sup friends 👋🏼,

This week, I carved out more time for reading and found myself spoiled for choice on what to feature. After sifting through it all, the five gems below stood out - I think you'll enjoy them too.

Btw, did you try last week’s exercise? If not, here’s your friendly nudge to give it a go.

Ask yourself these powerful questions:

• ✨ What do you want to make happen by December 31, 2025?

• ✨ Why does that matter?

• ✨ And why really? (Because let’s be honest, the first answer isn’t always the whole story.)

• ✨ What habits and routines will you start today to bring it to life?

Let’s get to it 🙂 

💎

#1: 10 Charts that Capture How the World is Changing (part 1)

Rex Woodbury always delivers sharp insights (his is the only VC blog I make time for), and his latest post featuring five charts on emerging global trends doesn’t disappoint.

Some are eye-opening, others feel inevitable—but all are worth a look. Here’s the lineup:

1. The Rise of Prediction Markets: unsurprising, given their momentum in the crypto space.

2. 2025: The Year of VC Distributions: who knew 2023/24 was this rough for venture returns?

3. The Experience Economy Roars Back: people are prioritizing experiences over material goods again

4. Redefining Financial Success: fascinating take on what "success" really looks like in today’s world (see chart below)

5. The New Space Race: competition is heating up again for the final frontier

My favourite? Chart #4, which really made me rethink...

#2 James Clear’s System for Success

Most people think success is about willpower.

It’s actually about process, mechanics and systems.

Since reading his best-seller “Atomic Habits”, I realised how important it is to set the right habits to set myself up for success.

His framework:

1. Make it obvious (put triggers in your environment)

2. Make it attractive (bundle habits with pleasure)

3. Make it easy (remove friction from good habits)

4. Make it satisfying (celebrate small wins)

The key takeaway? Transformation isn’t about massive leaps; it’s about steady evolution. Small steps, big impact.

#3: My Honest Advice to Someone Who Wants to Make A Lot of Money

Sahil’s content makes it in the newsletter for the second week in a row - but all of these points were spot-on. A summary:

• The only way to make a lot of money is to create a lot of value (100% agree)

• Time is your most valuable financial asset (but only up to a point)

• “Doing your own thing” isn’t for everyone

• You have to demonstrate excellence in everything you do (YES)

• Salesmanship is more valuable than intelligence (yes but you have to back up your sales skills with substance of what you know)

• If you want extraordinary output, you need to be willing to contribute extraordinary input

I’ve missed a few others, would encourage you to take 8min and read this.

#4: Lightspeed’s $485k investment in Snapchat’s Seed Round

The power of a solid 1-pager—loved this breakdown of why Lightspeed decided to bet on Snap.

And gotta shout out the school that threw in $15K to get in on the round. Talk about a killer ROI!

#5: How To Make The Most Out Of Your 20’s

This video felt like the ultimate 20s playbook (also relevant for other decades of your life!): why not ‘speed-running life’ is key, how to hack the hedonic treadmill, and why doing the hardest things early sets you up for long-term wins.

The best advice?

• Take risks when you can

• Delay the fancy stuff

• Lay the foundation for the life you want—because your 20s don’t come with a rewind button.

Bonus:

This was a great prompt - definitely worth trying!

That’s a wrap - let me know your favourite link 🙂 

Till next week,

Fahim ✌️