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Cortex

Cortex 58: The Opportunity of a Chair

 

00:00:00   did you ever get that Apple watch Mike I [TS]

00:00:01   did I got it the next day actually oh [TS]

00:00:03   yeah because after we finished recording [TS]

00:00:06   I called [TS]

00:00:07   DPD the delivery company uh-huh and I [TS]

00:00:10   told them that the delivery drivers a [TS]

00:00:12   liar and I think the lady believed me [TS]

00:00:15   like she actually could I could tell she [TS]

00:00:17   believed me cuz it was like here's the [TS]

00:00:19   thing I already had a different delivery [TS]

00:00:22   driver deliver me at different DPD [TS]

00:00:24   packages that morning I was like so you [TS]

00:00:26   know I was in right like we can't get [TS]

00:00:28   around this you know I was in and then [TS]

00:00:30   you know they said we wanted the [TS]

00:00:32   tracking information had like a photo [TS]

00:00:34   right which was a photo of nothing yeah [TS]

00:00:35   yeah I've gotten this which the photo [TS]

00:00:38   eventually ended up disappearing from [TS]

00:00:39   the site and I was like Santa that's [TS]

00:00:41   like come on we all know what happened [TS]

00:00:43   here and she was like yeah okay and then [TS]

00:00:46   she ended up putting through some [TS]

00:00:47   expedited delivery and it came to me the [TS]

00:00:49   next day I'm glad you got your Apple [TS]

00:00:50   watch in the end mm-hmm yeah me too I [TS]

00:00:52   should really like it I'm really happy [TS]

00:00:55   with it like the LT thing is good [TS]

00:00:58   I've been going swimming again and I [TS]

00:01:00   found the pool which is relatively [TS]

00:01:02   looking a health club relatively close [TS]

00:01:03   to me and I really like that like during [TS]

00:01:07   my breaks like when I swim for like 15 [TS]

00:01:10   minutes or whatever take a take a break [TS]

00:01:12   for a few minutes I can like check my [TS]

00:01:14   text messages at the poolside like it's [TS]

00:01:16   it's like this cool little thing like [TS]

00:01:18   I'm I'm really excited about the LT [TS]

00:01:20   watch honestly like it's uh it's [TS]

00:01:22   becoming a more and more interesting [TS]

00:01:24   product like I was thinking to myself [TS]

00:01:26   the other day like what is the future of [TS]

00:01:27   this and I was imagining like this watch [TS]

00:01:30   that you could just take off the band [TS]

00:01:32   and like unfold it so it becomes a [TS]

00:01:34   bigger device and then you like fold it [TS]

00:01:36   and put it back on again like this is [TS]

00:01:38   like a 20 years in the future what does [TS]

00:01:40   these products look like and this was [TS]

00:01:41   this thing that I imagined of like well [TS]

00:01:44   we just have everything strapped to our [TS]

00:01:45   wrists and then you just take it off the [TS]

00:01:47   band and then it's that's your little [TS]

00:01:48   pocket computer and then you put it back [TS]

00:01:50   again like it was just making me think [TS]

00:01:52   about it has been making me think about [TS]

00:01:53   where this stuff is going I think at [TS]

00:01:55   that point it's easier to just install [TS]

00:01:58   the display in your eyes than to make a [TS]

00:02:00   thing that unfolds into something bigger [TS]

00:02:02   and fold back up so I will say that like [TS]

00:02:04   Samsung already they like saying that [TS]

00:02:06   there is a potential they may have a [TS]

00:02:08   folding phone next year like they are [TS]

00:02:10   already saying this which i think is [TS]

00:02:13   very bold from them to say something [TS]

00:02:16   like that but like one of their [TS]

00:02:17   executives is like oh yeah the note will [TS]

00:02:19   fold in half next year it's like Wolfe [TS]

00:02:21   Samsung don't say stuff like that but [TS]

00:02:24   the the folding screen technology I [TS]

00:02:26   think is closer than we think it is [TS]

00:02:28   honestly I can just see the the [TS]

00:02:32   executive being pulled off stage as he's [TS]

00:02:34   saying this thing by the underlings you [TS]

00:02:35   have to actually make it happen [TS]

00:02:37   he's good like a court like a shepherd's [TS]

00:02:39   crook is that what they called like one [TS]

00:02:41   of the chef's was great just comes to [TS]

00:02:42   just pulls him off like she's grabs him [TS]

00:02:44   by the neck and just like slides him off [TS]

00:02:46   the stage he's on a little wheelie chair [TS]

00:02:48   and then they know he was never heard [TS]

00:02:49   from again [TS]

00:02:49   it's a whole bunch of engineers who are [TS]

00:02:51   pulling on that thing we have to [TS]

00:02:52   actually make that you can't just this [TS]

00:02:54   Tahoe technology works you can't just [TS]

00:02:55   promise it like there's that story of [TS]

00:02:58   when face time was announced and Steve [TS]

00:03:00   Jobs said on stage that they were gonna [TS]

00:03:02   be submitting it all to the standards [TS]

00:03:04   bodies like it was never true it was [TS]

00:03:06   just something he said there are stories [TS]

00:03:08   of engineers being like what no we're [TS]

00:03:12   not like this isn't a thing we can do so [TS]

00:03:14   did you get yours did you get one cuz I [TS]

00:03:16   know you were like ten million in the [TS]

00:03:17   queue or something my Apple watch has [TS]

00:03:21   not yet arrived but the dot sticker that [TS]

00:03:26   is going to cover up the red dot on my [TS]

00:03:28   Apple watch has arrived oh that's good [TS]

00:03:30   news so stick it I was having I'm 50% of [TS]

00:03:33   the way there I guess this is where I [TS]

00:03:36   currently am I don't ever see the red [TS]

00:03:40   dot like this is my thing like I don't [TS]

00:03:42   see it I don't care about it like I only [TS]

00:03:43   ever see it if I look at my hand in an [TS]

00:03:45   odd position right like well I'm looking [TS]

00:03:47   at my watch right now and I would never [TS]

00:03:48   know the dots not about you Mike [TS]

00:03:51   the dot is about flashiness a certain [TS]

00:03:55   kind of flashiness that I have zero [TS]

00:03:58   interest in you don't want to show [TS]

00:03:59   everybody the products that you want you [TS]

00:04:01   don't want to like walk down the street [TS]

00:04:04   big man on campus no no okay if I find I [TS]

00:04:09   would literally have paid extra money [TS]

00:04:12   for a more innocuous version of the [TS]

00:04:15   watch of Dead Eye I'm trying to think [TS]

00:04:18   what the upper limit is and it is [TS]

00:04:20   reasonably high that I would pay to have [TS]

00:04:23   a watch that is the incognito version [TS]

00:04:27   don't I don't want the red dot on my [TS]

00:04:29   watch I personally think it is obnoxious [TS]

00:04:33   and I really think that the whole reason [TS]

00:04:35   that red dot was chosen everyone saying [TS]

00:04:39   like oh it clashes with the colors of [TS]

00:04:41   everything it's a terrible choices like [TS]

00:04:42   yes but that's why it was chosen it's [TS]

00:04:45   it's a it's a monkey signalling option [TS]

