“They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.”
– Andy Warhol
Love & Work
A notebook about how we work, learn, love and live.
I’m writing this week from Portland, OR where Debbie and I are finally getting to hold our new granddaughter, Evelyn Wing-Som Anthony. More than one friend has told us that there is nothing like grandparenthood, and they are right.
Happy Friday.
Learning
“Right now, humanity stands at a crossroads. The action we do (or don’t) take is set to determine whether we will – or indeed, can – tackle our climate, biodiversity and social crises.”
The UK’s Forum for the Future has just published a series of articles called The Future of Sustainability: Looking Back to Go Forward. The articles “explore lessons learned from the last 25 years in the sustainability movement; where have we succeeded in creating real change and where have we failed? And what does that tell us about how we need to do things differently?”
The group’s Global Programmes Director, Caroline Ashley, “draws out key takeaways from all we’ve heard in the campaign.
“Looking back, she reflects on three things holding progress up in the sustainability movement:
– piecemeal, shallow and/or short-term interventions;
– failing to effectively consider social justice;
– and investing in siloed activity that drives unintended consequences.” – Forum for the Future
Diana Kapp. Portrait by Spencer Brown with background images by Bijou Karma via Nob Hill Gazette
“We need stories. Badly. We need to transport so many people to a can-do mindset.
“We do this by elevating creative problem-solvers, those who refuse to believe the future is pre-ordained to spell disaster. Instead of tracking temperature rise and island nations set to disappear below rising seas, let’s spotlight Mary Anne Hitt, a scrappy activist from coal country who has organized like mad and succeeded in gumming up approval processes and shutting down 339 coal fired power plants. Let’s illuminate Lynn Jurich, SunRun’s founder, who, with no background in clean energy, has put solar panels on 600,000 rooftops.
“I set out to find these environmental revolutionaries. My goal was to write a collection of profiles spotlighting the women who refuse to accept that Earth is a goner.” – Diana Kapp
Deficit-framing sabotages equity. How to find smarter solutions
“Narrative is a form of cultural grooming. In all societies, stories are how we reinforce the beliefs that our tribes live by. This is why politicians construct narratives before going to war. If the narrative is strong enough, we will put our lives on the line for it.
“Trabian Shorters asks for a show of hands in the room if common stats — like black poverty is high — sound familiar. He then asks for people’s familiarity with an opposing stat. Everyone was familiar with the negative stats but not the positive ones. Nobody is familiar with the black-owned business rate, while everybody seems familiar with the unemployment stat.
“It’s easy to tell the story of black and brown people in deficit, as a failure or a threat, in detail. But nobody can tell a detailed story about the successes and contributions of black and brown people.”
“If you remember nothing else, remember: Defining people by their challenges is the definition of stigmatizing them.” – The Communications Network
“Steve Albini wrote to Nirvana and laid bare his philosophy in a pitch letter that is fascinating from start to finish.”
“Although they only existed for seven years and released just three albums, Nirvana were a band of immeasurable influence in the music world thanks in no small part to Smells Like Teen Spirit, a single track on Nevermind, their second album. It was this song that brought them out into the open, going on to sell millions of copies and win countless awards, its iconic video seemingly broadcast on MTV every 20 minutes for the next six months. 17 months after Nevermind’s release, the band began to record what would be their final album, In Utero—produced by Steve Albini, outspoken engineer extraordinaire. In November of 1992, shortly before they formally agreed on his involvement, Albini wrote to Nirvana and laid bare his philosophy in a pitch letter that is fascinating from start to finish.”
“Go positive and go first, and be constant in doing it.”
“Peter Kaufman is one of the most successful businessmen of our time, and yet few people have ever heard of him. He’s the CEO of Glenair, an aerospace company based in California, and the editor of Poor Charlie’s Almanack, a book about Charlie Munger.
“This speech was to the California Polytechnic State University Pomona Economics Club. The transcript and audio are reproduced here with the permission of Peter Kaufman. As with many “conversational” talks given without notes, it’s better to listen to the audio to pick up on subtleties that won’t come across in the lightly edited transcript. In essence, the talk has a simple takeaway.
“Using a true multidisciplinary understanding of things, Peter identifies two often overlooked, parabolic “Big Ideas”: 1) Mirrored Reciprocation (go positive and go first) and 2) Compound Interest (being constant). A great ‘Life Hack’ is to simply combine these two into one basic approach to living your life: ‘Go positive and go first, and be constant in doing it.’
“There may be no better formula for living the best life you could possibly live.” – Farnum Street
“Ogilvy navigates the ‘cliches’ of designing for music and NYC institutions, as the New York Philharmonic becomes NY Phil.”
“Not many New Yorkers call the New York Philharmonic by its full name. Often referred to as ‘The Phil’ or ‘NY Phil’, ad agency Ogilvy New York has followed their lead, swapping out the name all together for its recent rebrand. Launched as the NY Phil prepares to return to a recently renovated David Geffen Hall for its 2022/23 season, the identity draws from visuals within its architecture and location – namely, through a typographic square logo – while evading the design choices associated with NY institutions.” – Liz Gorny
I am studying with a new guitar teacher. The first song he assigned me is Autumn Leaves. There are dozens of amazing renditions of this beautiful song. I love how this quartet blends classical and jazz elements so seamlessly.
Daga Gregorowicz and Dana Vynnytska, members of the Polish-Ukrainian band DAGADANA, wear flower crowns styled by artist Dominika Dyka. Photograph by Dominika Dyka.
“Flowers, feathers, hemp threads, shells, beads, even pieces of foil and wax–these are just a few of the items that Ukrainian artist Dominika Dyka weaves into her modern re-creations of the traditional Ukrainian vinok( wreath or crown).”Worn for centuries by girls and young women to symbolize purity and fertility—and a mainstay at festivals and weddings—the wreaths are believed to have pagan origins that predate the introduction of Christianity to the Eastern Slavic world in the 10th century. Today, however, they are part of a resurgence of traditional culture that Ukrainians are embracing in daily life—modernized with both a proud history and a bright future in mind.”Article:Spectacular Flower Crowns Rule in Ukraine
What’s Love & Work?
Love & Work is the weekly newsletter by me, Mitch Anthony. I help people use their brand – their purpose, values, and stories – as a pedagogy and toolbox for transformation.
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