Jameel Gordon 6/3/24 Jameel Gordon 6/3/24

The Future of Work

The future of work often mirrors aspects of the past. Though I hesitate to make this comparison due to historical injustices like chattel slavery and unfair labor practices, many of which we have moved beyond, and in many instances we must acknowledge that such practices persist in various parts of the world. However, the crucial point I wish to convey is that we hold the power to shape what work means to us. Let me illustrate this through examples while respecting the privacy of my friends and colleagues.

Firstly, I've been particularly mindful in navigating this aspect of my own life following a significant career shift two years ago. I've deliberately crafted my new career path, carefully selecting partnerships, clientele, and projects. I prioritize work that brings happiness and fulfillment, being cautious about commitments. After all, what we engage in becomes our work, so it's wise to ensure it aligns with our happiness and well-being.

For instance, I adhere to a four-day work week, considering my entire routine from Monday to Thursday as work. This includes tasks like writing blog posts, conducting research, and even activities like meditation and exercise that contribute to my mental and physical health, essential for sustaining productivity and fulfillment in work.

Recently, I visited a married couple’s home where they were celebrating a new addition to their family. Witnessing their responsibilities, from raising children to managing a household, underscored the immense effort required in such traditional roles. In this family, the husband goes to work, and his wife stays home with their now five children. She not only works to care for their children, but she also has the added work of homeschooling all their children. Despite the challenges, my wish is for them to both find contentment and satisfaction in their chosen path of life which includes their work.

Another friend of mine owns a business, investing her time and her resources into its growth. She juggles multiple responsibilities, from managing finances to leading teams. Despite the demanding nature of entrepreneurship, her passion drives her forward, seeking fulfillment in realizing her dreams through her work.

Every decision we make, whether pursuing education, launching projects, starting families, or joining communities, constitutes our work. It's crucial to align these choices with joy and fulfillment. Whether it's running a marathon or building a career, each endeavor requires dedication and effort.

Looking ahead, I envision a future where individuals increasingly empower themselves to choose work aligned with their interests and values. While the nature of work evolves with technological advancements, the essence of human labor remains unchanged. Work continues to be a reflection of our aspirations, serving both personal and communal needs.

In conclusion, while work undergoes transformation, its essence remains rooted in human endeavor. As I finalize and publish this reflection, I recognize the enduring nature of work in shaping our lives and communities.

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Jameel Gordon 5/24/24 Jameel Gordon 5/24/24

Are You Playing?

Play is an essential aspect of our lives, ingrained instinctually within us. However, at some juncture in our societal evolution, we adopted the notion that there's an expiration date on playfulness. Yet, the reality is quite the opposite. A closer observation of children reveals that play is the conduit through which we learn, grow, and adapt to our surroundings. It's the means by which we explore the boundless opportunities life offers.

Personally, my upbringing was steeped in play. I spent countless hours outdoors, immersed in the natural world—digging in dirt, splashing in water, reveling in the company of plants and fruits (and of course people), and navigating varied terrains. Play has invariably been integral to my existence, and I've staunchly upheld its significance. Some may even argue that I “play too much”. Regardless, the message remains clear.

"Are you playing?"—this is a question I've made a habit of posing to myself. Am I engaging in activities purely for enjoyment, for recreation, rather than driven by serious or pragmatic motives? I've consciously integrated more play into my life. Frankly, if a task doesn't resonate with a sense of playfulness, I'm inclined to decline involvement or remove it from my agenda altogether. Surveying the world's current landscape, rife with challenges and dilemmas, it becomes evident that we could all benefit from injecting more playfulness into our lives. So, I ask you, are you playing?

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Jameel Gordon 5/23/24 Jameel Gordon 5/23/24

Are You Sleeping?

When our body is in the process of restoring, rejuvenating, and energizing, it's crucial to pay attention to rest, rejuvenation, and our body's own energy cycle. I am keenly aware of this and have been closely monitoring it because I understand that I won't be able to complete the scope of work I've outlined for myself if I'm not well. Furthermore, I realize that I cannot be well if I am not getting enough sleep. Therefore, a simple question I've been asking myself a lot lately is, "Are you sleeping?"

Personally, I function better as a human being when I get the rest I need. It's essential. There was a time in my life when I subscribed to the "no sleep" ideology that affects many entrepreneurs and individuals in business, or anyone striving to achieve specific goals. Many embrace this campaign as a source of motivation, questioning, "What will you do with the 24 hours you have?" Having set and achieved goals, experienced success, and endured failure, I've learned something invaluable: "I am going to sleep."