00:04:49   well that's what it is right it's it's [TS]

00:04:51   it is chosen to clash so that it is [TS]

00:04:54   visually obvious to people that you have [TS]

00:04:57   the new thing and I have have zero [TS]

00:04:58   interest in that so that that is that is [TS]

00:05:00   why dot stickers have been ordered to my [TS]

00:05:04   house and I will try a bunch and see [TS]

00:05:06   which one which one sticks the best and [TS]

00:05:08   works but it is really irritating to me [TS]

00:05:10   that this is even a thing that I have to [TS]

00:05:12   consider and I just don't like it feel [TS]

00:05:14   like just some enamel paint and a steady [TS]

00:05:16   hand would probably be the better option [TS]

00:05:18   than those little stickers like I can't [TS]

00:05:19   imagine any sticker lasting more than a [TS]

00:05:21   couple of days this is rubbing against [TS]

00:05:23   your hand all the time like that you [TS]

00:05:25   know I'm off immediately that that's why [TS]

00:05:27   I'm that's why I'm really frustrated [TS]

00:05:29   about it it's it's just annoying I don't [TS]

00:05:31   like it and it's like ah thanks Apple [TS]

00:05:33   you forcing me to show off to the world [TS]

00:05:37   that I have the new thing in a way that [TS]

00:05:39   I really don't want to that makes me it [TS]

00:05:41   makes me feel like I'm a marketing shill [TS]

00:05:42   for you I just don't I just don't like [TS]

00:05:45   it I really sent it this is it's the [TS]

00:05:47   same way I've never liked the white [TS]

00:05:49   earbuds and the white pencil is there [TS]

00:05:51   something that feels like they're [TS]

00:05:53   designed to be eye-catching to help [TS]

00:05:55   Apple not because they're they're the [TS]

00:05:57   colors or the options that I would [TS]

00:05:58   actually want okay anyway long story [TS]

00:06:01   short no new Apple watch in my hand see [TS]

00:06:04   ya [TS]

00:06:06   well I've had it for like a couple of [TS]

00:06:08   weeks or whatever I am I am a big fan of [TS]

00:06:10   it like it's it's really really great I [TS]

00:06:12   like it a lot the kids ha I think it's [TS]

00:06:13   opening up a new world for the device [TS]

00:06:16   I'm really excited for you to get yours [TS]

00:06:17   actually because I'm very keen to see [TS]

00:06:20   what you think of it because I think [TS]

00:06:22   like me you will see from this device [TS]

00:06:25   like oh this is what the Apple watch was [TS]

00:06:28   supposed to be it really does have more [TS]

00:06:31   of that feel to it yeah this is the [TS]

00:06:33   obvious direction that it's supposed to [TS]

00:06:34   go in I think the curious thing that I [TS]

00:06:36   will just see is [TS]

00:06:38   like with all of these things figuring [TS]

00:06:39   out how does it best fit into your life [TS]

00:06:41   because your use case of I'm checking [TS]

00:06:43   text messages at the gym is like my [TS]

00:06:46   nightmare use cakes like I don't [TS]

00:06:47   actually want it for that [TS]

00:06:48   so it's just it'll be interesting to see [TS]

00:06:50   like how does this how does this fit [TS]

00:06:51   into my life and how many developers [TS]

00:06:53   decide to take advantage of the fact [TS]

00:06:55   that the device is now a a cellular [TS]

00:06:57   device because I think most of the [TS]

00:06:58   things that I would probably find the [TS]

00:07:00   most useful to have a cellular [TS]

00:07:02   connection on on the watch like the [TS]

00:07:03   various apps that I use might not be [TS]

00:07:06   updated [TS]

00:07:07   for cellular connection for a long time [TS]

00:07:08   if ever yeah spoiler alert not many [TS]

00:07:11   right now there is a word that I [TS]

00:07:15   struggle with being an English person [TS]

00:07:16   talking to Americans and that word is [TS]

00:07:20   the tex-mex style food with the shells [TS]

00:07:24   that you fill up do you know what that [TS]

00:07:25   can you tell me what they're called [TS]

00:07:27   do you mean tacos mm-hmm I can't there [TS]

00:07:30   is not a way that I can say that word [TS]

00:07:32   and it sound accurate or legitimate in [TS]

00:07:35   any way but do you mean do you say like [TS]

00:07:38   a fraud okay so there are two different [TS]

00:07:40   ways to say it right like there's the [TS]

00:07:42   way that would make me sound like an [TS]

00:07:43   American and it's the way that makes you [TS]

00:07:45   sound like a British person and leave of [TS]

00:07:46   them work just say it the way you would [TS]

00:07:48   normally say it tacos [TS]

00:07:50   no that's all wrong exactly right and [TS]

00:07:52   then what so guys say like an American [TS]

00:07:53   like tacos like it doesn't see it [TS]

00:07:56   doesn't work right like there is no way [TS]

00:07:57   for me to say that word and it sounds [TS]

00:08:00   legitimate the second one is much better [TS]

00:08:02   we're gonna tell you right now the [TS]

00:08:03   second one is better but it's still like [TS]

00:08:04   I'm putting on this weird fake American [TS]

00:08:06   accent for one world like it doesn't [TS]

00:08:08   work and then I can't I can't straighten [TS]

00:08:10   it out in my brain when I'm saying in a [TS]

00:08:12   sentence it's like a nightmare another [TS]

00:08:14   one of these words is the surname of [TS]

00:08:17   somebody who we have been seeing a lot [TS]

00:08:19   of pictures of recently Derek Jeter [TS]

00:08:23   Jeter how do you say that name is that [TS]

00:08:26   right I can't help you because I don't [TS]

00:08:28   know who that person is hmm see I think [TS]

00:08:30   I think the way you're supposed to say [TS]

00:08:32   is it's got more like a D sound in it [TS]

00:08:34   which is like like Jeter or something [TS]

00:08:37   like that dude oh yeah you see see you [TS]

00:08:38   could say it right but I can say might [TS]

00:08:41   say like water yeah there's a D in water [TS]

00:08:43   exactly right so this is there's person [TS]

00:08:46   his name is Derek Jeter [TS]

00:08:49   and I don't all I know is he something [TS]

00:08:51   to do with baseball I don't really know [TS]

00:08:53   much more about him is it baseball I [TS]

00:08:55   don't even know if it's baseball I'm [TS]

00:08:57   assuming it's baseball but I don't know [TS]

00:08:59   what do you know anything about this [TS]

00:09:00   person okay background for the confused [TS]

00:09:02   listener at this point is on Twitter I [TS]

00:09:06   know a couple days ago hmm [TS]

00:09:08   suddenly it felt like hundreds of people [TS]

00:09:11   were sending you and me photos of this [TS]

00:09:14   man at a desk with two iPads on the desk [TS]

00:09:16   and I retweeted one of these because [TS]

00:09:20   like oh yeah hashtag multipad lifestyle [TS]

00:09:22   great this is on brand [TS]

00:09:24   I heard we tweet this it's a nice photo [TS]

00:09:27   of a man at a desk but the the these [TS]

00:09:30   tweets just kept rolling in all day and [TS]

