Youtube Weekly Newsletter #1

Hey there,

First edition is here! I have selected 3 videos from current week that brought value to me, hope it brings value to you.

1. 8 Simple Hacks to Improve Your Health

In this YouTube video, the Ali emphasizes the paramount importance of health in overall life satisfaction. He shares eight practical and evidence-based health hacks

Importance of Health:

The video emphasizes the central role of health in a person's life. It highlights that regardless of wealth, career success, relationships, or hobbies, one's overall quality of life is greatly influenced by their health.

1. Sleep Improvement (321 Method):

   1. The speaker discusses a practical method called the 321 method to improve sleep quality. This method involves three key steps:

      1. 3 (Three Hours Before Bed): Avoid eating within three hours of bedtime as studies suggest that late-night eating can disrupt sleep and reduce sleep quality.

      2. 2 (Two Hours Before Bed): Stop drinking liquids, even water, at least two hours before bedtime to prevent nighttime awakenings and ensure better sleep.

      3. 1 (One Hour Before Bed): Reduce screen usage, especially from phones, tablets, and bright screens, at least one hour before going to sleep. The overstimulation from screens can hinder the ability to fall asleep.

2. Increase Physical Activity:

   1. Ali acknowledges the importance of physical activity, especially in today's sedentary work environments. They suggest incorporating more steps into your daily routine, aiming for the widely recommended goal of 10,000 steps per day.

   2. Simple strategies include using a treadmill desk, walking during Zoom calls, and choosing to walk rather than drive for short trips. The speaker emphasizes the positive impact of these habits on overall health and mood.

3. Meditation for Stress Reduction:

   1. The speaker shares their experience with meditation as a means to reduce stress. They initially had reservations but discovered its benefits through research and personal experience.

   2. Meditation has been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce cortisol (stress hormone) levels, decrease heart rate, and improve attention and focus.

   3. The speaker mentions incorporating meditation into their daily routine, especially in the morning, as a calming and centering practice.

4. Regular Dexa Scans

   1. The video discusses the importance of tracking health metrics with regular Dexa scans. Dexa scans provide information about muscle and fat composition, allowing individuals to monitor their progress and make informed fitness decisions.

   2. Ali mentions undergoing Dexa scans every six months and how this practice has helped them achieve fitness goals.

5. Protein Intake:

   1. Ali highlights the significance of protein intake for muscle building. While recommendations vary, they aim for 1.5 to 2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight daily. By increasing protein intake, they successfully gained muscle and lost fat.

6. Flexibility and Mobility:

   1. The speaker acknowledges their limited flexibility and mobility but emphasizes the importance of these aspects in preventing exercise-related injuries.

   2. Studies have shown that having a baseline level of flexibility and mobility can reduce the risk of injury during physical activities.

   3. Ali recommends using stretching routines, both from fitness channels and mobile apps, to improve flexibility, particularly in problem areas like hamstrings and hip flexors.

7. Pill Organization for Consistency:

   1. All people face the challenge of consistently taking supplements or medication. Ali shares his solution, using a pill organizer.

   2. A weekly pill organizer simplifies the process of taking supplements or medication by pre-sorting them for each day of the week, reducing the likelihood of missed doses.

8. Productive and Evidence-Based Skincare Routine:

   1. The final hack involves maintaining a productive and evidence-based skincare routine.

2. I Read 117 Books On Money — These 17 Will Make You RICH

The video discusses the Iman’s experience of reading numerous books on various topics related to money, investing, and personal development. He emphasizes that most of the information from these books proved to be useless for getting rich, so they've curated a list of 17 books that they believe can genuinely help people become wealthy.

The recommended books are categorized into three income thresholds: 0-10k a month, 10k-100k a month, 100k-1m a month

The 17 recommended books are the following:

1. "The Alchemist": Emphasizes the importance of courage and following one's purpose as a foundational step toward wealth.

2. "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill: Highlights the belief that conceiving and believing in your goals is essential for achieving them, making it a crucial mindset book for wealth.

3. "Atomic Habits" by James Clear: Provides a practical guide to changing habits incrementally, allowing readers to become the person worthy of success, a crucial step in wealth-building.

4. "Money Master the Game" by Tony Robbins: Encourages readers to set clear financial expectations and understand how to think about money, offering a comprehensive overview of personal finance.

5. "The Personal MBA" by Josh Kaufman: Distills essential business knowledge, covering topics such as operations, finance, leadership, and accounting, making it a valuable resource for business success.

6. "Influence" by Robert Cialdini: Teaches the psychology of persuasion and the art of marketing, critical for those looking to influence and persuade buyers effectively.

7. "The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries: Focuses on the importance of execution, a proper feedback loop, and rapid adaptation in business, especially valuable for entrepreneurs.

8. "Never Split the Difference" by Chris Voss: Teaches negotiation techniques, particularly tactical empathy, to build trust and rapport in various business situations.