The specifics of our successes and failures are irrelevant. What truly matters is our well-being, how we treat others, and finding joy in our experiences. Even amidst pain and struggle, I believe we can find peace and joy. However, this is impossible for me when I'm not well-rested. When I find myself experiencing doubt, sadness, low energy, or negative reactions to things and people, and I ask myself if I'm sleeping, the answer is usually no. From there, I know the solution for me is sleep.

So, are you sleeping? Before we embark on anything, let's ask ourselves that question. Let's ensure we are well-rested, rejuvenated after a productive day of work, and equipped with the energy we need to navigate through our day. Let's allow our bodies the time it needs to do its work naturally and without interruption.

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Jameel Gordon 5/22/24 Jameel Gordon 5/22/24

Are You Moving?

Movement is another simple action, or better yet, a privilege that we often take for granted. As I embark on a quest to simplify my life, I've become increasingly aware of my movements and how my body responds to them, especially moments when I feel truly connected to the ground, to the earth, and to the world around me. In these moments, instead of asking myself if I'm feeling, I find it more appropriate, more direct to ask, "am I moving?"

I work remotely full-time, and by many measures, I'm a digital native. I have to be intentional about not spending too much time behind screens. For those who know me well, you know I gave up computers years ago and primarily use mobile devices for work and computing. Part of the reason is to avoid being confined to a desk or a laptop.

However, I discovered early on that mobile devices can be just as immobilizing. I'm not fond of mindlessly walking or strolling while staring down at my phone or tablet. I find it more beneficial to simply stroll mindfully and enjoy my walks with no distractions.

With my work, I like to alternate between focused sprints (hehe) and walks. I'll dive into deep work and then go for a walk, or head to a coffee shop. This practice, especially in the context of remote work, makes more sense compared to my old habits (why am I going to a coffee shop to work if I don’t work at the coffee shop?). I prefer to accomplish my tasks in an environment where I can focus deeply and then incorporate movement to keep my body active throughout the day.

During my movements, I can then strive to stay connected to the ground, the spaces, the people, and the world around me without any distractions. I refuse to remain stationary behind a screen, whether in an office, at home, or a coffee shop. The point here is, as I pay close attention to the simple aspects of my life, I've made it a habit to ask myself, "are you moving?" Even as I write this while lying in bed, this question reminds me that after finishing writing, editing, and publishing this piece, I will set my devices aside and engage in exercise, indoors and outdoors, truly connecting with the world around me and avoiding distractions or immobility.

Before moving on to the next task of our day, the next item on our immobilizing checklists, let's pause and ask ourselves, "are we moving?"

***full disclosure: my screen time is still too damn high and I am working on this. Unfortunately, I doubt that other screen-less computing interfaces or experiences will become popular because humans prefer the tactile sensation of controlling the tools they use. But that's a discussion for another time.

Yes. Let’s leave our devices behind and go for a walk or something.

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Jameel Gordon 5/21/24 Jameel Gordon 5/21/24

Are You Eating?

As I recently shared, I've been on a quest to simplify my life as I proceed to do what I consider the most important work of my lifetime. It sounds a bit dramatic, but I hope you understand the sentiment. I've been fortunate enough to find work in areas that I'm passionate about, and I'm approaching it in a manner that I have designed and am continuing to design my life around. In order to be present and engaged in my work in an enjoyable way, I thought it would be best to simplify my life overall.

With that, one of the questions I've been asking myself a lot lately is, "Are you truly eating?" Part of the process of simplifying my life has been to become more aware of the habits in my life. When it comes to eating, I've noticed that yes, I am eating, but I wasn't particularly present for my meals. Sure, I make sure that my body is nourished, and if I have company, I may be present with them, but during the meal itself, I often realized that while I had eaten and knew it, I couldn't truly recall the taste or experience. If you're like me, you may have eaten, but did you truly engage in the act of eating? Did you savor the flavors, or were you merely going through the motions?

So, as I start my day and as I go through it, I've been asking myself the question, "Am I really eating?" When I take the time to have a meal, I try to truly enjoy it. Being present in this moment, I believe, is beneficial for both our minds and bodies. As I progress through this year, I plan to spend more time not only being present for my meals but also exploring more about what I'm eating: how it's sourced, how it's prepared, and its impact on my body. Before we do anything, I think it's essential that we ask ourselves these very simple questions, such as "Are you eating?"

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Jameel Gordon 5/20/24 Jameel Gordon 5/20/24

Are You Breathing?

Are you breathing?

This year, I’ve focused on simplifying my life. As I prepare for some of the most important work of my life, I realized it would be helpful to streamline my personal life as well, both for my well-being and to create more room for focused work and the elusive joy.