00:09:32   eventually I finally figure out wait a [TS]

00:09:34   minute this is like a this is like a [TS]

00:09:35   real person this is someone in I just [TS]

00:09:38   thought it was I don't know I just [TS]

00:09:39   thought it was just some random photo of [TS]

00:09:40   some guy at a desk but the sheer volume [TS]

00:09:43   of these things made me eventually [TS]

00:09:45   realize that this guy is some sports guy [TS]

00:09:51   but I'd I'm afraid Mike I cannot tell [TS]

00:09:54   you anything about this person because I [TS]

00:09:57   know literally nothing about this person [TS]

00:10:00   I would have just thought this was a [TS]

00:10:02   photo spread of people working at [TS]

00:10:05   offices in some magazine that everybody [TS]

00:10:07   was sending us I didn't realize it was [TS]

00:10:08   it was like a real guy [TS]

00:10:10   Wikipedia tells me that Derek Sanderson [TS]

00:10:14   Jeter is an American businessman a [TS]

00:10:16   professional baseball executive who is [TS]

00:10:18   the CEO and part owner of the Miami [TS]

00:10:20   Marlins which is an MLB team and he used [TS]

00:10:24   to be a baseball er himself at one point [TS]

00:10:27   in his life and apparently was very [TS]

00:10:29   successful at that which is why he's so [TS]

00:10:32   known and I think he played for New York [TS]

00:10:34   Yankees for a long period of time [TS]

00:10:35   because there are lots of pictures of [TS]

00:10:36   them on his Wikipedia page wearing New [TS]

00:10:40   York Yankees jerseys unless he played [TS]

00:10:42   for the New York Yankees while Larry [TS]

00:10:44   David owned them I like I can make no [TS]

00:10:46   connection to this person so that's who [TS]

00:10:48   he is and he is using he's jewel [TS]

00:10:53   wielding iPad pros on this desk yeah [TS]

00:10:56   which is like twelve point nine inch [TS]

00:10:57   serious I've had pros and that that he [TS]

00:11:00   is a real proponent of [TS]

00:11:01   the multipad lifestyle to 12.9 s that is [TS]

00:11:04   that's really serious the thing that's [TS]

00:11:07   funny to me about this is a while ago I [TS]

00:11:11   was working in the public lobby of my [TS]

00:11:14   office building and I had brought down [TS]

00:11:17   into this sort of public workspace my [TS]

00:11:20   two 12.9 iPad pros and I had them just [TS]

00:11:27   in front of me working working side by [TS]

00:11:28   side on on the thing so I was like [TS]

00:11:30   writing a script on one of them and I [TS]

00:11:32   had some research notes probably [TS]

00:11:34   Evernote open up on the other screen [TS]

00:11:36   with a little thing to type on I was [TS]

00:11:37   kind of going back and forth between the [TS]

00:11:38   two of them and I had headphones on but [TS]

00:11:42   I I just happened not to have any music [TS]

00:11:43   on them and I saw the people next to me [TS]

00:11:47   start pointing and I overheard that they [TS]

00:11:49   started talking about this real weirdo [TS]

00:11:50   whose hope they are using to I've had no [TS]

00:11:52   way I'm pretending that I don't hear you [TS]

00:11:56   I'm just gonna keep working away at this [TS]

00:11:59   thing but yeah I think if if it's [TS]

00:12:03   notable if somebody is using two really [TS]

00:12:05   big iPad pros it just looks it looks [TS]

00:12:08   weird I think that's also partly why [TS]

00:12:10   it's so I caching in this photo that [TS]

00:12:11   this guy has this this huge desk with [TS]

00:12:14   two big iPads on them I think it still [TS]

00:12:17   it still looks visually weird to people [TS]

00:12:21   we haven't yet reached the Picard point [TS]

00:12:24   where you can just have iPads spread all [TS]

00:12:26   around you and it's just a visual [TS]

00:12:27   indicator of oh yes this is a person [TS]

00:12:29   who's very busy and working on a lot of [TS]

00:12:30   things but yeah so we got sent this [TS]

00:12:33   photo quite a lot but I felt I felt a [TS]

00:12:35   kinship with this photograph yep and the [TS]

00:12:38   end the anonymous man contained within [TS]

00:12:39   it who he is and what he does we will [TS]

00:12:41   never know their thing every now and [TS]

00:12:44   then something is happens and it's so [TS]

00:12:45   fun for me because there's a social [TS]

00:12:47   media manager I can't understand what's [TS]

00:12:48   going on yes right because you get a [TS]

00:12:51   bunch of people there like including me [TS]

00:12:52   and you in the tweet and like hashtag [TS]

00:12:54   multi pad lifestyle and it's like you [TS]

00:12:56   can only imagine that there is a person [TS]

00:12:58   sitting in front of TweetDeck and they [TS]

00:13:00   have no idea what's happening yes of [TS]

00:13:02   course [TS]

00:13:02   yep yeah they're sitting in front of [TS]

00:13:04   TweetDeck they have all the columns open [TS]

00:13:05   and there's they're saving the multi pad [TS]

00:13:08   lifestyle column starts and thinking I [TS]

00:13:09   don't understand I don't understand what [TS]

00:13:11   internet lever or button we have [TS]

00:13:14   I've stumbled upon here but we've we've [TS]

00:13:16   stepped on the thing with just this [TS]

00:13:18   press photo yeah of our CEO doing [TS]

00:13:21   business because like there are [TS]

00:13:23   obviously a lot of people replying to [TS]

00:13:24   that tweet and they're all saying [TS]

00:13:25   whatever they're saying but you'll start [TS]

00:13:27   to see this trend like 1 in every 10 is [TS]

00:13:30   referencing these two people and all [TS]

00:13:32   this weird hashtag which when you read [TS]

00:13:34   it out doesn't make any sense because [TS]

00:13:36   it's mult iPad well what is that what [TS]

00:13:38   does this mean what does any of this [TS]

00:13:39   mean but it's it's just me and you [TS]

00:13:42   living our lives I I have to say [TS]

00:13:44   multipad lifestyle the way that it's [TS]

00:13:46   settled that for me well I'm still a big [TS]

00:13:48   proponent I tend not to use them [TS]

00:13:50   together very often but I interchange [TS]

00:13:54   between them all then that's kind of how [TS]

00:13:57   the multi pad lifestyle is manifested [TS]

00:13:59   for me because you know the mont ipad [TS]

00:14:01   lifestyle is whatever you make of it [TS]

00:14:03   there must just be more than one ipad [TS]

00:14:05   like if you want to live the kitchen you [TS]

00:14:07   know i've i've had in the kitchen and an [TS]

00:14:09   ipad that you use on the in the in the [TS]

00:14:11   front room on the sofa watching TV you [TS]

00:14:13   lived them all tab had lifestyle we all [TS]

00:14:15   can but i I agree it's the same same [TS]

00:14:19   thing for me like that's that's why it's [TS]

00:14:21   a it's a rare situation where I'm using [TS]

00:14:23   really two of them at the same time it's [TS]

00:14:26   just I can't even remember why on that [TS]

00:14:27   particular day just worked out that it [TS]

00:14:29   was yeah [TS]

