Three Books I'm Reading

The Great Depression, Big Mistakes, and The Algebra of Happiness. I really enjoy reading and want to start sharing some of my favourites.

The Great Depression: A Diary By Benjamin Roth

Benjamin Roth was a lawyer who lived through the Great Depression. Everyday he would write an entry reflecting on the day's events. This is his diary. With each page you experience this generational event through his eyes.

We typically learn about the Depression from a macro lens. Roth's writing allows you to zoom in and get on the ground level. You'll experience the Depression from beginning to the end through the daily realities of a small town in Ohio.

A great read, with lessons on financial history, gratitude and resilience. Lessons especially relevant for times of uncertainty like today.

Big Mistakes by Michael Batnick

Michael Batnick is the Director of Research at Ritholtz Wealth Management. In Big Mistakes he goes through the blooper reel of history's most famous and successful investors. From Benjamin Graham to Warren Buffet.

Each chapter shines the light on one of these titans and their costly missteps. Entertaining and humbling. Big Mistakes is a reminder of how difficult active investing is. Even the smartest, most accomplished and resource-heavy amongst us can still fail and fail big.

The Algebra of Happiness by Scott Galloway

Scott Galloway is a Professor for the NYU Stern School of Business. A podcaster and writer, Professor Galloway produces a lot of content focusing on tech and business. Him tackling the subject of happiness was a deviation from the norm.

The Algebra of Happiness is filled practical advice told through life stories. Raw and unfiltered, Galloway's honestly made this an incredibly engaging read.

Filled with important lessons on wealth and living well. This is a book you can come back to, time and time again.

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Constructive feedback is an awkward affair. You don't want hurt feelings, but recognize the importance of honesty. You've tried the classic "hoping things will get better on its own" and unfortunately it hasn't played out. When giving feedback, here are a few things that I try to keep it mind. Start with empathy. Step into their shoes and understand their story. If you don't know, ask. Be genuinely curious. Feedback is a dynamic affair. Shared communication with a shared goal towards progress. Take the emotion out of it. Focus on the situation, not the person. Focusing on the person adds unnecessary weight to an already emotionally-bloated event. Be specific. Give clear examples. Vague feedback equals dismissed feedback. Doing above won't de-awkward things fully, but it will dampen it and increase the chance of better outcomes.

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Step One is Knowing

In school, we listen to our teachers. At home, our parents. Throughout our childhood, following instructions is praised and rewarded. When we're young, there's value in this. We don't understand how the world works quite yet, so guidance can be lifesaving. The bias to just accept obviously has drawbacks. Insert old jumping off a bridge adage . This conditioning is especially strong for kids from lower income households. Their parents are more likely in working class jobs involving strict order-taking. Parents of middle-class households tend to be knowledge workers where influence is essential. Studies have shown kids from middle-income households are more willing to negotiable with their teachers. They learn from their parents that things are not set in stone. This leads to better grades and learning outcomes when compared to their lower income counterparts who don't negotiable. In business, if we simply accept things as they are, we would never innovate. In work, w

Herman Ye

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