might be best time to start a business, explained using the Nazaré Canyon
The Sonic (Entrepreneurship) Boom by Scott Galloway (No Mercy/No Malice, 9 min read)
Scott Galloway is one of the world’s best business school professors (teaching at the NYU Stern School of Business), launched several businesses, and writes the funniest and most entertaining business newsletter No Mercy / No Malice.
In his latest newsletter, Scott makes the case that post-crisis periods are among history’s most productive eras. And specifically, this period might be the best time to start a business and explained it by using the monster waves created by the Nazaré Canyon.
Although a few factors highlighted are specific to the US economy, most are worldwide so there are good takeaways, even if you want to start a business in Europe
#4 How Louis CK tells a joke
How Louis CK Tells A Joke (YouTube, 8 min)
The YouTube channel Nerdwriter has these amazing video analyses of speech — people talking. We all know form is as important as content, however, you rarely see these things broken down and analyzed to this detail. They have several entertaining analyses, including Trump and Bernie Sanders answering questions.
After the Trump video, my favorite analysis is on how Louis CK tells a joke. Louis CK is probably one of the best stand-up comic of all time and it is incredible to watch how by adding simple words or pauses, he can create intensive comic or dramatic effects.
#5 Adjustable dumbbells: another great buy for your home gym
Need more ideas to exercise at home? I bought these Bowflex adjustable dumbbells in February and have been using them almost daily. I recommend it if you are into dumbbell exercises.
They are a bit larger than a normal dumbbell but you can easily adjust between weights, starting at 2 up to 24kgs, replacing a complete rack of dumbbellsls. You can quickly adjust the weights using a dial at each end, making them great for supersets and dropsets.
Bowflex Adjustable Dumbbells (Amazon)
If you enjoyed reading this newsletter, please recommend it to a friend who might also like it. Just send her/him this website www.alexnewsletter.com