00:14:30   but I'm doing the same multipad [TS]

00:14:31   lifestyle thing that you are in as I've [TS]

00:14:34   mentioned before I really like [TS]

00:14:35   separating out workspaces and different [TS]

00:14:37   devices for different kinds of things [TS]

00:14:39   and so that that's the way that I I [TS]

00:14:41   still use it is like okay here is couch [TS]

00:14:46   iPad which is for goofing off and for [TS]

00:14:50   nonsense and here is work iPad and these [TS]

00:14:52   and these devices are different physical [TS]

00:14:54   sizes they have different looks and I [TS]

00:14:57   find that really helpful to reinforce in [TS]

00:14:58   your mind like what is this for what are [TS]

00:15:02   you supposed to be doing right now I [TS]

00:15:04   have too many iPads in my house right [TS]

00:15:06   now they're it's like I'm still dealing [TS]

00:15:10   with like the movement of the old ones [TS]

00:15:13   like where do they go who like what [TS]

00:15:15   family member will take this one like [TS]

00:15:18   what room in the house will this one be [TS]

00:15:19   stationed in like the the bringing in of [TS]

00:15:22   two new iPads like earlier this year I [TS]

00:15:24   haven't yet shook out where everything's [TS]

00:15:27   so they were like I will just happen [TS]

00:15:29   upon one which in a place is like a [TS]

00:15:32   underneath this notebook is my old nine [TS]

00:15:34   point seven inch iPad pro I didn't know [TS]

00:15:36   you're under there yeah still trying to [TS]

00:15:38   fill or all that through [TS]

00:15:39   yeah the gray household is definitely [TS]

00:15:41   going through the same thing between [TS]

00:15:43   myself and my wife and our old iPads [TS]

00:15:45   because the introduction of the iPad [TS]

00:15:47   Bros with pencils has now made every non [TS]

00:15:50   pencil iPad just dead to us [TS]

00:15:53   I was like okay there's no place to [TS]

00:15:56   shift these and yeah there's there's a [TS]

00:15:59   little sad pile of iPads that we need to [TS]

00:16:01   figure out something to do with at some [TS]

00:16:03   point of oh these are the pencil açaí [TS]

00:16:06   pads they exist for us no more did the [TS]

00:16:09   gray household eradicate I'm pet minis [TS]

00:16:12   did that is that something that ended up [TS]

00:16:14   happening yeah that's that's a thing [TS]

00:16:18   that has ended up happening okay [TS]

00:16:20   much much to the sadness of an [TS]

00:16:23   unspecified other member of the [TS]

00:16:24   household yeah the iPad Mini because it [TS]

00:16:27   lacks pencil support which is still a [TS]

00:16:29   thing I think that it should it just [TS]

00:16:33   became untenable because of RSI issues [TS]

00:16:37   and the need to keep using a pencil as [TS]

00:16:39   input for someone who may or may not be [TS]

00:16:41   my wife who uses the iPad on the couch [TS]

00:16:43   quite a lot so yes there there's no more [TS]

00:16:46   mini use in this household and it's it's [TS]

00:16:50   funny I was actually just talking to my [TS]

00:16:52   parents and my mom is a big fan of the [TS]

00:16:54   iPad Mini she's like holding on to this [TS]

00:16:57   sad iPad Mini that's that's really dying [TS]

00:17:00   and she's just she's still hoping for [TS]

00:17:02   this she's sure any day they're going to [TS]

00:17:05   come out with one with pencil support [TS]

00:17:06   like I don't think so mom I think you [TS]

00:17:08   gotta I think he got to let it go but [TS]

00:17:11   that that might be the last iPad Mini [TS]

00:17:13   that exists in the greater extended gray [TS]

00:17:17   family is that one [TS]

00:17:19   so iPad minis there on the way out we [TS]

00:17:21   never fully eradicated the iPad Mini [TS]

00:17:24   from this household it's still sitting [TS]

00:17:26   like in the living room right like it's [TS]

00:17:29   still there [TS]

00:17:30   and I don't know how much it's getting [TS]

00:17:33   used but like it's still there when [TS]

00:17:36   we've had many conversations about like [TS]

00:17:37   why it shouldn't anymore because you [TS]

00:17:40   know [TS]

00:17:40   you gotta try and transition like you [TS]

00:17:42   don't want to get too used to it but [TS]

00:17:43   like it still exists so I kinda oh wait [TS]

00:17:46   I just realized I realized there's one [TS]

00:17:48   more is one more I've had meaning I [TS]

00:17:49   forgot about and it is the iPad Mini [TS]

00:17:52   that I never see because it is a [TS]

00:17:55   dedicated sound machine for white noise [TS]

00:17:59   in the bedroom so we have a speaker that [TS]

00:18:02   has a button that you can turn on and [TS]

00:18:03   off and then it just it just plays white [TS]

00:18:05   noise to help sleep and I forgot that V [TS]

00:18:08   the audio wire that is coming out of [TS]

00:18:10   that speaker is plugged into an iPad [TS]

00:18:13   Mini which is sat in a drawer untouched [TS]

00:18:15   for years so this is an app that is [TS]

00:18:17   running constantly like 24/7 it's just [TS]

00:18:21   yeah it's just the music player right I [TS]

00:18:23   have a file that's just a white noise [TS]

00:18:25   file and it's just play is just playing [TS]

00:18:28   on repeat one in the music app on that [TS]

00:18:30   iPad because it's easier just to press [TS]

00:18:33   the physical button on the top of the [TS]

00:18:34   speaker because when you're waking up [TS]

00:18:36   it's easier to like you turn off the [TS]

00:18:37   white noise and again it's like it's it [TS]

00:18:39   makes it simple it makes it easier to [TS]

00:18:41   wake up and then you turn it on when [TS]

00:18:43   it's bedtime so you just press the [TS]

00:18:45   button instead of fiddling around with [TS]

00:18:46   the iPad but I totally forgot that that [TS]

00:18:48   iPad is even in the drawer somewhere [TS]

00:18:50   just plugged into the wall doing repeat [TS]

00:18:53   one forever [TS]

00:18:53   that's iPad retirement this episode of [TS]

00:18:56   cortex is brought to you by Casper [TS]

00:18:59   most people don't spend any time [TS]

00:19:00   thinking about the science behind a [TS]

00:19:02   mattress why would you well if you work [TS]

00:19:05   at Casper you definitely do they have a [TS]

00:19:07   team of 20 engineers that decide their [TS]

00:19:09   mattress with the feedback of a [TS]

00:19:11   community of nearly half a million [TS]

00:19:14   sleepers the Casper team are just a [TS]

00:19:16   bunch of engineering nerds they dig as [TS]

00:19:18   far as possible into the science of [TS]

00:19:20   sleep and the technology to deliver it [TS]

00:19:22   and they put that expertise into [TS]

00:19:24   creating a mattress that combines [TS]

00:19:25   pressure relieving supportive memory [TS]

00:19:27   foam with a breathable open-cell layer [TS]

00:19:29   for all night comfort don't just take my [TS]

00:19:32   word from it Fast Company recently named [TS]

00:19:34   Casper the most innovative brand of 2017 [TS]

