> ## 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. # The Empathy Machine - URL: https://makoism.com/the-empathy-machine/ - Published: 2021-08-28T10:27:49.000Z - Updated: 2021-08-28T10:27:49.000Z - Description: The movies are like a machine that generates empathy... It helps us to identify with the people who are sharing this journey with us" - Roger Ebert - Author: Steve Makofsky - Tags: makoism, #newsletter-makoism, #substack ![Crushed up ice cream cones](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/a7320c54-31fe-455d-a462-4a630957f498_4944x3552.jpeg "Crushed up ice cream cones") crumbles Last year, everyone I know adored AppleTV+'s hit series [Ted Lasso](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/ted-lasso). Perhaps it was due to timing — with the craziness and uncertainty of the world at the start of the pandemic, everyone seemed to need the radical positivity driven at them by [the Lasso way](https://wiss.com/blog/the-lasso-way-management-lessons-from-ted-lasso/). It's interesting. In its sophomore season, the show has been getting a fair share of (usual Internet) bashing and critique for all corners. "*It's too canned*." "*It's too nice*." "*Everyone just loves each other*." "*It's a let down*." **Everybody is a critic**. *Side note: I do agree and think [M.G. Siegler is on to something](https://500ish.com/ted-lasso-times-two-5f0e2cc12233) that it is *too long* to wait a week between each 24-minute episode (he proposed to drop two episodes a week - I love that idea).* After the first two episodes, we had [a forced break](https://makoism.com/the-hardest-part/) after the first two episodes — our move curtailed any television watching. It did enable us to binge a bunch of episodes this past week, though, and it was worth the wait/binge. [Roy Kent](https://ted-lasso.fandom.com/wiki/Roy%5FKent) is the pulse of the show, and watching his arc is when it all clicked for me where this is going. It's about the **reconciliation of what was and what is**. It's about change. Your past. Your future. **What you become**. Your "brand." > *"I suppose the best brand is just being yourself." - Higgins, when asked by Rebecca, his "brand" when he met his wife* **What you accept and are willing to.** And, spoiler alert - when you finally realizes what you are **meant to do**. My gut is telling me it's going to get a bit dark for Ted. We are going to learn about a past that fuels the overkill of "nice" that he hides behind. He is going to need to confront it in order to evolve. I can't wait to see where this goes; **we are all on similar journeys in life**. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** I do *love* movies. "**The Purpose of Cinema**" nailed it for me. Coupled with a voice-over by [Roger Ebert](https://www.rogerebert.com/) on empathy and a great version of [Imagine by AudioMachine](https://music.apple.com/us/album/imagine/1492572438?i=1492572439), it gives all the feels: > *"The movies are like a machine that generates empathy. If it’s a great movie, it lets you understand a little bit more about what it’s like to be a different gender, a different race, a different age, a different economic class, a different nationality, a different profession, different hopes, aspirations, dreams and fears. It helps us to identify with the people who are sharing this journey with us"* ## **Thought of the week** Nothing short of **epic** calendar management skills at work here. > [](https://twitter.com/zhaovan8/status/1430592057849040899) ## **Latest obsession** I can admit it - I try out **way too many** bags. My latest crush is a small sling bag that smashes down to fit inside another overnight bag. Check out the new [Waterfield](https://www.sfbags.com/)[Packable Sling Bag](https://www.sfbags.com/collections/slings/products/packable-sling-bag). ![A bag that folds into a small pouch](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/f03e9ae5-ec80-4a31-a221-5fda708a4bbb_1246x713.png "A bag that folds into a small pouch") WaterField sling It's a minimal bag - weighing at only 9oz, it can store 7.75 liters of "stuff"; perfect for running around town or throwing tech gear together for a quick hike. It's wrinkle-free, water-resistant, and cleans easily. ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - Best read of the week is easily "**Check Your Work, Ask for Help, and Slow Down**"; get your notebook ready and dig in on why '**urgency is often the lie**' - beautiful nuggets in this - [More](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/check-your-work-ask-for-help-and-slow-down/) - "**Building A Better Internet Diet**" explores how you can '**rebuild how you connect to the internet**.' Personally; I leverage tools like [MailBrew](https://mailbrew.com/) and [Feedly](https://feedly.com/)to sort through the junk-food that is vying for our attention daily; there are some perfect tips in here - [More](https://jamestynioniv.substack.com/p/building-a-better-internet-diet) - In [a follow-up](https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/rubber-bird-is-a-mystery-but-town-thinks-its-just-ducky/) from [a link last week](https://makoism.com/the-hardest-part/), "**Giant rubber ducky takes flight; where will it land next?**" - continues the mystery as the giant rubber duck that appeared in a Maine harbor **has now vanished** \- [More](https://apnews.com/article/oddities-europe-business-4c015c91e48893dc2a9da50d3554140a) - "**The world’s fastest-accelerating roller coaster is shut down after riders report fractured bones**"; how very 2021 😳 - [More](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/08/25/japan-rollercoaster-broken-bones/) - "**Burning out and quitting**" is the story of how '*the monotony of another exhausting day with 7 hours on Zoom, then trying to do real work, at 1am, with a glass of wine on the couch*' affected one person, but I sense something many are going through. A well-written and thoughtful piece to spend some time digesting - [More](https://mayakaczorowski.com/blogs/burnout) - [Chris](https://cdixon.org/) writes an important piece on "**Why decentralization matters**" and the 'next era of the Internet' - [More](https://cdixon.org/2018/02/18/why-decentralization-matters) - If there's any single skill that I'd advise anyone to build/practice/fine-tune and rework, it's the ability to **be a storyteller**. In "**Just tell a story**," the author explores the power of '*making it memorable by telling a story*' - [More](https://planyournext.com/p/storytelling) - [Adam Harmetz](https://blog.mindthebeet.com/) wrote a great article on "**Celebrating 16 Years at Microsoft**". There's a treasure of super valuable lessons in here to be learned around career, people, strategy, and leadership - [More](https://blog.mindthebeet.com/p/celebrating-16-years-at-microsoft) - What's not to love about "**The 100-year-old diary fell from the ceiling of her San Francisco home. What was inside changed her**". A fantastic story that fell into the author's lap - [More](https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/2021/san-francisco-diary-love-story/) - In "**How the Adirondack Chair Became the Feel-Good Recliner That Cures What Ails You**" I learned that the chair is ‘rooted in the history of disease’ as part of a wilderness cure. **Wild** \- [More](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/how-adirondack-chair-became-feel-good-recliner-cures-what-ails-you-180978322/) - "**The Curse of Knowledge**" examines cognitive bias and that most "forget what it was like before you learned." An essential read in creating a learning environment and psychological safety in teams - [More](https://adventuresinlife.substack.com/p/the-curse-of-knowledge) - The pandemic keeps challenging ‘what is normal’ concerning the workplace. Interesting to see that studies show face-to-face interaction may not be a factor in creating **strong interpersonal bonds among colleagues**. "**Employees Are Lonelier Than Ever. Here's How Employers Can Help.**" examines the negative side-effects of loneliness in the workplace - [More](https://hbr.org/2021/06/employees-are-lonelier-than-ever-heres-how-employers-can-help) ## **Fin** Any self-respecting MCU fan has watched the new [SpiderMan: No Way Home](https://www.marvel.com/movies/spider-man-no-way-home)teaser 30 times to figure out how this film will play out; so why not end this week by linking to it? 😀 See you next week friends!