sup friends 👋🏼,

It’s been a minute—and for good reason!

I kicked off October with shoulder surgery, a non-urgent fix I’d put off for six years (thank you, Tough Mudder). After weeks in a sling, I’m finally getting back to typing comfortably and feeling ready to dive into some fresh insights.

Here’s what’s been on my mind this month:

• Nature is underrated—getting outside really is the best reset.

• More offline time—we all need fewer screens and more presence.

• Beware instant gratification—it can derail long-term progress.

• AI’s rapid rise—both thrilling, and unsettling.

• More writing, more publishing—it’s time to prioritise what I love doing.

• 65 days left in 2024—a chance to finish strong and set up a strong start to 2025.

Here’s to making the most of the final stretch!

Anyway, let’s get to it 🙂 

💎

/1 How to Live A Good Life

I read this insightful article by Ralph on Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, where he explains that true happiness comes from living a virtuous life, both intellectually and morally.

According to Aristotle, true happiness is about flourishing and fulfilling our purpose, not just experiencing pleasure.

It's a thought-provoking read on the timeless question of how to live well.

/2 Getting Your First 100 Users

Sam Altman’s Playbook for Landing Your First 100 Users

• Reach out to your network: Ask friends and old classmates to be your customers.

• Research potential users: Email people you think might use your product and ask them to try it out.

• Send targeted emails: If you have a paid product, charge people for it. Then, send targeted emails to people you think might be interested in your product.

• Use social media: Use social media, Hacker News forums, and press to grow your user base.

• Make it an ongoing strategy: Figure out a way to grow your user base that's not just a one-time event.

/3 Planning vs Doing Mode

A handy checklist to help you build a strong bias toward action.

(If you’re actually doing this exercise and need a thought partner for one of the items below, hit me up and i’ll help!)

/4 Internal vs External Wealth

Resonated with this post around forms of wealth.

There’s two different forms we can pursue:

1. External wealth (this is easily visible): Financial or status.

External wealth is a necessity. Financial wealth tends to be less fickle than status wealth.

2. Internal wealth (this is visible only to self/close relationships): Physical (fitness), mental (equanimity), emotional (relationships/love), and spiritual (purpose).

Internal wealth, in the long run, often shows up in the amount of external wealth we have. Often but not always.

/5 A Nutty Idea

I know i’m late to the party given I’ve not posted this month, but…how could the last post of this issue not be about Elon?!

A couple of years ago, Elon Musk had this wild idea: a rocket that could steer itself back to Earth and even catch itself on landing.

It’s honestly inspiring to see how big ideas and relentless drive can make the impossible possible.

Bonus: How Mike Posner Built A Music Empire From His Dorm Room

Had to share a bonus link from a podcast I’m listening to about Mike Posner - the dude released “Cooler Than Me” when he was 20, and he was producing music for 12 years up until then (yes, the math maths).

Such a wide range of great topics covered (and I’m not even finished yet), but he said something that stuck with me: His mission is to ‘Architect a Beautiful Life’.

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

Till next week,

Fahim ✌️