Writing tips 😍 😮 ✨ #55

Writing tips 😍 😮 ✨ #55

5 Jun, 2018

The Value of Culling

Years ago I picked up the nickname “the reverser” because people sent me words and presentations to cull / review / enhance / ‘make snazzy’ for the monied decision-makers and 80+% I’d find the most important messages in the last few sentences or last page and move them to the start.

I’m all for writing that quickly grabs the reader and is succinct, valuable, engaging, direct, useful and more.

What’s the learning for you?

  1. Write things out.
  2. Then check: Are the most important sentences at the end? Could they be the first soundbites, the first impression, for others?
  3. These quotes help me ~
“Keep taking words out” ~ maybe Ogilvy.
Often we say much with few words.
“Make the complex simple and the simple compelling.” ~ unknown

Less is more: especially with online medias that encourage shorter-attentions.

Thanks Lis & Ryan :)

What has enthralled you online recently?

Enjoy these gems ~

Here’s a great explanation of tokens using the example of allowing your neighbour to charge their electric car at yours. Click through to start @ 17:55 mins. This may inspire you to learn about blockchain tech.

Claire – you may want to share this 🙂 

Peace and grace flows from Andō. Soak in this refreshing, written river ~
[thanks Ross]

#BrainExpanding: Great to hear the new opportunities from roads moving to tunnels.

I really enjoyed this “The Midas Touch and Mind-Bending Futures” podcast on what’s coming in life and business from Steve Jurvetson and Tim Ferriss – especially the start.
[thanks#2 Ross]

This bright main image from Abbotsford Convent‘s Facebook page attracts ~

Sweets from Tove Jansson, author of the acclaimed Moomins childrens books ~

Who enjoys billiards?

Thanks to Sarah for sharing her morning walk today around the farm ~

How good is that!

*High fives!*
Sam

CryptoAssets 🚗 💸 🎆 #47

CryptoAssets 🚗 💸 🎆 #47

13 Feb, 2018

I’m still on a high from the combination of a dawn surf and moments later seeing the rockets fly and land! I hope you were thrilled too.

_____

Outstanding!

OK… who – like me – was out loud counting down with the Falcon Heavy rocket liftoff? …and was your mouth catching flies* as the 2 Falcons landed bang-on the landing pads? Wasn’t it a spectacular?!

The new frontiers in space are certainly a priority for humanity now.

There are so many great videos to watch to relive the moment. Here’s a playlist, wonderful photos and this is Elon sharing his amazement at the post-lift-off press conference.

*Australian slang = awe

Falcon Heavy Animation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pre-Flight: The Falcon Heavy Intention

 
Cryptoassets: The Innovative Investor’s Guide to Bitcoin and Beyond.

Great new digital assets insights by Chris Burniske, Jack Tatar. This book clearly explains uses, future potential and provides useful distinctions between currencies, tokens and assets.If you’re new to blockchain, bitcoin, ethers, follow the first two mentions (bulletpoints) here then get into this book.

 

 

Great online presence

  • The fun of Craig Nelson’s LinkedIn summary ~

  • Matt’s LinkedIn achievement-orientated words: “Since ’96 I have…”

  • Nicholas’ succinct and powerful words. Hollywood Movies!

I’m using my Jaybird earphones again after trying Apple’s. Apple AirPods are stylish and light. For me they too easily flicked out and onto the ground. I think it’s a long hair thing. I also had to think to take them out of my ear and into the charging pod so too often in phone calls I’d hear distracting low battery beeps. The Jaybirds hang around my neck and the battery lasts and lasts. Fred Wilson loves his AirPods. I get it. It’s good to try out things and find what works well.

Enjoy your day / evening!
~ Sam

RunwayDigital.com

 

Bitcoin reading 🌞 🌲 🍎 #43

Bitcoin reading 🌞 🌲 🍎 #43

19 Dec, 2017

Get Up To Speed With Bitcoin & Crypto’s.

After watching and reading loads of bitcoin, blockchain, cryptocurrency, ethereum talks and posts, I’ve found “The Internet of Money” book written by Andreas M. Antonopoulos the quickest, most engaging listen. It’ll take you from not understanding to really clever, easy-to-comprehend ideas.

If you’ve been thinking you need to learn about blockchain or have a twinkling of interest, there’s something there for you to uncover.

Here’s how you can listen to Andreas’ book for free:

1. Sign up with Audible to get your first book free for 30 days.

2. Login and use your free credit to purchase “The Internet of Money” written by Andreas M. Antonopoulos.

3. On your smartphone download the Audible app, login, then click the image ofAndreas’ book to start downloading the book.

