Common Discourse is a project designed to help others (and ourselves) think through creativity, focus, and intentional work—from Alex Tan & Alice Otieno.
Every Tuesday we share an idea from us, a quote from somebody else, and links worth sharing. On Fridays we invite a guest to share images from their camera roll and a sound that resonates with them.
I’ll let the photo do the talking. Happy Tuesday.
— Alex
A few ideas
I. YOU MIGHT HAVE A SHOT IF…
There's pretty much no point in doing anything if you're worried about other people beating you to it.
But you might have a shot if you work hard, have good taste, can make decisions quickly, and are quality obsessed.
There’s never not been room for the best.
II. FALL IN LOVE WITH INTERESTING IDEAS
It’s less about building creative habits for the sake of habit, and more about falling so in love with interesting ideas that you find it impossible to not express your point of view on them.
Curiosity and passion will lead to compulsion, which is far more important than forced consistency.
III. LOYALTY
It’s much less difficult to find raw talent than it is to find people who will stick around. Loyalty comes from investing in people, projects, and ideas before it’s clear that either of you should.
Big bets have equally high reward.
A quote from somebody else
“The only interesting answers are those which destroy the questions.”
— Susan Sontag
Links worth sharing
🗺 Ambient 2: The Plateaux Of Mirror (Remastered 2004), has been on repeat for the last month.
📝 Bernadette Mayer’s List of Journal Ideas
💄 Is there such a thing as good taste? by Paul Graham
🎙 Willow Smith speaks to Zane Lowe on her new album, Empathogen, growth and her creative process
🛋️ Canoa is Figma for interior designers.
Thanks for consuming!
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