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#1 The Bootlegger: Epic article from 1926 in the New Yorker about a Bootlegger, how he got started and tricks of the trade. A+
#2 Gig Economy: The BLS released new data on the gig economy, that showed it shrunk over the past 12 years. There have been mixed reports over the past couple of years which vary based on different definitions of alternative work and vary whether you are counting side-gigs and other types of "work" like AirBnB rentals. However, in my non-scientific research, if you just look at who is talking about the future of work on LinkedIn, it is
By the way, if you are in Boston, I'm hosting a dinner and conversation "beyond the full-time paradigm" - would love to see you if you are interested.
#3 Invisible Asymptotes: Case studies of the "invisible asymptotes" that tech companies face that is also a good lesson on how we limit our thinking to what we know. Eugene talks about his experience at Amazon and how they pushed past the hassle of shipping costs by creating Amazon Prime and then closes with how you can apply this thinking to yourself by gaining a deeper understanding of your limits:
"When it comes to business, however, and surviving in the ruthless Hobbesian jungle, where much more is winner-take-all than it once was, the idea that you can be whatever you want to be, or build whatever you want to build, is a sure path to a short, unhappy existence."
#4 Big Companies: I shared this a few weeks ago, but I interviewed Luke Kanies on my podcast about his article "why people hate working for big companies" which makes the observation that companies tend to act like authoritarian states in a country that holds the free market sacred. What made the conversation interesting was Lukes own path from commune to founder of a startup.
#5 Writing Books: I love this blog post from Tyler Cowen on whether or not you should write a book. Good list of alternatives.
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