SG's Meditations - Issue #51
Hello!
This edition comes from Mumbai.
From the Starbucks that I've spent a lot of time at - the one at Versova. Now that I am here, lemme write, for the record, that there is no place like Mumbai. I think the ecosystem I have here is unparalleled. I am a stranger here and yet I have this sense of familiarity. I am comfortable and yet I am on the edge. I am content most of the time and there is this divine discontentment when I see others around me.
I know people at Starbucks (I mean they know me), and I have a lot of places where I have made a lot of memories at, and yet, there are places where I am an outsider - where I am not invited and I want to be in at. These are the things that make life worth living - you know, being in place and hoping to be at places that are beyond your reach!
In fact, the last week has been magical. I have been engaged, I've lived in the moment, I've done all that I could ask for. One of the best (week) of this year to be honest. In short, I was on the road (was in Bangalore, Goa and Mumbai). I worked on setting up an event that is out of the league. C4E did its first ad-film production. I moved into VG's house. I started on Keto (lol). I met some students and their professors. I attended a play directed by a friend. Met another who wants to write films. I did things that I wanted to and I could create opportunities for people around me. So that!
Ok, let's take a pause. Let's get started with the letter!
📸 Photo of the week
Here is the photo of the week. I will not add too much context but this is the beginning of a new chapter in C4E's life! Here...
😊 Good thing from the week
There are a million, to be honest!
But if I were to club it all into one line, I'd say the good thing of the week was the realisation that I have the ability to connect people to each other and create opportunities for them. I have enough proof and evidence and now I need to create a replicable model around it. I have seen that in action and I can see more and more such connections and opportunities emerging.
I need to find a thing that amplifies my brand. That allows me to meet more people. That allows me to create opportunities that further reward everyone and, yet again, amplify my brand. You know, a flywheel!
Once this flywheel starts churning, I see no reason why I can't make this last till the end of time and, well, change the world!
So yeah, that's my number one challenge and to be honest, I don't know how to solve it. Any clues anyone?
🗣️ Quote of the week
This is from Man in Arena, a famous speech by Franklin D. Roosevelt, an American president.
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
When I read this for the first time (someone had posted this on Twitter), I could instantly relate it to Anton Ego's write-up on critics. He says,
In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little, yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we critics must face, is that in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so. But there are times when a critic truly risks something, and that is in the discovery and defense of the *new*. The world is often unkind to new talent, new creations. The new needs friends.
Club the two and you would know what side I lean on!
🔀 Random thing of the week
I think I wrote about it in the last week's edition as well but I am on this mission to see Better Call Saul. And because of all the travel and meetings and interactions and all that's happening, I haven't been able to see it. I need to get back to it. I mean I did try catching a few minutes but I was way too tired to keep my eyes open.
I think I will get back to it sometime in the coming week.
To be honest, I am really keen on watching this despite my aversion to shows that take away time! I mean I don't know why would I want to fill my time with content that will not add anything to me in the long run! I mean in the short term, I will have enough mental tickle to "enjoy" what I am seeing. But if it doesn't add anything in the long run, why would I do it?
Except, if it can teach me how to write better! And think of more such mind-bending stories! And write things that are inspiring and interesting!
So that!
💭 Thought of the week
I am thinking a lot about Salons. Read more about them here.
In one line, Salons are gatherings of interesting people, inspired by an interesting host, talking about interesting things. The closest equivalent is TED talks. In the room, a speaker talks about something inspiring (or something similar) to a room full of other people that want to get inspired.
Unrelated, there is this lady on Twitter, Anna. She runs a community that runs similar salons for people from across the world. I am so inspired by her and so jealous of what she's been able to create that I want to kidnap her brains!
Coming back to salons.
The magical last few days could only happen because I invited myself into rooms full of interesting people. And the rooms I was in were intimate (rather than large ones). And I was an equal (even though I was merely observing things). And I came back inspired AF from there. I need to somehow replicate these. Purely for a selfish reason - these intimate gatherings allow me to explore more and do more and learn more.
So that.
The other thing I have been thinking about a lot is the ability to have downtime while you work. Most of the work I do is non-stop, always on. And I am left with very little time to recuperate. Or unwind, as they call it. And from what I have experienced, this downtime is essential if you want to get ahead and do better work. Especially of the creative kinds. I thus need to find an escape. Often.
📽️ Video of the week
Today I have a music video. This one.
I love acoustic version remixes of old music and this recent version. In fact I am a big fan of lo-fi and acoustic ones. And I try and listen to those to em more than I listen to regular ones.
And this, ladies and gents brings me to the end of this newsletter.
I couldn't send it over the weekend (way too much work and way too much action and thus no time for this). Apologies for this.
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Over and out! 👋
- SG / 15 Aug 2022 / Mumbai