00:19:37   for this reason Casper would deliver our [TS]

00:19:40   matches to you in a box you can get [TS]

00:19:41   upstairs you'll be able to open it up [TS]

00:19:43   put it onto your bed and it will breathe [TS]

00:19:45   the life so you're ready to sleep on it [TS]

00:19:47   to feel the comfort every single night [TS]

00:19:49   to be sleeping at a temperature [TS]

00:19:50   regulation so you'll feel nice and cool [TS]

00:19:52   you won't get too hot [TS]

00:19:54   lovely stuff buying a Casper mattress is [TS]

00:19:56   so easy and completely risk-free they [TS]

00:19:58   are for free delivery and free returns [TS]

00:20:00   to the US Canada and the UK - and they [TS]

00:20:03   ship directly to your door of Casper you [TS]

00:20:05   get to actually sleep on the mattress [TS]

00:20:06   before you make your decision and since [TS]

00:20:08   we spent a third of our lives on our [TS]

00:20:10   mattresses it's important to get a feel [TS]

00:20:12   for it before committing [TS]

00:20:13   that's why Casper gives you 100 nights [TS]

00:20:15   to try and tell if you don't love it [TS]

00:20:17   they'll pick it up and refund everything [TS]

00:20:19   - you get $50 towards any mattress [TS]

00:20:21   purchase by going to Casper Comstock or [TS]

00:20:23   Texan using the code cortex at checkout [TS]

00:20:25   terms and conditions apply we thank [TS]

00:20:27   casper for their support of this show [TS]

00:20:30   you mentioned sitting in a lobby doing [TS]

00:20:34   some work in an office building which [TS]

00:20:38   made me wonder we haven't checked in for [TS]

00:20:41   a while on your office situation and [TS]

00:20:44   then and I had an image of you like a [TS]

00:20:47   gray that sits in a lobby there's a gray [TS]

00:20:51   that's trying to avoid something you [TS]

00:20:55   know like I can't imagine you wanting to [TS]

00:20:57   be sitting in a lobby so if it's in a [TS]

00:21:01   lobby of an office building I'm assuming [TS]

00:21:04   the office building that you're in is [TS]

00:21:06   your office building and if you're in a [TS]

00:21:09   lobby some something's pushing you there [TS]

00:21:13   I guess it has been a long time since [TS]

00:21:19   we've done an update mm-hmm [TS]

00:21:22   [Music] [TS]

00:21:24   all right let's cast our mind back a [TS]

00:21:27   long time ago mm-hmm this is is this [TS]

00:21:31   story I don't even know where we left [TS]

00:21:33   off anymore the last time we spoke about [TS]

00:21:36   this there were like images of white [TS]

00:21:38   boards with motivational words on them [TS]

00:21:41   and like groves and like be the best you [TS]

00:21:43   you can be that kind of stuff yeah [TS]

00:21:46   inspiration on a wall on whiteboards [TS]

00:21:48   with my neighbor okay all right let's [TS]

00:21:53   let's pool up this story as longtime [TS]

00:21:55   listeners that the show may be aware I [TS]

00:21:57   was increasingly annoyed by my office [TS]

00:22:00   neighbor [TS]

00:22:02   my office talking on the phone talking [TS]

00:22:05   to China [TS]

00:22:06   his nonsensical and comic notes to [TS]

00:22:10   himself on a whiteboard that I would [TS]

00:22:12   have to see when I passed his office [TS]

00:22:13   bothering me for no good reason but they [TS]

00:22:16   just kind of work every single time you [TS]

00:22:17   were then them at the time day hour like [TS]

00:22:21   it didn't matter but then more more [TS]

00:22:24   genuinely just the the inconvenience of [TS]

00:22:27   his schedule lining up exactly with my [TS]

00:22:29   schedule of being there super early in [TS]

00:22:32   the morning and super late at night so [TS]

00:22:35   there's just the two of us in these [TS]

00:22:36   offices next to each other and I want to [TS]

00:22:38   be able to talk out my scripts out loud [TS]

00:22:40   and just so aware that this person is [TS]

00:22:43   right next to me hearing Thunder sounds [TS]

00:22:46   and repeated sentences over and over [TS]

00:22:48   again so before the summer rolled around [TS]

00:22:54   I realized you know what this office [TS]

00:22:59   it's not exactly working for me maybe I [TS]

00:23:02   found myself in the lobby one too many [TS]

00:23:04   times working on iPads instead of in the [TS]

00:23:07   actual space that was upstairs that was [TS]

00:23:09   rented and I was thinking forward about [TS]

00:23:12   what was going to be happening over the [TS]

00:23:13   summer and how I was going to be gone a [TS]

00:23:14   very long time and it's also thinking [TS]

00:23:17   about the very high rent on this place [TS]

00:23:19   and I thought you know what the hell [TS]

00:23:21   with this I'm out of here [TS]

00:23:22   I'm gonna cancel because I'm going to be [TS]

00:23:25   gone for a couple of months over the [TS]

00:23:27   summer anyway and I just I couldn't [TS]

00:23:29   abide with spending the money on to [TS]

00:23:32   place that I was finding myself not [TS]

00:23:34   conducive to work anyway and then also [TS]

00:23:37   paying for a couple of months when I [TS]

00:23:38   wasn't going to be there so I thought [TS]

00:23:40   it's over we're done did you put the [TS]

00:23:43   room back together as you found it no I [TS]

00:23:46   picked up I picked up my iPad and I [TS]

00:23:49   walked out right it's like my one piece [TS]

00:23:51   of equipment with me and I left so you [TS]

00:23:53   left the two desks standing on top of [TS]

00:23:55   each other you left the ceiling tiles in [TS]

00:23:58   whatever mess you left them in like [TS]

00:24:00   everything stayed I didn't mess up the [TS]

00:24:01   ceiling tiles the compost you did [TS]

00:24:04   something you ripped something up oh I [TS]

00:24:07   put all the electric wires back down the [TS]

00:24:10   false floor yeah I shoved all the wires [TS]

00:24:12   down there oh and I did I forgot [TS]

00:24:15   did put I did put cardboard blockers [TS]

00:24:19   over most of the ceiling lights because [TS]

00:24:21   they were too bright I didn't like them [TS]

00:24:24   okay look there were some modifications [TS]

00:24:26   that were done to that office which I [TS]

00:24:28   didn't really think about when I left I [TS]

00:24:30   took the iPad and I walked away [TS]

00:24:31   was there a cleaning crew in this office [TS]

00:24:33   like good people coming in to this [TS]

00:24:35   office yeah yeah I wonder what it was [TS]

00:24:38   like when like the administrator came [TS]

00:24:39   back in there it's like what crime was [TS]

00:24:43   planned in this room nothing they would [TS]

00:24:47   come into a room that was just nice and [TS]

00:24:49   neat and empty a couple of things would [TS]

00:24:52   be oddly out of place but mostly it's [TS]

00:24:54   fine now you see the thing is though [TS]

00:24:55   like the things that you have changed [TS]

00:24:57   like those specific things that you did [TS]

00:24:59   they are they are out of the norm enough [TS]

00:25:04   that I think it would be more concerning [TS]

