Let's connect some dots from this week's notes.

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On to the recap…

The Gary Larson Principle: Why Your Personal Archive Matters

The seemingly mundane act of arranging books on a shelf reveals deeper truths about our identity and creative process. Reflecting on Gary Larson's introduction to his Far Side collection, this post draws a profound parallel between Larson's cartoons and personal archives: "Every one of these cartoons is just something that drifted into my head when I was alone with my thoughts." Just as Larson's daily cartoon panels became diary entries that eventually reached millions, our personal reflections can become meaningful artifacts for ourselves and others. The post argues that authentic self-documentation, whether through bookshelves or digital archives, creates a legacy that matters not just for ourselves but potentially for the wider world too.

Quote from the (Personal) Archive: "You want it to be you. It only works if it's totally you. And, it will feel weird from time to time. Protect the sanctity of the space, and make sure the reflections are your own."

Did AI Do That: Personal Rules

In an era where AI tools are increasingly part of creative workflows, this post establishes clear personal guidelines for using artificial intelligence without compromising authentic expression. The Cultish Creative AI Rules position AI as a valuable editor, summarizer, and brainstorming partner, while emphasizing that AI lacks the essential human quality of taste required for genuine art. Using the analogy of Photoshop or ProTools, the post argues that AI is simply another tool in the creative arsenal, not a replacement for the artist's unique vision and judgment. This balanced approach acknowledges AI's useful functions while maintaining that authentic human taste, formed through lived experience and personal agency, remains the irreplaceable foundation of meaningful creative work.

Quote from the (Personal) Archive: "All artists have taste. Good art comes from artists who have a personal level of awareness of what they like, and can in turn create something, themselves, with the aid of tools, that rises to, or above, their level of 'this is good' awareness. Taste is, therefore, subjective, and uniquely human in its independence and agency."

The Case for Spiky People: Why Greatness Never Fits in Every Box

Challenging the common wisdom that we should strive to be well-rounded, this post introduces John Candeto's concept of "spiky people": those who exhibit extraordinary ability in specific domains rather than general competence across many fields. Through Candeto's experience building software companies, the post reveals how hiring narrowly talented but exceptional individuals consistently outperformed bringing on "jack of all trades" employees who were merely adequate at everything. The piece culminates in Candeto's observation that "No great symphony was ever written by committee," suggesting that breakthrough achievements require the kind of focused brilliance that comes from embracing our spikes rather than smoothing them out in pursuit of well-roundedness.

Quote from the (Personal) Archive: "Certain projects have to be solved at the micro level. They have to be done with a spike. With aplomb. And you just can't get that with average, well-rounded, overall 'fine' people."

Sunday Music: "Hunger For Death" By Pup

Canadian pop-punk band PUP returns with a raw, cathartic new song that balances existential angst with fierce loyalty. This musical reflection explores how their latest release trades tour bus stories for pandemic-influenced existential turmoil, creating something both violent and tender. Working with producer John Congleton (known for his work with Lucy Dacus and contributions to Friday Night Lights), PUP delivers a song that doesn't require crisp edges or perfect resolution, but instead offers an impressionistic, emotionally resonant experience. The post celebrates how the band captures seemingly contradictory emotions, creating music that feels simultaneously destructive and life-affirming, angry yet deeply loyal, showcasing how art can embrace complexity without needing to resolve it.

Quote from the (Personal) Archive: "I want to know the truth too. I want to know my people too. I want to have it in a sing-songy tumbler of a song, burning my throat on the way down, and warming my belly on a Toronto-cold night."

Grow Your Network: John Candeto Is A Spiky-People Collector

This networking feature introduces John Candeto, founder of The Phronesis Fund and host of The Art of Quality podcast, highlighting three key lessons from his approach to business and life. First, Candeto's concept of "spiky people" challenges conventional hiring wisdom, suggesting that extraordinary capability in specific domains outperforms general competence across many skills. Second, his framework for the "economy of time" identifies time as our scarcest resource and encourages seeking areas where time investments create disproportionate value. Finally, his approach to truth reminds us that snapshots (like social media clips) contain partial truths that only reveal their full meaning when viewed as part of a broader tapestry. Through these insights, the post offers practical ways to enhance work performance, deepen life satisfaction, and leave a more thoughtful legacy.

Quote from the (Personal) Archive: "Snapshots of anything are neither good nor bad, but they're a moment... it doesn't mean it doesn't contain truth, but it certainly doesn't mean it's the whole truth. It's a little piece of a much broader tapestry and you'd really try to see the bigger tapestry before you make some serious judgments."

Grow Your Network: Kris Abdelmessih Is A Free-Thinking Market Navigator

Former options trader turned writer Kris Abdelmessih offers three valuable perspectives that challenge conventional career wisdom. First, he emphasizes prioritizing human capital over financial capital early in your career, illustrated by his choice to work with exceptional colleagues at lower pay to maximize long-term growth. Second, Abdelmessih's remarkable immunity to status games, influenced by his fearless mother and authentic high school friends, demonstrates how freeing yourself from external validation enables more authentic life choices. Finally, his courageous mid-career pivot after 21 years in trading reveals how staying in unfulfilling situations often represents a greater risk than venturing into the unknown. Through these insights, the post encourages readers to make decisions based on learning opportunities rather than immediate rewards, free themselves from status-seeking, and take calculated risks that open doors to more fulfilling futures.

Quote from the (Personal) Archive: "If I don't go see what's out there, that's a bigger risk than staying. That's actually how it felt to me. I'll probably regret wondering if I could build a life in another way versus just feeling like I was sentenced to this one for another 10 years."

Where Else I Showed Up This Week

I was on Excess Returns with Jack Forehand discussing some our of favorite clips from Ben Hunt and Grant Williams (and I may have gone too far with some Mickey Mouse vs. Mortimer Mouse stuff, but hey)

Personal Archive Prompts (for you):

• What personal "spikes" do you possess that might be more valuable than trying to be well-rounded?

• How are you capturing your daily thoughts and reflections? What would your personal "Far Side collection" look like? Most importantly, WHAT ARE YOUR STRATEGIC BOOKSHELF PLANTS (for kids or adults)?

• Where in your life are you making decisions based on status rather than authentic interest?

• What tools are you using to enhance your creativity, and how are you maintaining your unique voice while using them?

• What areas of your life offer the highest "economy of time," where small investments might yield exponential returns?

• How might you balance the raw, messy emotions (like in PUP's music) with the structured thinking needed in your work?

• What snapshots or partial truths might you be mistaking for the whole picture in your relationships or career?

As always, I did my part, now it's your turn to write some reflections in your own Personal Archive.

(then, be sure to let me know where you're keeping it, I'm in search of the others too)