Hey. Is Spring springing? There were flickers. Still running in the rain though. Still in Winterâs stubborn grip. Bought a new thing. Hope youâre well. Right, letâs go.
âI've long believed that good food, good eating, is all about risk. Whether we're talking about unpasteurized Stilton, raw oysters or working for organized crime 'associates,' food, for me, has always been an adventureâ
Anthony Bourdain
culture // re-connection
In our annual trends report (+ here), we outlined Lonleysad as a trend and re-connection as a value lever for â24. Now, a growing number of brands across health, entertainment and tech are looking to solve the loneliness epidemic. In the US, Belong Centre, has a mission and vision to end loneliness and empower belonging for all. Peoplehood a growing platform, runs guided group conversations. AI chatbot Meeno is a mentor and relationship advisor (ex Tinder CEO founder). Dating app Hinge launched a pocket-sized phonebook of ideas to encourage Gen Z to connect IRL for a global day of unplugging. Thereâs even a bar in Tokyo that only lets people in if theyâre alone. While others are getting us to reconnect to nature. Our dopamine driven culture of addiction (tough, but essential read) is disconnecting us from what matters. Itâs time to fight back.
brands // stretching
Good brands, are good platforms to build on, to create on, and to launch from. The worlds largest luxury group LVMH, just launched a new entertainment division, 22 Montaigne, to help tell and distribute the stories of its 70 plus brands. It will collaborate with creators, producers and distributors to co-develop, co-produce and co-finance entertainment properties. Brand IP opportunities are obvs still huge (see Mattel, Lego, Redbull etc), plus, in a borderless, barrier light world, âbuilding beyondâ is also smart. Diageo just launched a new innovation team to move beyond liquid, exploring new, tech, platforms, experiences, and product innovation. Sneakers brand Veja just opened a sneaker cleaning and repair store, while Britvic CMO talked about brands becoming ecosystems, layering product and need states. Goods brands deliver needs. Which can stretch, to become anything, with the right platform.
creativity // positive obsession
Creativity is great. To imagine something new, takes huge effort. For some, itâs life's work. But actually, all our lives are an act of creation. Maria Popova, in The Marginalian, wrote "The lives we do live are bridges across the immense river of possibility, suspended by two pylons: what we want and what we make. In an ideal life â a life of purpose and deep fulfilment â the gulf of being closes and the pylons converge: We make what we want to see existâ. But to make what we want to see exist requires, as Octavia Butler wrote, positive obsession âprodigy is, at its essence, adaptability and persistent, positive obsession. Without persistence, what remains is an enthusiasm of the moment. Without adaptability, what remains may be channeled into destructive fanaticism.â Itâs true of creativity, but also of ideas, visions, missions and life goals. Clarity of purpose and the perseverance to pursue it positively, thatâs the trick. Obvs.
technology // fafo
Last year, the Transport for London launched a trial at a small tube station in London. They put AI into the buildingâs cameras, in a smart station experiment. 12 months later, they identified 77 use cases, inc fare evasion, curbing antisocial behaviour and suicide prevention. Big brother vibes, but wow. Similarly, Prof Ethan Mollick outlined strategies for an accelerating future and how to start using AI. He taught his students to build GPT models (lessons here & here) and with no coding experience, they built GPTs that help engineers and managers develop performance reviews, or GPTs that allow search funds to more easily reach out to potential partners. Amazing. They both FAFO âed. As Adam Grant said, âin a stable world, success depended on building expertise. In a changing world, it hinges on evolving expertise. Potential is no longer defined by ability. It's a function of agilityâ. So yeah, be agile. And fuck around and find out.
five random (ish) things:
Emotions, and why they matter â€ïž.
How to discover your own taste đ§.
This is mad. Fandom is blind đ đ€Ż.
2024 is the year of the sexy pantry đđ.
đ 80s, DeLorean's & cassette tapes are back.
watching // harmony
People are amazing arenât they? With the right leadership, and the right goal, complete strangers can quickly find harmony. So cool. In this short, Jacob Collier, UK musician, composer, and producer, known for his unique style of arranging and harmonizing, conducts an audience to sing in perfect harmony. So cool.