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# Did You Chop Down This Tree?
- URL: https://makoism.com/did-you-chop-down-this-tree/
- Published: 2021-03-20T14:12:20.000Z
- Updated: 2021-03-20T14:12:20.000Z
- Description: “A tree falls the way it leans. Be careful which way you lean.” — The Lorax
- Author: Steve Makofsky
- Tags: makoism, #newsletter-makoism, #substack

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/a6c0190b-c01b-4a55-8854-2095591c4911_5616x3744.jpeg)

tree

Hi again, I’m [Steve Makofsky](https://makoism.com) 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://makoism.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.

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**The Lorax**, written in 1971, shows a world with no trees left. The point of this is not a commentary on the [banning/censoring](https://drseussbanned.weebly.com/why-was-the-lorax-challenged.html) of the book for portraying the foresting industry in a negative way.

> "**I speak for the trees for the trees have no tongues**"

Instead I wanted to put out there on how I think about change and leadership. I cannot understate the power of **speaking up**, regardless of where you are in an organization, on things you believe in. If you are in a leadership role or have a platform - speak for those who **don’t have a voice**. Don't become disheartened; continuously pursue the change you want to see. Whether it’s battling “that’s not the way we used to do it” thinking, large imbalances of diversity in workforce or toxic behavior; speak up.

Remember - "**unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's just not.**"

**Be The Lorax**.

If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on Medium](https://makoism.com/?intent=follow).

## **Forward Thinking**

One of the stand out re-watches for me this week was a 2012 [TED talk](https://www.ted.com/talks) on "The Six Degrees", by Kevin Bacon.

It follows his journey on his initial reaction of *embarrassment* and the eventual embracing of the "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon" game. It led him to finding [SixDegrees.org](https://www.sixdegrees.org/), a charitable initiative that links people to charities and each other for the purpose of **making a difference**.

## **Latest obsession**

I have fallen head over heels for [The Matador Pocket Blanket](https://matadorup.com/collections/accessories/products/pocket-blanket) and [Mini Pocket Blanket](https://matadorup.com/collections/accessories/products/pocket-blanket-mini) as a must-have accessory. They're lightweight, water-resistant outdoor blankets that you use for a picnic, getting work done at the top of a hike, or even a nap on.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/3e4f218e-0edc-4b08-bc08-fd665f6a5723_2000x1140.jpeg)

The best part? These blankets are freaking compact and small that it can fit in your pocket or **clip on your keychain**.

## **This weeks "Deep Links"**

Here's a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week:

- As someone who always is dubious of consulting firms, this read on **McKinsey’s partners suffer from collective self-delusion** brutally hits the nail on the head - [More](https://www.economist.com/business/2021/03/03/mckinseys-partners-suffer-from-collective-self-delusion)
- This weeks favorite read is from [Subbu](https://subbu.org/)**On Being Present**. There's way too much good advice in here to pick out one nugget, go read it - [More](https://m.subbu.org/on-being-present-f8a111e4f618)
- **A forgotten Cold War experiment has revealed its icy secret. It’s bad news for the planet.** is a fascinating article about humanity's vulnerability to climate change - [More](https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2021/03/15/greenland-ice-sheet-more-vulnerable/)
- This week saw the passing of **Dick Hoyt, Part of Legendary Boston Marathon Duo**. Runner's World has a great look back at this legends life - [More](https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/a35866273/dick-hoyt-legendary-boston-runner-dies-80/)
- I love my [AirPod Pro's](https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MWP22AM/A/airpods-pro); in **AirPods as a Platform** a look at the takes a deep look at what may become of them as a platform play - [More](https://julian.digital/2020/04/19/airpods-as-a-platform/)
- A great watch from this week that I was sent from several different places on the Internet from a 1997 interview on how "*a couple of geeks (laughing) want take on (more laughing) Sears*". A hilarious early look at Amazon - [Watch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViwhkcxO9T0)
- I'll be the first to admit, I love sitting in my sweatpants all day long while working (which, may be alright considering [my employeer](https://www.nike.com/)). In **Americans Need to Go Back to the Office**, a look at the 'work at home rules' that have gone out the window in 2020/2021 - [More](https://index.medium.com/youre-still-doing-remote-work-all-wrong-cd0482f3a16f)
- *Walking is thinking*. Found a great exploration of this in **Walking, Thinking, and the Paradox of Self-Reflection** \- [More](https://www.brainpickings.org/2019/06/25/thomas-bernhard-walking/)
- Lots of people are **here** and want to get **there**.In **You are Going on a Quest** a look at different paths for leadership-minded engineers - [More](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/you-are-going-on-a-quest/)
- "*How the pandemic taught me to look closely at the world, and how I hope to carry that forward out the other side*" in **Looking Closely is Everything** \- [More](https://craigmod.com/essays/looking%5Fclosely/)
- A look at the shifting tides from algorithmic feeds to high-attention relationships in **The New Era of Social Media Isn’t About Feeds** \- [More](https://onezero.medium.com/social-media-moves-beyond-the-feed-6aef3a2cb563)

## **Fin**

In a **great post** from [Austin Kleon](https://austinkleon.com/2021/03/16/he-could-sing-the-phone-book-or-an-oven-manual/), on "Elton John and Bernie Taupin’s songwriting process” comes this classic video '*where the actor Richard E. Grant asks Elton John if he can create a song out of his oven’s instruction manual. *Elton obliges*.*'