Hello Familia - Welcome to Vol. 10 of Move Fast, Think Slow. It’s been two months since the last dispatch which focused on how stoicism can change your life. The stoics and the practice are great for managing the day-to-day. Especially these days. As we walk through a societal and geo-political minefield of sorts. But we’ll dive into that more in our next debrief. This week we’re focused on a correction to the mining for insights briefing shared last year. For subscribers scroll below to dive into this week’s issue but if you are new here…
The purpose of Move Fast, Think Slow is to surface cultural and/or business trends that are raising an eyebrow in the current moment. Move Fast, Think Slow is also focused on meditations + and philosophy. Hence the name. Think of this thing as a cultural/business party upfront and philosophy/meditations after-party in the back.
Correction on Mining for Insights 11/9/21 Briefing
I want to take this opportunity to course-correct a briefing shared last year called Mining for Insights where I fan-boy 'd two gents who drop hot-fire knowledge (@Faris and @EthanMollick). After I shared this post, my wife correctly retorted, “but babe, as a lady reader I'd really like to know who are your go-to’s that are women.” It was at that very moment where a tinge of shame entered my domain. I regretted not including a few dynamic women who drop knowledge on culture and trends at large. When I paused and thought about it, it was an easy answer on who I continually look to for insights and wisdom on business and culture.
Kara Swisher and Taylor Lorenz are two of my “go-tos” to learn the latest insights in business tech, media & entertainment, social media, creators/influencers, and ultimately culture. Kara's has been an amazing editor, writer, and opine in the media and tech business for years. Always at the forefront and also on the inside. Her style of journalism and ability to get scoops has always provided unique perspectives on the media and technology business. In recent years her game has evolved into real dynamic level excellence. She has an Op-Ed column and podcast with NY Times (Sway) and a side hustle podcast for NY Mag with Professor Galloway (Pivot). That’s an impressive amount of work. And it is consistently great.
As a response to said CEO. To his face. In real time. While on stage. Major guts. Serious courage. Punchy (and fair) journalism.
Taylor Lorenz is a journalist that does a great job researching, interviewing and writing editorials on all things digital creator economy and digital platforms. I’d argue that Lorenz fits a simliar mold to Kara in that her takes can be brutally honest and the analysis of business implications easy to understand. Just look here, here, or here in how she summed up the trends on creators / social / tech worlds for the New York Times. She consistently points to nuanced trends within the social platforms and the manifestation of an entirely new entertainment economy driven around online creators. Creators who are becoming home shopping network gurus making money but are also burning out for tap dancing for the black screens. I’ve never seen anyone capture the weird and dynamic creator economy for its potential, downfalls, and evolving business practices for what they are.
By the way; just this week Lorenz is making waves on Newsfeeds and causing a roar from right-wing communications mechanisms not liking a recent article citing an anti-gay propaganda machine on TikTok (and by extension cable tv news) called LibsofTikTok. Lorenz has major guts (courage) as we can see in the work she does. Who else is shining a light on the backroom darkness of some of these platforms and organized propaganda machinations that use them for nefarious reasons?
Perhaps my wife can find solace in my correction here. And praise be Kara and Taylor for continuing to do amazing journalism that is educational, insightful, and always on the pulse of the moment.
Photos of the week
The hottest new club on the internet is Chaotic Nightclub on Twitter. Below are a few faves. I don’t know why but the spills mid-fall photos just 😂 😂 😂 every time. Chaotic Nightclub jumped onto Twitter just last month and it’s already at 1M followers. The wait time in line to get inside is long but well worth the wait - enjoy.
Last thing: Two great reads that will be unpacked next week
Derek Thompson's Why American Teens Are So Sad
Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid by Jonathan Haidt.
Both are sobering yet insightful reads.
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Go forth. Be kind. Have a great weekend!
- Mitch