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#148: How to be a thrilling little machine
“Essentially, the whole process is: intuition plus iteration” – George Saunders Good morning friends I have wanted to write this letter for many months, but it has felt too difficult to…

#147: Make Your Time Count
“Those who make the worst use of their time are the first to complain of its brevity.” ― Jean de La Bruyère Good morning friends I hope that you’re well today.…

#146: Living in Complexity
“Life is basically unfair. But even in a situation that’s unfair, I think it’s possible to seek out a kind of fairness” – Haruki Murakami Dear friends The last…

# 145: What the CEOs Are Saying
“Leaders are the emotional thermostats of those they lead, and our habits as leaders can spread like a contagion” – Chip Conley Dear Friends At the end of last year,…

A Night With Gregory Porter
Would it be unfair to claim that Kirstenbosch’s Botanical Gardens is the world’s most beautiful concert venue? I don’t think so. I can’t think of a better one. The…

#144: Keep Hope Alive
“Hold fast to dreams, For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird, That cannot fly.” ― Langston Hughes Chris Carson looks at his therapist, “I end each night…

#143: The Power of the Powerless
“Only by creating a better life can a better system be developed” Hello my good friends It’s been a while. I’ve missed you. As I’ve wondered how to restart our…

#142: 2022 in Review
Dear friends Today is our last letter for the year. Our next letter will be on 15 January 2023. Thank you for all the messages about last week’s letter on…

#141: The Power of Reflection
Well, we’re into the final weeks of the year. Cicero’s reflection that “It is not by muscle, speed, or physical dexterity that great things are achieved, but by reflection, force…

#140: Working with artists (and others like them)
I wanted to get straight to business today. I wasn’t inspired to share any particular piece of art, amusing cartoon, wine to drink, or place to visit. I grudgingly decided…

#139: Book Pairings and Zen
Summer has been creeping down from the equator and it feels like it has eventually reached Cape Town. The nights are still cool, but the days are sunny, albeit only…

#138: Connection and Hope
The letter was born watching Gina Prince-Bythewood and Viola Davis’ The Woman King. The film’s joy is witnessing a Pan-African cast create magic together. Its pain is the history it…
