> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://makoism.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Beautiful Polished Rocks - URL: https://makoism.com/beautiful-polished-rocks/ - Published: 2021-03-06T17:13:01.000Z - Updated: 2021-03-06T17:13:01.000Z - Description: "You can't come up with a formula to change the way you experience the world." - A Beautiful Mind - Author: Steve Makofsky - Tags: makoism, #newsletter-makoism, #substack ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/38002212-c433-4d89-8fc5-be5f428c6fbc_6000x4000.jpeg) rocks Hi again, I’m Steve Makofsky and this is a somewhat weekly list of interesting articles, books, podcasts, music and videos that I come across during the week that helps me grow my mind garden. I hope you enjoy it, find something new to think about, and [share it with your friends](https://smakofsky.medium.com/?intent=follow). In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. [Share or Follow](https://smakofsky.medium.com/) Lately I find myself spending a lot of time thinking about team dynamics, leadership, humans, and what are the traits that comprise the **best teams** that I have been a part of in my career. These may not have been the most "influential" or ones that made tons of money, but instead I wanted to focus on the teams that have impacted **me** to be a better human. As I approach 50 perhaps I am getting a wee-bit sentimental, but was surprised to discover how deeply these gut feelings around what makes teams great have been resonating with people. I've been sharing a lot of these ideas on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/smakofsky) and as [blog posts on Medium](https://smakofsky.medium.com/) as a stream of consciousness (such as "[carry the fire](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/smakofsky%5Fyou-just-keep-going-activity-6770345285915959296-Tfc8)"). We'll see where it all leads; like I've said before, this is all a work in progress. If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on Medium](https://smakofsky.medium.com/?intent=follow). ## Forward Thinking From 1993, [Bill Gates](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill%5FGates) explains the Internet to [David Letterman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David%5FLetterman). ## **Thought of the week** One video that I like to reference when talking with colleagues on psychological safety and differences of opinion as a key factor to elevating a team, is from a [1996 Robert X. Cringely](https://www.cringely.com/2011/10/21/the-steve-jobs-interview/) "lost interview" with Steve Jobs. In it, Jobs tells a story from his youth, and a "*metaphor for a team that is working really hard on something they're passionate about.*" .. Take the 5 minutes to watch, it's worth it. ## This weeks "Deep Links" Here's a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - The power of walks is something that I need to work more of into my work interactions, and frankly, my entire life. **Walk with me** \- [More](https://richardbrophy.medium.com/walk-with-me-8a532452b0c1) - A long and poignant read from [Tim Urban](https://waitbutwhy.com/) on **The Fermi Paradox**; the simple question around if there is intelligent life in the universe, **where is everybody?** \- [More](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/05/fermi-paradox.html) - Clubhouse has been a curiosity and I'm not really a fan; but I can why it appeals to some. In **Clubhouse Cured My Imposter Syndrome** they put into words some of the things I've been feeling - [More](https://www.wired.com/story/clubhouse-cured-my-imposter-syndrome/) - Distractions can pull you away from things you want to do, and diversions can be healthy. **Life Hack: Understand the Difference Between “Distraction” and “Diversion”** \- [More](https://nireyal.medium.com/life-hack-understand-the-difference-between-distraction-and-diversion-c930896257e2) - **Animagraffs** are animated infographics about everything; this is something wonderful about the Internet - [More](https://animagraffs.com/) - I *love* that there are people that think about this stuff in **Why Paper Jams Persist** \- [More](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/02/12/why-paper-jams-persist) - Ryan Holiday has **100 Very Short Rules for a Better Life** \- [More](https://forge.medium.com/100-very-short-rules-for-a-better-life-f7f5191c7586) - **The Cube Rule of Food Identification** in which the author provides an answer to the age old question of "Is a HotDog a Sandwich" - [More](https://cuberule.com/) - File under super creepy. **AI ‘Deep Nostalgia’ brings old photos, including very old ones, to life** \- [More](https://www.theverge.com/2021/2/28/22306097/ai-brings-still-photos-life-meme-twitter-geneaology-myheritage) - Do you miss the noise from your local bar? Or looking for some great background noise to pipe into your Zoom calls? Check out **imissmybar.com** \- [More](http://www.imissmybar.com/) - **“True Crime Addict” and the Problem of Internet Sleuths**\- [More](https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/true-crime-addict-and-the-problem-of-internet-sleuths) ## **Fin** As [WandaVision](https://www.disneyplus.com/series/wandavision/4SrN28ZjDLwH) comes to a close, for me (and a large part of the Internet) this is **the scene** that the series will be remembered for. I'll do a deeper review on what I think of the whole 9 episodes, but not yet.