So-Called Discoveries

How to Do Great Work (Paul Graham) | EP19

In this episode, we explore Paul Graham’s essay, "How to Do Great Work", a deep dive into the principles behind meaningful, high-impact work. How do you choose the right field? How do you push through obstacles? What role do curiosity, originality, and mindset play? We'll break it all down into four key segments, offering practical insights and clear takeaways. Paul Graham is a programmer, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Y Combinator, a startup incubator that has helped launch companies like Airbnb, Dropbox, Stripe, and Reddit. His essay outlines a framework for identifying the right work, overcoming resistance, staying creative, and sustaining long-term motivation. Topics in This Episode: 1. Choosing Your Frontier: Finding the right work by following curiosity and recognizing opportunities 2. Getting the Work Done: Overcoming procrastination, focusing deeply, and maintaining consistency 3. Originality, Creativity, and Breaking Rules: Embracing creativity, questioning assumptions, and identifying unconventional ideas 4. Mindset, Morale, and Environment: The role of optimism, resilience, and relationships in doing great work Ask yourself: What’s one thing you can do today to move closer to doing great work? If you enjoy So-Called Discoveries, subscribe, enable notifications, and rate it up to 5 stars! Connect with So-Called Discoveries: Instagram (@socalleddiscoveries) [https://instagram.com/SoCalledDiscoveries] LinkedIn [https://linkedin.com/company/socalleddiscoveries] Email: Anthony@SoCalledDiscoveries.com [Anthony@SoCalledDiscoveries.com] All Platforms: https://socalleddiscoveries.com [https://socalleddiscoveries.com] Read Paul Graham’s Essay: https://paulgraham.com/greatwork.htm [https://paulgraham.com/greatwork.html] Related Episodes of So-Called Discoveries: (Links are to Spotify; for all platforms, visit https://socalleddiscoveries.com [https://socalleddiscoveries.com]) The Effective Executive: Book Discussion | EP2 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/1N4OtLpTucNjZpJ8UYOcjl?si=e223aa20e22e45b9] Reflecting on The Effective Executive, Time Tracking, Focus Tactics, and Success in New Jobs | EP3 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/6dfyfjNfk5nDd0x1cP6eq3?si=0c4f053aff974a6c] The War of Art: Book Discussion (Part 1/3) | EP4 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/0cnpRyqwVoJJQbuwmfVnpk?si=9cce4753ab6c458e] The War of Art: Book Discussion (Part 2/3) | EP5 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/6IlHfK1YMs6JQ8YVfrph68?si=23a0bb43b7004fd6] The War of Art: Book Discussion (Part 3/3) | EP6 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5K8lr4lU0IUpF7ZZWU8g8K?si=2b7c186b0d924da2] Wealth, Knowledge, and Leverage in the Modern Economy | EP8 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/7wp1ldZZkA5mcd9rN5bTUJ?si=fb4e09773ab3463a] Wisdom for Modern Life: Exploring "The Prophet" by Kahlil Gibran | EP18 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/3RrrSI3MVVqDUctbsLFGT4?si=aa0d88d6947a41b1] TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Introduction (02:26) Choosing Your Frontier (finding your field, reaching the frontier, and noticing gaps) (07:55) Getting the Work Done (beating procrastination, deep work, and consistency) (15:25) Originality, Creativity, and Breaking Rules (the right kind of crazy ideas) (20:06) Mindset, Morale, and Environment (optimism, avoiding formality, and resilience) (25:51) Conclusion Stay Curious. Keep Learning. See you next time!

Wisdom for Modern Life: Exploring "The Prophet" by Kahlil Gibran | EP18

In this thoughtful solo episode, Anthony explores one of the most beloved works of poetic wisdom ever written: Kahlil Gibran's "The Prophet". Structured as a series of poetic teachings shared by the prophet Almustafa, this iconic book covers universal themes, including love, marriage, parenting, work, sorrow, and death. Throughout the episode, Anthony reads selected excerpts from the text, offers reflective commentary, and relates the timeless wisdom of “The Prophet” to our modern lives and personal experiences. Subscribe, enable notifications, rate, and review! If you find this content valuable, please rate it up to 5 stars and consider leaving a review. Your feedback helps So-Called Discoveries provide you with even more insights and reflections. Instagram (@socalleddiscoveries [https://instagram.com/SoCalledDiscoveries]): https://instagram.com/SoCalledDiscoveries [https://instagram.com/SoCalledDiscoveries] LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/socalleddiscoveries [https://linkedin.com/company/socalleddiscoveries] All platforms: https://socalleddiscoveries.com [https://socalleddiscoveries.com] Buy the book, "The Prophet" by Kahlil Gibran: https://amzn.to/43AM8Ub [https://amzn.to/43AM8Ub] (Purchases from some links may earn So-Called Discoveries an affiliate fee) TIMESTAMPS: (00:00:00) Introduction (00:01:29) Kahlil Gibran & "The Prophet" (00:04:24) The Coming of the Ship (00:10:26) On Love (00:12:39) On Marriage (00:14:47) On Children (00:18:15) On Giving (00:22:52) On Eating and Drinking (00:25:15) On Work (00:28:59) On Joy and Sorrow (00:32:05) On Houses (00:33:29) On Clothes (00:34:53) On Buying and Selling (00:36:43) On Crime and Punishment (00:38:47) On Laws (00:41:06) On Freedom (00:43:59) On Reason and Passion (00:46:37) On Pain (00:49:30) On Self-Knowledge (00:53:16) On Teaching (00:55:40) On Friendship (00:57:30) On Talking (00:59:52) On Time (01:01:18) On Good and Evil (01:04:58) On Prayer (01:06:12) On Pleasure (01:08:23) On Beauty (01:09:39) On Religion (01:11:36) On Death (01:14:20) The Farewell (01:23:23) Conclusion Thanks for listening! I hope that you learned... something!