9. "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie: Provides valuable insights into understanding human nature and building positive relationships, essential for networking and collaboration.

10. "The 48 Laws of Power" by Robert Greene: Explores strategies for understanding and navigating power dynamics in various social and business contexts.

11. "Reality Transurfing" by Vadim Zeland: Offers a unique perspective on managing one's reality and making personal goals a reality through a different way of thinking.

12. "Misbehaving" by Richard Thaler: Introduces behavioral economics and its relevance in understanding how people's actions shape the economy.

13. "The Creature of Jekyll Island" by G. Edward Griffin: Unveils the secrets of the Federal Reserve and delves into the history and workings of the modern banking system, essential for understanding macroeconomics.

14. "The House of Morgan" by Ron Chernow: A biography of the Morgan family and their significant role in shaping the modern banking system, providing valuable historical insights into finance.

15. "The Intelligent Investor" by Benjamin Graham: Offers timeless wisdom on investing, emphasizing the importance of patience, discipline, and sound investment strategies.

16. "One Up On Wall Street" by Peter Lynch: Shares investment strategies and insights from a legendary fund manager, providing valuable guidance for investors.

17. "The Millionaire Next Door" by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko: Examines the habits and characteristics of wealthy individuals, offering practical advice for building wealth.

These books are categorized based on income thresholds and offer valuable knowledge for individuals at different stages of their wealth-building journey.

3. Spotify Founder: How A 23 Year Old Introvert Built A $31 Billion Business!

In this YouTube video I am sharing an interesting segment from The Diary Of A CEO that follows a discussion between the host and Daniel Ek, the founder of Spotify that traces his transformation from a young retiree, unfulfilled by early success and wealth, to a passionate entrepreneur. The narrative reveals the challenging yet rewarding journey of establishing Spotify. A brief summary based on topics can be found below.

01:23 - 12:07: Upbringing and Drive for Success Ek delves deep into his upbringing in a working-class neighborhood, shaped majorly by a determined single mother who emphasized a diverse education and personal potential over specific professional achievements. A blend of introversion and eclectic interests, infused with a deep-seated ambition nurtured by his mother's teachings, laid the foundation of Ek's character and future pursuits.

12:07 - 19:50: Education and Entrepreneurial Insights Daniel holds a complex perspective on education, valuing its essence while recognizing its non-universality. He underscores the importance of individualized learning pathways, continuous adaptation, and exploring varying avenues to entrepreneurship. Daniel refrains from offering direct advice, stressing the diverse nature of success and fulfillment.

21:08 - 29:33: Early Life and Reevaluation Daniel Ek, Spotify's founder, shares his journey from dropping out of high school to retiring at 23 after a lucrative company acquisition. The luxury lifestyle he'd imagined quickly proved unfulfilling. A period of reflection followed, catalyzed further by a co-founder undergoing a similar crisis, leading

30:02 - 41:34: The Dynamics of Status, Wealth, and Solitude The conversation transitions to the human natural attraction to fame and status and the revelation of its fleeting satisfaction. This exploration of the illusory fulfillment from fame is paired with an insightful discussion on the necessity of solitude and personal space for mental well-being and the subtleties of balancing social engagements and individual solitude.

44:20 - 57:56: The Birth and Rise of Spotify The narration shifts to the intricate journey of establishing Spotify. From its conceptualization amidst daunting challenges and the music industry's complex landscape to the emotional roller-coaster marked by persistent rejections and unwavering support from co-founders, the tale unfolds. The narrative captures the relentless efforts to forge essential relationships with record labels and the nuanced blend of optimism and realism that defined this journey.

58:58 - 1:00:47: Financial Commitment and Entrepreneurial Strategy Ek unveils the significant personal financial risk embarked upon to nurture Spotify. This discussion extends to strategies for those eyeing the startup landscape, advocating for a direct involvement and equity acquisition as a viable route for individuals with limited investment capabilities.

1:00:47 - 1:02:33: Hiring Strategies and Sponsor Endorsement The effectiveness of LinkedIn Jobs in sourcing competent candidates underscores the pivotal role of assembling the right team for business success. A shift to a product endorsement highlights the speaker’s positive experience with a podcast sponsor's products.

1:03:02 - 1:10:17: Spotify’s Strategic Positioning and Critique of Apple Spotify's preparedness and strategic response to the launch of Apple Music is examined, alongside a critique of Apple’s business practices, advocating for a fairer competitive landscape.

1:10:49 - 1:24:56: Evolution, Culture, and Identity Ek's personal evolution underscores a shift from strategy to a profound appreciation of corporate culture and individual uniqueness. The narrative highlights Spotify’s harmonious blend of ambition and humility, and an emphasis on the significance of recognizing and harnessing one’s intrinsic strengths and capabilities.

1:25:23 - 1:25:48: Closing Endorsement The session wraps up with a nod to Shopify's instrumental role in the speaker’s business operations, lauded for its user-friendly interface and efficiency in e-commerce management.

Thanks for reading, see you soon!