Weirdo's Weekly Update — 27 Mar, 2023

What are we working on?

We are entering the last week of the Q1 OKR iteration. We have one week to finish the iteration strong and complete the open tasks. Next week, we will review the whole of Q1, discuss what went well and what did not, and prepare the Objectives and Key Results for the next quarter.

Reviewing the progress for each quarter of the OKR system is crucial for achieving your objectives and improving your performance over time. By reflecting on what worked well and what could have been done differently, you can make more informed decisions and improve your performance in the future.

We have been doing OKR planning for a couple of years, and no iteration has been perfect until now, which is expected. What is important is that we identify the obstacles and challenges hindering our progress from each and make adjustments in the following ones.

Read more: The Ultimate Guide to OKRs (with OKR examples)

Cryptos

The SEC's starts lawsuits against crypto industries and individuals, including Coinbase, SushiSwap, and more. The report also talks about Flagstar Bank's seizure and FDIC's announcement about the bank's decision not to take cash deposits from crypto companies. On the brighter side, XRP holders have high hopes of Ripple winning the SEC case. Furthermore, the IRS announced they plan to tax NFTs like physical art.

  • The SEC has launched lawsuits against multiple crypto entities.
  • Arbitrum drops its freshly launched $ARB Token and became a DAO by giving away 12.75% of its tokens to users and 137 DAOs.
  • Coinbase received a Wells notice from the SEC.
  • Flagstar Bank will not accept cash deposits from crypto companies.
  • The SEC has also served a subpoena to SushiSwap and its CEO.
  • The IRS is planning to tax NFTs like physical art.
  • The legal battle between Ripple and the SEC continues.
  • Do Kwon, CEO of Star Atlas, got arrested.

Travel Update

This week we celebrated Nyepi Day, also known as the "Day of Silence," a sacred holiday in Bali, Indonesia. It is a Hindu celebration that falls on the day after the new moon in March or April. Nyepi Day is a day of self-reflection. The Balinese people refrain from any form of physical or mental stimulation, including no lighting of fires, no entertainment, no travel, and no work. On Wednesday, from 5:59 AM to Thursday at 6:00 AM, the island came to a complete standstill, and even the airport was closed for the day.

There were no humans on the street; you could only hear the sounds of the chirping of birds and the occasional animal noises. The whole island was covered in darkness, and we could see a sky full of stars. It was magical.

The purpose of Nyepi Day is to purify the soul and restore the universe's natural balance through introspection and meditation.The day before Nyepi, there is a grand ceremony called "Nyepi Eve" or "Ogoh-Ogoh Parade," where giant demonic statues are carried through the streets to ward off evil spirits. This is a very unique and fascinating spectacle to witness.

Here is the statue that was built on our street:

We were fortunate to be in Bali during this celebration as it’s something completely different. This celebration is very important for Balinese people, so if you happen to be in Bali during this time, make sure to respect the local customs and participate in this unique event.

I am currently listening.

Lex Friedman Podcast: #367 - Sam Altman: OpenAI CEO on GPT-4, ChatGPT, and the Future of AI

I am currently watching.

Shark Tank is on our list always when new episodes come out. It is a famous American reality TV show that first premiered in 2009. The show features entrepreneurs pitching their business ideas to a panel of wealthy investors, known as the "sharks," hoping to secure an investment deal.

This series is somehow our classic to go to when we want to relax and watch something easy.

At the moment, they are rolling out episodes of season 14.

Tool of the week

This week’s kudos go to Screaming Frog SEO Spider, which helps us to crawl websites to analyze the internal link structure and provide a comprehensive report on various aspects of the website, including broken links, duplicate content, missing metadata, and other technical SEO issues. We are working heavily on internal linking and page optimization, and this tool helps us to be faster with discovering weaknesses on our site.

Something to think about

From James Clear’s newsletter:

"Remember, always, that everything you know, and everything everyone knows, is only a model. Get your model out there where it can be viewed. Invite others to challenge your assumptions and add their own.”Donella Meadows - Thinking in Systems

and

Found in Tim Ferris's 5 Bullet Friday:

“One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one’s work is terribly important.”  Bertrand Russell - The Conquest of Happiness

A question to ask yourself

Do you have a healthy relationship with money?

Here you find a great tweet on “How to Get Rich (without getting lucky)

Productivity Tips and Tricks

🛑 Eliminate Distractions 🛑

Distractions can come in many forms, such as social media, emails, phone calls, notifications, or even colleagues or family members. When you are constantly interrupted, it can be challenging to stay focused and complete tasks efficiently.

One of the best ways to eliminate distractions is to set boundaries. For example, turn off notifications on your phone or computer while working or set specific times for checking emails or social media. You can also use tools such as website blockers or productivity apps that help you stay focused by blocking certain websites or apps during specific times.

Another way to eliminate distractions is to create a designated workspace. Set up a separate workspace where you can focus solely on work-related tasks. This will help you avoid distractions and create a productive work environment.

If you work in an office or shared workspace, you may need to communicate with your colleagues or family members about your need for uninterrupted work time. Tell them when you are working and available for socializing or other activities.

By eliminating distractions and focusing on one task at a time, you can increase productivity and get more done in less time. Productivity is not about working longer hours but about working smarter and more efficiently.

March 27, 2023
Leo Brunnhofer