Tiny Letter #1
Tiny Letter #1
Quitting Instagram / micro habits / engineering lessons / shareholder letters / frameworks and investing / sleep science / Apple Park / tools...
On quitting Instagram...
It's been over twelve years since I first joined and started sharing photos of my life on Instagram. I remember the quirky in-app filters, friends sharing food and random in-the-moment pictures (before stories came out), and all the nice people I met through the platform before it became what it's nowadays. There were no influencers, no ads, and no algorithm that shows you only certain accounts.
I never stopped since I joined back in 2011. Every day I would open the application, sometimes consciously and sometimes mindlessly as a routine or boredom. I scrolled, scrolled, and scrolled.
Instagram was one of the most fun ways to keep in touch with friends from all over the world. It made things easy, perhaps too easy. We would share photos we like, start conversations based on these, and create groups to keep in touch with different friend circles. It was fun but also took away time from my life that I could've used for more important things. No regrets.
Things have changed. It's been almost a month since I decided to deactivate my Instagram account and take a pause from the infinity pool of mindlessly scrolling. And I've not looked back since. I'm not sure how long this pause will be, but I believe it's a healthy and conscious choice I need at this moment.
📚 Read…
27 Life-Changing Micro Habits That Require Only A Few Minutes
I love experimenting with habits and this is an article I wish I’d written. It describes how micro habits can be easily incorporated into your daily routine and how they have the potential to greatly improve your life. These habits include things like drinking water as soon as you wake up, taking a walk after dinner, and doing a quick meditation before bed.
Read it: 27 Life-Changing Micro Habits That Require Only A Few Minutes
20 Things I’ve Learned in my 20 Years as a Software Engineer
This article shares valuable lessons including the importance of communication, simplicity in coding, and continuous learning. It's a great resource for both new and experienced software engineers looking to improve their skills and excel in the field.
Read it: 20 Things I’ve Learned in my 20 Years as a Software Engineer
Amazon’s first shareholder letter ‘97
I’ve been wanting to read the Amazon shareholder letters for a long time and finally got the time this week.
Amazon in 1997 was just a baby company with big dreams. Its original letter to shareholders is like a time capsule that takes you back to the early days of the internet. Jeff Bezos talks about everything from the importance of customer satisfaction to the huge potential for online shopping. It’s amazing to read how Amazon’s values were rock-solid since day one: customer satisfaction is key, think long-term, and innovation is crucial.
Reading it now is like seeing the future before it happened - it's a totally wild ride!
Read it: Amazon's original 1997 letter to shareholders
Berkshire Hathaway's first shareholder letter ‘77
Another shareholder letter - this time by the one and only Warren Buffett!
I like the honesty in this letter and how he values the importance of long-term thinking and the need to focus on intrinsic value rather than market fluctuations. By emphasizing the value of investing in companies with sustainable competitive advantages, Warren Buffett provides a timeless framework for building a successful investment portfolio.
Read it: Berkshire Hathaway's shareholder letter 1977
📺 Watched…
💰 Bill Gurley at The Tim Ferriss Show
They discuss Bill’s approach to investing, particularly in companies with strong "network effects," and his thoughts on the current state of the startup ecosystem. Gurley also shares his insights on emerging technologies like blockchain and AI. The interview provides an interesting look into the world of venture capital and offers advice for entrepreneurs and investors.
Watch it: Legendary Investor Bill Gurley on Investing Rules, Insights from Jeff Bezos, Must-Read Books, & More
🏗 The Genius Design of Apple Park
One of the things I enjoy when walking around or traveling is looking at the different types of architectural designs and the stories behind houses and buildings.
This video is all about the futuristic-looking campus that Apple built in Cupertino – the "Spaceship". It's a real work of art! There are inside stories about how it was designed and how people like Steve Jobs, Norman Foster, and Jony Ive influenced the project. It's a fascinating and fun exploration of a really unique building!
Watch it: The Genius Design of Apple Park
🛌 Gina Poe at Huberman Lab
In this video, Dr. Gina Poe talks about how sleep can boost brainpower and emotional state. She also explains how sleep helps your brain consolidate memories and balance emotions. She shares tips for getting better sleep, like avoiding junk food and turning off your screens before bed. It's a fascinating chat that will make you appreciate the power of a good night's sleep!
Watch it: Dr. Gina Poe: Use Sleep to Enhance Learning, Memory & Emotional State | Huberman Lab Podcast
🛠 Tools…
Arc browser - a fresh take on a browser // 🔗 link (DM for invite codes)
Tabnine - AI assistant for software developers // 🔗 link
Workspaces - a place to draw workspace setup inspiration // 🔗 link