Chasing Dreams with Detroit Small Businesses | EP17

In this episode of So-Called Discoveries, I walk into small, independent businesses in Midtown Detroit and spontaneously interview the individuals behind them! Subscribe, enable notifications, rate, and review! Connect on all platforms: https://socalleddiscoveries.com [https://socalleddiscoveries.com/] Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/1dJdRxt9qOY [https://youtu.be/1dJdRxt9qOY] BUSINESSES INTERVIEWED: RUNdetroit: https://www.run-detroit.com [https://www.run-detroit.com/] Source Booksellers: https://www.sourcebooksellers.com [https://www.sourcebooksellers.com/] Marcus Market: https://www.instagram.com/marcusmarket [https://www.instagram.com/marcusmarket] Casa de Fleur: https://www.instagram.com/_casadefleur_ [https://www.instagram.com/_casadefleur_] Bangkok 96: https://www.b96streetfood.com [https://www.b96streetfood.com/] David Vintage: https://www.davidvintage.com [https://www.davidvintage.com/] TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Introduction (03:14) RUNdetroit (07:32) Source Booksellers (14:22) Marcus Market (17:34) Chasing your dream (18:36) Detroit Shipping Co. (20:50) David Vintage (part 1) (18:34) Casa de Fleur (22:32) Bangkok 96 (29:20) David Vintage (part 2) (35:08) Conclusion

Emotion, Feeling, Vision: Catherine Cruveillier (Planet Emotions) | EP16

In this episode, we learn from emotional intelligence and leadership coach, Catherine Cruveillier! Catherine is the founder of Planet Emotions, which guides innovative leaders and their teams into extraordinary performance, higher profit, and net positive impact. Our wide-ranging chat features discussion on emotions, feelings, vision, personal development, darkness, fear, empathy, and compassion. Subscribe, enable notifications, rate, and review! Connect: https://socalleddiscoveries.com [https://socalleddiscoveries.com] Connect with Catherine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinecruveillier [https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinecruveillier] Planet Emotions: https://planetemotions.com [https://planetemotions.com] Timestamps:  [0:00:00] Welcome [0:01:20] Catherine Cruveillier [0:19:01] Emotions, attraction, patterns, behavior [0:24:55] Is this good or bad? [0:27:50] Catherine's education and early professional experience [0:37:07] Planet Emotions, dreams, personal development stages, strategic planning, vision [0:51:35] Planning your perfect day [0:54:10] Feelings, discomfort, messages, moving on [1:01:57] An existing example [1:12:53] Feeling, thinking, communication [1:19:09] Fear [1:23:30] Darkness, empathy, compassion [1:30:33] Final words from Catherine

BREEZE & SA’BREE of IMMENSE FILMS | EP15

In this episode, I sit with Breeze and Sa'bree, the owners of Immense Films! We discuss their writing, directing, acting, and overall film experience. I watched a couple films they've worked on ("Red Flagz" and "Chasing the Ghost") and give my thoughts. We learn the filmmaking process, from script to distribution, and hear the Immense vision driving the independent duo. We discuss advice for creatives and people with ideas, as well as being open to receiving in life.  Subscribe, enable notifications, rate, and review! Connect: https://socalleddiscoveries.com [https://socalleddiscoveries.com] Connect with IMMENSE FILMS: immensefilmss@gmail.com https://www.instagram.com/immensefilms [https://www.instagram.com/immensefilms] https://www.instagram.com/breezethedirector [https://www.instagram.com/breezethedirector] https://www.instagram.com/nzuri__ [https://www.instagram.com/nzuri__] Stream films discussed: Nasty: https://tubitv.com/movies/714158/nasty [https://tubitv.com/movies/714158/nasty] Red Flagz: https://tubitv.com/movies/693212/red-flagz [https://tubitv.com/movies/693212/red-flagz] Chasing the Ghost: https://tubitv.com/movies/697474/chasing-the-ghost [https://tubitv.com/movies/697474/chasing-the-ghost] Detroit theaters discussed: https://belairluxurycinema.com [https://belairluxurycinema.com] https://www.cinemadetroit.org [https://www.cinemadetroit.org] Timestamps:  [0:00:00] Welcome [0:02:17] SA’BREE & BREEZE of IMMENSE FILMS [0:17:42] Genre [0:20:25] Pushback [0:26:41] ENERGY script, preproduction, funding story [0:32:55] Receiving, openness, partners [0:35:30] LiT TV [0:39:03] Casting, rehearsals, filming, editing [0:47:34] Premieres, Detroit theaters, streaming [0:51:15] The IMMENSE FILMS vision [1:00:34] Quick rant on Instagram guidelines [1:01:54] Affirmations for black girls and boys [1:03:35] Advice for creative people with ideas [1:10:17] He who opens himself to GOD [1:12:00] Final words from BREEZE & SA’BREE [1:13:00] This will go down in HISTORY