4. Grab your headphones and hit play. 4 hours 8 minutes straight will do it though I like to listen when I’m driving, walking, or while I’m doing something that doesn’t require much attention.

Let me know how you go.

Crypto’s to the end of 2017.

With their wider utility, it’s great to see increasing interest in Ethers. I’m interested to watch what happens with crypto values to the end of the 2017. Perhaps they’ll be in more holiday conversations and people may have time to setup online wallets and purchase.

Favourite Reads & Listens.

  • Excited to have started using web browser Brave, powered by BAT tokens, on my computer and iPhone. Less bugs than expected (still a few) though enjoying it as a alternative to Chrome.

  • Nick Hand’s videos are a calm, collected, usually fascinating watch. He has a respectful and kind way of delving into the person he profiles. Impressive too as many of short films are gathered as Nick rides his bike around countries.  I attended Nick’s Do Lectures video workshop in Wales and it was so good! Next time you’re in Bristol, visit him at the Letterpress Collective.

  • Thinking about a cryptokitty? or buying a cryptopuppy?

  • Food for thought on blockchain and the future. (thread)

  • Someone made it big on Bitcoin and is now giving US$86M. Will you apply? #pineapples!

Great online presence.

  • Delivering all the answers… this captivating site from Nick Jaffe helps you prepare your adventure. Go stay!

  • Great tweets and replies from Elon about selling hats to fund The Boring Company ($20 per hat x 50,000 hats = $1 million). Last I checked he was at 42k and made a Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy joke. So fun! His twitter bio has me chuckling:

Bye!

~ Sam
RunwayDigital.com

 

 

P.S. As promised:

Extending Senses 🏃 🚚 👂#41

Extending Senses 🏃 🚚 👂#41

21 Nov, 2017

It was the “latte” in this Tesla semi post that made me grin.

______

Books that you miss upon finishing.

I was entranced and entertained listening to Ready Player One by Ernest Cline.

VR/AR leaders often recommend it to experience one of our possible futures: ultra-simulation (in 2045). The impressive narration by Wil Wheaton often had me chuckling, the detail in the book astounded me and of course it was fun to hear the vast number of (familiar) 1980’s references.

It’s also a Spielberg movie to be released next year.

______
Kevin Kelly in Recomendo.

______

Favourite reads & listens

  • What senses would you extend?Neil Harbisson talks about going from full colourblindness to installing an antenna so he could hear sound. Apparently the cleaning product isle in the supermarket is like a fun nightclub! It’s an uplifting, fascinating, futuristic, 9:35min watch. Actually even the first few minutes is worth it to imagine a new dimension for you.Photo credit: Ted.com
  • Rolling Stone followed Elon around for months.Here are a few quotes that struck me:



  • “The world is getting better at a stunning rate“. This report has “evidence of abundance” graphs and insights. Big thanks to Peter Diamandis and his team for showcasing how the world is improving. Here’s to balanced news.

 

 

 

 

 

  • Using algorithms and radical transparency at work may make your workplace even easier. (thx Jacqui Hocking)
  • The Websummit opening remarks are a great call for designers, creators, entrepreneurs and technologists to focus on building tech that is useful and fair for society. Included are: Stephen Hawking on AI, Bryan Johnson on HI, a regulator’s view of Facebook and other ultra powerful tech companies.

Great presence

  • Thanks for the laugh David Roberts (of Innovation and Disruption at Singularity University). Here is his bio: “His fascination with technology began In fourth grade after building a hovering electric drone, to carry his younger sister to the bus stop, powered by what was formerly his mother’s vacuum cleaner, and fortunately limited by the length of an electric power cord.”Have you added humour to yours?
  • Good fun at the London tube:

Have a wonderful week,

~ Sam

RunwayDigital.com

 

PS. One of the companies and experiences that have most impressed me in the last couple of years is Manly Ocean Adventures. Knowledgeable, exceptional value, and thoughtful, they’re advertising their incredible experiences (with or without whales) as great Christmas gift ideas. If you’re near Sydney or your people are… this could be for you!

 

 

PPS. in a previous email I wrote about the Apple Airpods. My update from a month of using them is that I’m still loving the earphones quick change between computer and iPhone and watch phonecall pickup. I am missing the ease of the Jaybirds hanging around my neck. The Airpods are a bit more of a cognitive load for me. They’re fiddly to remember where they are / to put in my pocket when I’m on the move and I sense I’ve a higher risk of losing them. Jaybird X2 Sport were around my neck all the time and I could use one or two earphones and never think about the battery or getting into the practice of taking out one Airpod during a long phonecall to make sure I have enough battery. The tech of the Airpods is beautiful and clever and it’s wonderful they can be used across many bluetooth devices – not just Apple’s. Airpods around the neck!?!