00:25:07   right that there are just like small [TS]

00:25:09   changes that most people wouldn't make [TS]

00:25:12   that it's like why did they choose to do [TS]

00:25:15   things this way you know especially if [TS]

00:25:17   that heard the thunder sounds like I [TS]

00:25:19   think that Eric and they were happy to [TS]

00:25:21   let you go like when you came in that [TS]

00:25:22   day and you were like I want to go they [TS]

00:25:24   were like no problem mr. gray sign here [TS]

00:25:27   it's time to get you out of here yeah [TS]

00:25:31   like I went to the front office and told [TS]

00:25:34   them I wasn't coming back oh you just [TS]

00:25:35   dumped him by text message I took my [TS]

00:25:38   iPad I walked away and I told my [TS]

00:25:40   assistant to deal with it so she's thank [TS]

00:25:42   you she Woodson she was in touch with [TS]

00:25:44   them saying mr. gray will no longer be [TS]

00:25:46   returning right so I don't I didn't [TS]

00:25:49   handle that I don't know how that went [TS]

00:25:50   down but I I can't it was fine [TS]

00:25:52   everything was fine I walked away [TS]

00:25:54   that's it mattered so this summer [TS]

00:25:56   happened I was gone for a while I came [TS]

00:25:59   back and well say for now [TS]

00:26:02   that I I have a much longer term plan [TS]

00:26:05   for what I want to do with my working [TS]

00:26:10   space but when I came back from the [TS]

00:26:14   summer I thought there's longer term [TS]

00:26:16   plan that I have is going to take a long [TS]

00:26:17   time that's why it's a long term plan [TS]

00:26:19   and I need something [TS]

00:26:22   to tide me over for a while so I thought [TS]

00:26:25   now that I'm back in London after the [TS]

00:26:28   summer has happened let me take a look [TS]

00:26:30   around and see if I can find a place to [TS]

00:26:32   work temporarily and it seems like in [TS]

00:26:36   the past maybe year or two there are a [TS]

00:26:40   whole bunch more co-working short-term [TS]

00:26:44   office spaces around than there were [TS]

00:26:46   when I was looking the last time it [TS]

00:26:49   seems like this is a I don't know almost [TS]

00:26:52   like there's something's star to be [TS]

00:26:53   feeling about it like there's a whole [TS]

00:26:55   bunch of companies that are trying to do [TS]

00:26:57   the same thing about like hey look at us [TS]

00:26:59   it is a growth industry I think okay so [TS]

00:27:02   this is not just my perception because [TS]

00:27:04   if it feels a little bit like the food [TS]

00:27:06   company the food delivery companies in [TS]

00:27:08   London where there yeah oh there was one [TS]

00:27:10   and now there are 10 all with knives at [TS]

00:27:15   each other's throats like out for your [TS]

00:27:17   business there are a couple of really [TS]

00:27:19   big companies like I won't name them [TS]

00:27:22   because they should sponsor us before [TS]

00:27:25   like there are a few big companies that [TS]

00:27:28   are setting up in London and all over [TS]

00:27:31   the place that that are doing this stuff [TS]

00:27:33   like and and at a huge degree like [TS]

00:27:36   buying multiple floors of brand new [TS]

00:27:37   office buildings like really kind of [TS]

00:27:39   just big big business stuff yeah it's [TS]

00:27:43   interesting it's interesting to see this [TS]

00:27:44   sort of change so I think I ended up [TS]

00:27:47   looking at something like five or six [TS]

00:27:50   different companies that we're all [TS]

00:27:53   trying to provide some kind of temporary [TS]

00:27:55   office services because I just want to [TS]

00:27:59   see what's available and also I find [TS]

00:28:01   this interesting I mean you and I have [TS]

00:28:03   visited office spaces like there's [TS]

00:28:05   something about this that I just I find [TS]

00:28:07   interesting I don't exactly know why but [TS]

00:28:09   it's just like I I don't I don't mind I [TS]

00:28:12   don't mind a little tour of a workspace [TS]

00:28:14   let's see how things are set up see how [TS]

00:28:16   different people do things so there was [TS]

00:28:20   a certain commonality to these places [TS]

00:28:24   Mike I would say hey I am looking for an [TS]

00:28:29   office to rent like I know that you are [TS]

00:28:32   primarily a company that's a co-working [TS]

00:28:34   space [TS]

00:28:35   so you have an open bullpen in which [TS]

00:28:40   there are people they want to show you [TS]

00:28:42   the opportunity of a chair right yes [TS]

00:28:45   that is that is the perfect way to put [TS]

00:28:48   it yes there are lots of companies that [TS]

00:28:51   are in the opportunity of a chair [TS]

00:28:53   business now [TS]

00:28:55   it's like okay how interesting this is [TS]

00:28:59   if they feel like this is some kind of [TS]

00:29:01   signal about changes in the economy that [TS]

00:29:03   I don't fully understand but like why [TS]

00:29:06   why is this a thing that you're selling [TS]

00:29:07   why is it a thing that so many people [TS]

00:29:09   are buying including me but like [TS]

00:29:10   presumably not all of these people are [TS]

00:29:12   youtubers I don't understand who these [TS]

00:29:13   people are but whatever so many many of [TS]

00:29:17   these places will then also try to [TS]

00:29:20   upsell some of their chair opportunities [TS]

00:29:23   as offices so there's gonna have they're [TS]

00:29:25   gonna have some dedicated office space [TS]

00:29:27   but typically they are for six people [TS]

00:29:30   right like I think in most instances [TS]

00:29:33   they're expecting a company of multiple [TS]

00:29:37   people to be the people that like that [TS]

00:29:39   take those even though there's really [TS]

00:29:41   only offices for one person but like you [TS]

00:29:43   shove seven people in them yeah so this [TS]

00:29:45   is this is the this is the trend is oh [TS]

00:29:48   yes we have offices will there will [TS]

00:29:51   there be eight of you and then I show up [TS]

00:29:53   and it's a space in which I think it [TS]

00:29:55   would be cruel to put three people but [TS]

00:29:57   like no no it's it's fine [TS]

00:30:00   this chicken cage meets the minimum [TS]

00:30:02   regulations and we can put eight people [TS]

00:30:04   inside of there yeah all right one of [TS]

00:30:07   the first places that I went to really [TS]

00:30:08   really typify for me the thing that I [TS]

00:30:10   find baffling which is okay do you have [TS]

00:30:11   offices for I would usually just ask for [TS]

00:30:15   two people because the one person space [TS]

00:30:17   was just comical right it was it's like [TS]

00:30:19   no I will not be in this one person [TS]

00:30:21   space so this do you have an office [TS]

00:30:22   space which you people [TS]

00:30:23   oh yes come right in we have a couple [TS]

00:30:25   come take a look [TS]

00:30:26   so the first place I went to is this big [TS]

00:30:29   open bullpen and in the middle of the [TS]

00:30:34   bullpen there are [TS]

00:30:37   glass cubes yeah this is exactly what it [TS]

00:30:42   was Zuckerberg x' office setup so if you [TS]

00:30:46   think of big open office workspace and [TS]

00:30:50   then in the middle cubes pure glass [TS]

