Stuff #96 - Slow down and wander

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Hi from Dublin, I'm Matt...

Big thanks for all the positive messages about Stuff Mixtape #3, I hope you enjoyed my weird and eclectic track selection for July! I also want to welcome the new readers that joined Stuff over the last couple of weeks, I hope the mail finds you safe and well wherever you are.

Thank you for being a part of Stuff. If you received this email from an excellent friend, and would like to subscribe, please go here. If you'd like an archive of Stuff from the beginning of 2022 - it's here.

Onward with the Stuff that MattRs this week...

Monday Motivation: Let this week be the one where you SLOW down and get more things done. Your brain has been begging for it, and science shows that doing some things more slowly increases their effectiveness. Even some of the very highest achievers use the power of going slowly to achieve greatness.
Your new superpower: Seven ways to gain influence in your company without having a title. Some excellent practical advice from Lolly Daskal - item #1 is particularly important.
Essential Reading: I spent Friday in a nearly empty office, I got tons done but it's clear that nobody wants to be in the office on Friday. For balance, here's the incredible Malcolm Gladwell sharing that he thinks Working From Home is not doing us ANY good.
Take care: In the 'age of anxiety', it might be time to turn to ancient wisdom. Some practical advice for handling anxiety, with nine techniques from the Stoics.
TWIL: I was always told that where I grew up (the UK) was on the opposite side of the world to Australia. Turns out that's a load of rubbish. The Antipodes Globe will find your REAL opposite place. (Tip - the opposite side of the world to the UK is in the ocean)
Just go for a wander: Make some time today to indulge in the art of Flânerie. Just take some time out and go for an aimless stroll, it'll do you the world of good.
From this to that and back again: This very clever site will solve all of your (tech) problems by letting you solve any file related problem you have.
This image does not exist: Do you think you can tell the difference between a computer and a human? What about the art they produce? It's much harder than it looks.
A history of Fly Fishing by JR Hartley: The weird old book finder will help you seek out an unusual, vintage text based on any keyword you choose. Its full of fun, but you won't find anything unusual INSIDE a digitised book.
Finally: Probable - a simple game of prediction, I've managed 6 in a row. Can you do better than me?

Recommended Stuff to make you Smarter

📚 The So What Strategy is an excellent business book to help you develop your story telling skills, and answer the most uncomfortable question you will get asked at work. So What? I found this a really useful guide to build compelling stories to support ideas in the workplace.

📺 Highly recommend the new Apple TV Drama Series, Black Bird starring Taron Egerton and created by mystery author Dennis Lehane. It's the story of a charismatic criminal and his time in prison. I'm really enjoying it.

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If you ever need an Icebreaker for a meeting, check out The Questions: it's my free pile of random questions to kick start your conversations.

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My aural stuff for you this week is the truly epic playlist compiled by Stuff favourite, Kieran Hebden - also known as Four Tet. Running to over 1800 songs, and 155 hours with 140k followers, it is unlikely we'll get through this before next weeks Stuff - but its an amazing playlist to stick on random and uncover something new for your curious ears.

Oh - and it has a weird emoji name that I can't copy in here!

Listen to Four Tet's epic streaming playlist on Spotify here.