inspiration for people building stuff

Yo what’s good, hope you’re having a 10/10 day.

I’m writing this from a bench in Clapham Common. Pretty cool that all you need to write or build stuff these days is a laptop, a few hours of charge and somewhere to sit. Wild.

Things are pretty hectic this week at Otio and we’re still in the thick of it. So instead of the usual update, I thought I’d share some of the coolest and most inspirational things I’ve found on the internet this week that are helping me push through.

I hope it inspires you to put something out into the world this week as well, however big or small.

1. Casey Neistat on never giving up

I dropped this gem in last week’s blog but I thought I’d share it again because I think it’s that good. Anyone who knows me will tell you that I’m chronically on Youtube. I’ve watched every one of Casey’s vlogs and for as long as I can remember, this dude has been running 10 miles a day.

This video is all about how he finally ran a sub 3 hour marathon in his 40s - years after he’d shattered his leg and doctors told him that he’d never be able to run again.

2. The story of Fred Again

I, like most other people in their mid 20s, am obsessed with Fred Again and his music. It’s euphoric in a way that I just can’t put into words. This is a super short doc on his come up and meteoric rise into the mainstream with an emphasis on his work ethic along the way.

As with most overnight successes - it’s all about the years of work in the run up.

3. Michael Jordan’s competitive mindset

Even if you’re not that into basketball - The Last Dance on Netflix is a lesson in what it takes to become the best of all time. Jordan is an absolute animal and he pushed himself and the people around him to become winners.

Having competition means you’re doing something worthwhile and this is a masterclass in what it takes to compete at the highest level.

4. Dr Dre and Jimmy Iovine on rap music and building billion dollar consumer hardware companies

I love west coast hip-hop and the greatest duo to ever do it has got to be Jimmy Iovine and Dr Dre. The empire which they grew under the Interscope Records umbrella is huge, signing everyone from Eminem to Lady Gaga.

The Defiant Ones is a Netflix doc series that goes through their journeys from humble upbringings to selling Beats to Apple for billions of dollars.

Cool story - Dr Dre leaked the acquisition before it was announced on Facebook live in this hilarious clip.

5. Studio Ghibli - Kingdom of Dreams and Madness

Hayao Miyazaki is in his mid 80s. He started working on animated files when he was in his 20s. He’s responsible for directing most of the Studio Ghibli films which is a studio that has made some of the biggest animated films of all time.

Miyazaki talks about his motivations, what it means to be an artist and how he finds happiness in creation. I’m still pretty young so this made me think a lot about longevity and endurance.