With this goal in mind, I’ve been taking more frequent quiet moments for myself. I started by taking walks or finding a quiet, cozy nook to sit and reflect. I've come to really enjoy these moments—perhaps a bit too much. One of the oddest things I’ve noticed during these quiet times is that, with the noise and busyness dissipated, I realized I wasn’t breathing. 😳

Yes, I wasn’t breathing. The more I paid attention to this, the more I realized how bad my breathing was. As I started to focus on my shallow and irregular breathing habits, I became even more aware of the moments I was not breathing at all. Humans and other living organisms breathe involuntary. This means our bodies take care of the breathing without us needing to consciously think about it. However, I think we all should be thinking about this. So these days, the question I most often ask myself is, “Are you breathing?”

I don’t even ask if I’m breathing properly. That’s an entirely different question, and we might not agree on what that means. Our understanding of proper breathing varies based on culture, athletic training, and lifestyle. This is something I hope to explore more throughout the year, as it has become a healthy habit of mine to constantly ask myself, “Are you breathing?”

So let me ask you, “Are you breathing?” Before we do anything, let’s simply breathe.

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Jameel Gordon 5/15/24 Jameel Gordon 5/15/24

Crafting a Fulfilling Future

The people in my life can be categorized into four groups. Firstly, there are those who find fulfillment in their careers, whether in conventional roles or ones they've crafted themselves. They've discovered a field or work they're passionate about and are fully immersed in it, finding joy in what they do.

Secondly, there are entrepreneurs who have established businesses and are diligently working. While they may not express the same level of passion, they've developed or adopted effective systems, which they execute with precision, yielding success.

Thirdly, there's a growing number who have chosen to opt out of conventional paths, relishing the freedom to pursue their interests, albeit with the stress of financial responsibilities. Then, there's me. I’m opting to opt out of all of it.

I'm not attempting to solve their dilemmas, nor was it my intention. However, my interactions with friends in these categories, coupled with my observations of the world, have led me to contemplate the future of economics. As I engage in endeavors I'm passionate about and delve into intriguing subjects, there's always the familiar pull to monetize my work, driven by the necessity to provide for myself and my family—adulting.

Yet, the more I converse with friends, business partners, and acquaintances, the more I notice discontentment with the status quo of work-life patterns that clash with personal values. This reinforces my belief in resisting external pressures and striving to create a world where people can live and work authentically.

This commitment extends to conducting thorough research, applying my findings meaningfully, and developing projects and solutions aligned with my own desired lifestyle which is not that much different from what people want for themselves. On the website of my think tank, there's a motto: "Building our future." Some argue that I should focus solely on building my own future, but I believe our lives are interconnected, and it’s evident that many share similar aspirations.

While challenges abound due to prevailing work paradigms, I'm determined to pursue work that brings me joy, shaping a life according to my terms. I share this not only to encourage myself but also to inspire others. Pursue what brings happiness—despite flaws in current economic models, it's possible to design a lucrative, fulfilling life tailored to individual desires based on how you want to live. We all get to design our lives.

Countless individuals thrive in unconventional pursuits, demonstrating that there are countless paths to “success”. So, follow your instincts, prioritize happiness, prioritize joy, and just do it! Because, believe it or not, success sucks.

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Jameel Gordon 5/7/24 Jameel Gordon 5/7/24

The Critical Role of Accurate Information in Entrepreneurship

As an entrepreneur, one of the most valuable assets, aside from time, money, ideas, network connections, and other resources, is information. Accurate information is profoundly important for an entrepreneur, yet it's challenging to fully articulate its significance.

Accurate information serves as a safeguard in numerous ways. It underpins the consulting industry and drives substantial investments in tools such as research, surveys, and assessments. Getting feedback from customers, gathering accurate data, and staying updated on industry trends are also important and valuable. In the Information Age, the ability to verify the accuracy of all this information becomes increasingly vital. This holds particularly true for entrepreneurs, especially those in the technology sector, who rely on advanced technologies for decision-making. Much of our strategic thinking and design processes should prioritize the acquisition of accurate information.

Consider my current situation: My Apple Watch just alerted me to "low cardio fitness." However, this notification overlooks crucial context—the watch's settings and the fact that I haven't worn it for the past two months. Since I resumed wearing it recently, it's attempting to reconcile the present data with the lack of historical data. Understanding this, I choose to disregard the notification and allow the watch to recalibrate over time.

Another instance highlighting the importance of accurate information in this Information Age is my process for refining this text. After completing this draft, I will utilize a large language model for editing. Subsequently, I'll employ another such model to fact-check my work. Even then, I remain vigilant about the information I disseminate. My intention is to share accurate perspectives, as misinformation could lead individuals to make decisions that significantly impact their lives.

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