This Week’s BIG Idea
How did the power of compounding help me grow my website? I celebrated the site’s second anniversary this week and couldn’t be happier. I had high hopes for the project when I started it back in 2022, but I had no idea what was going to happen. “Are people interested in book summaries?” “Will anyone read my articles?” Those were some of the questions I was thinking about.
Two years later, I can confidently say that the site has surpassed some of my wildest expectations. It would be easy to compare myself to some of my heroes and say that my site doesn’t drive as much traffic as their sites. That said, there was one thing I wanted to achieve with my site: I wanted to learn as much as possible and enjoy the process. Another reason why I wanted to have a project of this type is because it demands time. Some of the articles that are getting popular just now, I’ve written months ago. As we’ve discussed before, this is the magic of compounding and it amazes me every time.
How did we get here and where do we go from here? Ever since I launched the site, I’ve been pursuing my interests, so I’ve posted articles to some of my favorite books. You can expect more of those. Although I have a rough idea of what I’d like to do in the future, there’s no detailed roadmap. Part of the fun of having this project is being able to adapt to the books that are coming out.
You can expect summaries of books about psychology, philosophy, business, dating, and health. I also plan to reread some of my favorites. I’d love to check out books like The Psychology of Money, Atomic Habits, I Will Teach You to be Rich, The Third Door, Essentialism, The 4-Hour Workweek, The 5 Love Languages, and Ego Is the Enemy. By the way, if you’re reading this, I just wanted to say thanks. I couldn’t have done any of this without people like you and I hope you keep coming back.
What I’m Working on
Last week, I spent some time looking at the numbers. I know that numbers aren’t that important because they’re outside of my control. Nevertheless, it’s nice to see that the site’s been growing steadily for the past two years and that there’s room for more growth. It’s also interesting to see which articles have resonated with people because in most cases I wasn’t anticipating it. This helps me plan content that I think the audience is going to like more from now on.
What I’m Listening to
Ninja Gaiden: The Definitive Soundtrack (Volumes 1 & 2): As I said recently, I haven’t been listening to many podcasts lately. That said, I have been listening to some music. When I transcribe book summaries from paper to a digital document, I usually listen to soundtracks. Some of my favorites include movie soundtracks, but I also listen to some video game soundtracks as well. One of my favorites is Ninja Gaiden, a series of NES games that came out in the late 80s and early 90s. Fans of that era of chiptune music should give those soundtracks a chance.
What I’m Reading
The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel: I’ve been meaning to reread this book for some time. The Psychology of Money is a series of nineteen short stories. In the book, Housel argues that humans are irrational by nature. Therefore, doing well with money isn’t about intelligence, it’s about behavior. There are lessons on investing, saving, keeping your ego in check, and achieving ultimate financial freedom. When I first read The Psychology of Money, I loved the book and knew I would be rereading it soon. The book’s $9.99 on Amazon, but the lessons it teaches you are priceless.
What I’m Watching
La La Land: I’ve been trying to watch some movies lately and La La Land is at the top of my list. I’ve never been a big fan of musicals, but La La Land seems to be the musical for people who don’t like the genre. Although I get the sense that I learn a lot when I watch YouTube videos, I haven’t found new content that excites me. So I’m forcing myself movies from time to time. I don’t see myself watching movies every day, but watching films I missed back when they came out has been fun.
This Week’s Quote
“Alcohol is the only drug that people think there is something wrong with you if you don’t do it.”
Chris Williamson
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