00:30:55   cubes that my favorite detail the glass [TS]

00:31:01   did not go all the way up to the ceiling [TS]

00:31:04   glass stopped maybe two feet short of [TS]

00:31:09   the ceiling just high enough that if you [TS]

00:31:12   weren't paying attention you might not [TS]

00:31:14   notice but if you're me you notice [TS]

00:31:18   immediately that's silly [TS]

00:31:20   this was the worst version of this but I [TS]

00:31:23   saw I saw so many of these things and I [TS]

00:31:25   was looking at these this place to work [TS]

00:31:28   and I'm just trying I'm trying to [TS]

00:31:30   understand I'm just trying to understand [TS]

00:31:35   the world okay this this office space it [TS]

00:31:39   provides 0% privacy over the open [TS]

00:31:43   bullpen because it's just glass there's [TS]

00:31:45   no privacy here at all it's not [TS]

00:31:47   soundproof it's not sound proofed [TS]

00:31:50   because the glass doesn't go up to the [TS]

00:31:54   top and it's only glass right so let's [TS]

00:31:56   never gonna be that soundproofed anyway [TS]

00:31:59   yeah it's never gonna be that sound [TS]

00:32:01   proved anyway I don't know in any [TS]

00:32:04   situations like I don't say things but [TS]

00:32:08   like the girl is giving me the tour [TS]

00:32:10   I almost want to just really ask some [TS]

00:32:14   honest questions like why was this [TS]

00:32:17   design this way who is this for and what [TS]

00:32:21   advantage is this cube supposed to [TS]

00:32:24   provide I just I don't get it I don't [TS]

00:32:26   understand it at all [TS]

00:32:27   but it was interesting to me that this [TS]

00:32:31   was a recurring theme of a bunch of [TS]

00:32:33   these places that I went to and these [TS]

00:32:35   are different company types right like [TS]

00:32:37   you're not just going to all with like [TS]

00:32:39   what company provider a yeah so that's [TS]

00:32:43   what I want to be clear here and that's [TS]

00:32:44   the thing that I found was interesting [TS]

00:32:45   was I think I would have been a lot more [TS]

00:32:48   baffled by this had we [TS]

00:32:51   not done our tours of the big campuses [TS]

00:32:55   out in Silicon Valley because it's like [TS]

00:32:59   if I if this is the first time I had [TS]

00:33:00   seen this I would have been genuinely [TS]

00:33:02   horrified right but have it having [TS]

00:33:04   walked through the Facebook campus it's [TS]

00:33:05   like oh okay [TS]

00:33:06   I have a frame of reference for this now [TS]

00:33:09   like this is this is a pattern that it [TS]

00:33:12   feels like is being stamped across the [TS]

00:33:17   world is this this open space this space [TS]

00:33:23   where there is very little privacy and [TS]

00:33:27   now it is taking over office space where [TS]

00:33:33   it's not even like oh this is a company [TS]

00:33:35   and we want everybody who is in the same [TS]

00:33:37   company to be able to talk to each other [TS]

00:33:39   and and work work with each other in [TS]

00:33:41   this open areas like no no this is now [TS]

00:33:44   what different private companies [TS]

00:33:46   competing with each other are offering [TS]

00:33:49   to people who are small businesses you [TS]

00:33:52   know anywhere from like one to ten [TS]

00:33:54   people inside the central glass office [TS]

00:33:57   thing makes no sense right like there is [TS]

00:33:59   a metaphor for Mark Zuckerberg office [TS]

00:34:04   mm-hmm that like it or not makes sense [TS]

00:34:08   right like look he's CEO of one of the [TS]

00:34:11   biggest companies in the world he has to [TS]

00:34:12   have an office because every now and [TS]

00:34:15   then he's gonna bring somebody in it's [TS]

00:34:17   like they even said to us when we were [TS]

00:34:18   there most of the time he's working [TS]

00:34:20   outside the office and there are like to [TS]

00:34:22   pick you out the picture of him with the [TS]

00:34:23   the tape over the computer camera like [TS]

00:34:25   he is at a desk outside of the office [TS]

00:34:28   which was where he tends to work of [TS]

00:34:30   everybody else but every now and then he [TS]

00:34:32   needs to take a meeting so he goes into [TS]

00:34:34   the glass room but he doesn't want it to [TS]

00:34:36   be like I'm hiding away from you people [TS]

00:34:38   so everybody could see him when he's in [TS]

00:34:40   there like there is a metaphor to that [TS]

00:34:43   which has some sense to it but it is a [TS]

00:34:46   statement yeah about his view of his [TS]

00:34:50   position here mm-hmm [TS]

00:34:51   which I actually kind of liked when they [TS]

00:34:55   explained it to us because it's kind of [TS]

00:34:56   like if you're gonna make everybody work [TS]

00:34:58   this way right everybody's gonna work in [TS]

00:35:00   these huge vast aircraft hangars with [TS]

00:35:03   cables hanging from the ceiling [TS]

00:35:05   the CEO of the company should do this [TS]

00:35:07   too like if he is making everybody do [TS]

00:35:10   this he should do it so like you know I [TS]

00:35:12   kind of liked it that they were like he [TS]

00:35:14   has his desk here [TS]

00:35:15   he has his office but he only visit for [TS]

00:35:16   this and this and it's like okay I [TS]

00:35:18   actually kind of like this like if I was [TS]

00:35:19   working at Facebook I would be like okay [TS]

00:35:22   right like this is the situation that [TS]

00:35:24   we're all in because let's be frank [TS]

00:35:26   about this the amount of people we have [TS]

00:35:27   there's no awful way to do it right they [TS]

00:35:29   keep losing good it you just gonna cram [TS]

00:35:30   all those people in those insanely large [TS]

00:35:32   buildings but if I'm going to see an [TS]

00:35:36   office space and hiring an office space [TS]

00:35:38   I don't need that metaphor like the [TS]

00:35:41   metaphor is not required right like I [TS]

00:35:43   don't need to feel a sense of [TS]

00:35:44   camaraderie with these other 25 [TS]

00:35:46   companies like there's no that this [TS]

00:35:48   isn't required it's just not needed yeah [TS]

00:35:51   well I mean okay so this is another [TS]

00:35:53   thing so I like I said I think I saw [TS]

00:35:56   five or six of these companies what you [TS]

00:35:58   said right there camaraderie every one [TS]

00:36:01   of these companies was not Mike they [TS]

00:36:03   didn't just want me to rent an office [TS]

00:36:04   they wanted me to be part of their [TS]

00:36:09   community the community all right and is [TS]

00:36:13   this is mckay's where I I have always [TS]

00:36:20   had a little bit of an annoyance with [TS]

00:36:21   the word community because I feel like [TS]

00:36:23   my familiarity from this has been the [TS]

00:36:25   YouTube world where youtubers who have [TS]

00:36:30   enormous audiences want to just talk [TS]

00:36:33   about being a part of their own [TS]

00:36:34   communities in a way that I find weird [TS]

00:36:36   and and deflecting of what they are but [TS]

00:36:42   now but now it's like I feel like this [TS]

00:36:43   word has spread everywhere and it has [TS]

00:36:46   now become it's not just a word that I [TS]

