Standing on the shoulders of giants

Progress rarely springs from a vacuum. It builds on the accumulated wisdom of those who came before.

Studying and learning from the right thought leaders in your area of interest gives you a vantage point to see further and reach higher.

It's a hack to copy good habits and frameworks from the right mentors.

On having mentors

Progress rarely springs from a vacuum. It builds on the accumulated wisdom of those who came before.

By studying and learning from giants in your field, you gain a vantage point to see further and reach higher.

Mentors provide guidance, inspiration, and hard-won insights. They don't need to be living or personally known to you. Books, historical figures, and contemporary leaders can all serve as mentors. Seek wisdom wherever you find it.

You also have to have mentors, dead or alive.
You have to connect with a body of work or someone who formulated a thought, an aesthetic, and then build years upon that.

Most people won’t tell you is that the people that you look up to didn’t invent it themselves.
You know, everyone has this sort of like, I call it “getting your brain reprogrammed”.

— ​Virgil Abloh​'s lecture at Harvard University on having mentors

I think one of the problems we have today is we don’t have heroes, we don’t have role models and heroes.
Because so many people are interested in tearing down people.

— Ray Dalio, ​interview with Charlie Rose​

If Serena Williams or LeBron James have coaches for correction, why shouldn't we have coaches for areas we lack?

Learning and copying from the wise, who have been there and done that, feels like a hack.

When I seek feedback from coaches, it must be more reliable and correct than what I would get elsewhere in the same amount of time.

Creation requires influence

Originality is often overvalued. Most breakthroughs come from combining and refining existing ideas, not inventing new concepts. Embrace learning from others and make unique contributions by applying knowledge in new contexts, connecting dots in new ways, and not starting from scratch.

Everything we create is a synthesis of our experiences and influences, a remix of existing creations.

​Mike Taylor​ brought Everything is a Remix to me in Manchester, we had a meat up at Miller and Carter, great memory.

The information diet

In the same way that our bodies thrive on a balanced diet, our minds flourish on a well-rounded "information diet."

What we consume in terms of content and information profoundly influences our thoughts, decisions, and ultimately, the mentors we look up to. The internet is busy and curation is key. I try hard to keep this content curated, carefully choosing from those that offer wisdom, diverse perspectives, and constructive insights. No information junk food.

This thoughtful approach to what you consume will help you grow.

Spend time reading

Reading is my favorite way to enrich the information diet.

Getting access to the thoughts and experiences of the greatest minds throughout history feels like a hack. Not only expands your knowledge but also shapes your thinking and perspective.

I have spent countless hours reading, and each book has contributed to my understanding of the world.

For a deeper dive into how I approach reading, you can explore more about my reading habits and favorite books here.

By committing to regular reading, you invest in your personal and professional growth.

Choose books that challenge you, expand your horizons, and encourage critical thinking.

Let the pages of well-chosen books be your mentors, guiding you through the complexities of life with the wisdom they hold.

Embrace the habit of reading as a lifelong journey of learning and self-discovery.

The goal is not to read a book, the goal is to become a reader.

— James Clear

Sources of wisdom

1. Chen, C. (2003). On the Shoulders of Giants. In: Mapping Scientific Frontiers: The Quest for Knowledge Visualization. Springer, London.