RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2026.01.26
Recommended Reading
š„ 52 fascinating people reveal the tiny habits that changed their lives
Thanks to Austin Kleon for pointing me to this article which I found entertaining, head-scratching, and useful.
My favorite on the list: #26.
Recommended Tool
š„ PromptSmart
This is my favorite teleprompter app for shooting video with notes or scripts. The reason: Voice-controlled scrolling. Most teleprompter apps scroll at a fixed speed. They start and they keep going. PromptSmart adjusts the speed according to the pace you speak and pauses when you pause. Available for Apple and Android devices.
Don’t buy it on the PromptSmart website. Buy it from the app store on your phone. You can get it for a one-time fee (no need to pay the recurring subscription).
Recommended Book
š Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide
Most know John Cleese as a comedic actor (Monty Python, Fawlty Towers, A Fish Called Wanda).
He’s also a writer, entrepreneur, and consultant who has advised businesses on creativity, leadership, communication, and organizational culture.
His book “Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide” is short (95 pages) but valuable.
Cleese argues creativity isnāt a rare gift locked away for a few geniuses. Itās a skill you can learn by giving your mind the right space and mood to think freely.
The book mixes humor with insight on topics like tapping your unconscious, handling creative blocks, and knowing when an idea is worth pursuing.
Recommended Viewing
On Saturday night, Melissa and I caught the last 45 minutes of Skyscraper Live on Netflix — Alex Honnold climbing a 101-story building in Taipei without ropes or harnesses.
It made our stomachs churn because, watching live, we didn’t know if he’d make it. And if he slipped, he would die.
Honnold is the guy who climbed the 3,200ft El Capitan in Yosemite National Park without a rope. That story is captured in the documentary Free Solo (highly recommended), also on Netflix.
How Alex Honnold Climbed a 3,000-Foot Vertical Cliff
Even if you don’t want to watch the climbs, I suggest you watch Alex Honnold’s TED talk where he describes how he prepared for and executed the El Capitan feat.
On the surface, itās about climbing a 3,000-foot vertical wall without ropes.
Underneath, itās a masterclass in preparation, decision-making, and eliminating doubt.
Honnold shows the difference between getting lucky and achieving real mastery — in business, leadership, and life.
Words to Ponder
“If I can get you to laugh with me, you like me better, which makes you more open to my ideas.”
ā John Cleese
Don't go away yet..
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