00:36:50   feel uncomfortable with is it's a word [TS]

00:36:51   that that essentially makes me flinch so [TS]

00:36:54   now we're not like when an office [TS]

00:36:55   manager is telling me about how I like [TS]

00:36:58   I'm here to rent an office because I [TS]

00:37:00   want to just work quietly on my own and [TS]

00:37:03   they say we have an excellent community [TS]

00:37:09   look I'm not like the world's most [TS]

00:37:11   extroverted guy but this there's [TS]

00:37:14   something that feels almost like weirdly [TS]

00:37:17   like threatening about if you're not [TS]

00:37:21   part of our community right it's like [TS]

00:37:23   everybody here is part of the community [TS]

00:37:25   because we're all pod people [TS]

00:37:26   and as I like you're gonna be a pod [TS]

00:37:28   person too by coming here I just I find [TS]

00:37:31   myself flinching away from this word [TS]

00:37:35   because it's so forced and I also find [TS]

00:37:37   it so it's so strange to go from [TS]

00:37:42   different company to different company [TS]

00:37:43   but here the same thing each time or as [TS]

00:37:47   I go and are in our open office space [TS]

00:37:49   you will be part of the community of all [TS]

00:37:50   the other people who work in this open [TS]

00:37:52   office space it has become part of the [TS]

00:37:54   corporate jargon for a cinder re that [TS]

00:37:58   yeah that's what that's what it is it's [TS]

00:38:00   it's weird I don't disagree with like [TS]

00:38:04   the phrase community in the way that you [TS]

00:38:06   do like I don't have the the distaste [TS]

00:38:09   for it like in regards on YouTube or [TS]

00:38:11   podcasting or whatever or even like [TS]

00:38:13   people that listen to this show people [TS]

00:38:15   that listen to other shows like the idea [TS]

00:38:17   of the community makes sense to me but [TS]

00:38:19   for me it's like it is the thing that [TS]

00:38:20   you joined voluntarily yeah or like [TS]

00:38:23   you're a part of because you enjoy [TS]

00:38:25   something or you have an affinity for [TS]

00:38:26   something I don't join a community when [TS]

00:38:29   I'm giving you money right it's not a [TS]

00:38:31   community Yeah right yeah it's laying [TS]

00:38:33   into this community like this is an [TS]

00:38:35   organization that I've evolved right [TS]

00:38:37   like that is the difference it's like I [TS]

00:38:39   pay my dues for this organization like [TS]

00:38:42   I'm not adapting to your worldview [TS]

00:38:45   because I pay you four hundred pounds a [TS]

00:38:47   month right like this isn't what yes is [TS]

00:38:49   yeah exactly it's my my flinching this [TS]

00:38:53   is the when someone tells you a thing as [TS]

00:38:58   a community yeah yeah yeah yeah [TS]

00:39:00   communities are things that exist it's [TS]

00:39:03   it's a human it's a human function but [TS]

00:39:05   it's the uncomfortableness of the top [TS]

00:39:07   the top-down nosov it right like this [TS]

00:39:10   this is our community that we're going [TS]

00:39:12   to we we are building this community in [TS]

00:39:14   this anonymous floor of an office [TS]

00:39:17   building right like that's that's what [TS]

00:39:19   we're doing here is [TS]

00:39:20   or like you can you can do things to [TS]

00:39:23   encourage a community but it's just [TS]

00:39:25   weird when it feels like it's a [TS]

00:39:28   mandatory part of the thing I guess what [TS]

00:39:30   you're gonna be part of this thing is [TS]

00:39:32   part of like I'm just here to rent an [TS]

00:39:34   office man like I'm not I'm not here I'm [TS]

00:39:37   not here to make friends that's that's [TS]

00:39:38   what that's not what's happening here [TS]

00:39:41   so it was just it was just a strange [TS]

00:39:43   experience and it was also just weird [TS]

00:39:48   seeing how how much this pattern has [TS]

00:39:53   spread which makes me assume that it's [TS]

00:39:55   it partly must be because it's just [TS]

00:39:57   incredibly cost-effective I also think [TS]

00:40:00   there's a way that it that it looks good [TS]

00:40:03   at a glance if you're not really [TS]

00:40:05   thinking about things but but so anyway [TS]

00:40:07   there's like a whole bunch of these [TS]

00:40:08   different companies around and I made a [TS]

00:40:11   decision to try to suck it up a little [TS]

00:40:14   bit because what I was what I wanted was [TS]

00:40:16   a space outside of the house where I [TS]

00:40:21   could work and I wanted it quickly and I [TS]

00:40:25   also specifically wanted a place that I [TS]

00:40:28   just I could just get started with and [TS]

00:40:30   I'll work on my long-term problem later [TS]

00:40:33   so after having toured a bunch of these [TS]

00:40:36   companies I eventually found one that to [TS]

00:40:39   me was the least offensive of these [TS]

00:40:41   things and I have an office workspace [TS]

00:40:46   now that is it is not a glass cube in [TS]

00:40:50   the middle of a gigantic bullpen but it [TS]

00:40:53   is a glass cube among a bunch of other [TS]

00:40:55   glass cubes and it's really weird it's a [TS]

00:40:59   really weird thing to be a part of and [TS]

00:41:01   just like see through all of them yeah [TS]

00:41:03   so you can see through all of these [TS]

00:41:05   glass cubes it's it's like a co-working [TS]

00:41:09   space that I used to be a part of but if [TS]

00:41:11   you just put glass dividers between all [TS]

00:41:14   of the chair opportunities that people [TS]

00:41:16   have I don't think I like that like I [TS]

00:41:19   don't think I would feel very [TS]

00:41:20   comfortable like I feel like I would [TS]

00:41:23   always be on some kind of performance [TS]

00:41:26   yeah so this is I feel like I'm having [TS]

00:41:30   an experience by doing this right like I [TS]

00:41:33   just want to say [TS]

00:41:34   like I've worked in big buildings like [TS]

00:41:35   I've worked in co-working spaces like [TS]

00:41:37   I'm cool with that right like I actually [TS]

00:41:39   think that co-working spaces are pretty [TS]

00:41:40   good and I used one for quite a while [TS]

00:41:42   yeah but if I if I am paying for an [TS]

00:41:46   office I want some seclusion otherwise [TS]

00:41:50   I'm just gonna sit in the bullpen like [TS]

00:41:52   and pay probably half the money right [TS]

00:41:54   like if I'm in an obvious I want some [TS]

00:41:56   walls I don't want it to just be class [TS]

00:41:58   like I kind of personally I don't I I I [TS]

00:42:03   don't like it and I'm surprised that [TS]

00:42:05   you've settled for it honestly like it [TS]

00:42:07   just doesn't really feel like something [TS]

00:42:08   that I would have expected you would go [TS]

00:42:11   for okay well there's a few things I [TS]

00:42:13   think you need to understand about the [TS]

00:42:15   situation here so so one of the things [TS]

00:42:19   that happened essentially by accident [TS]

00:42:22   but has worked really well with this is [TS]

00:42:26   we're talking last time about like me [TS]

00:42:29   changing my sleeping schedule like I'm [TS]

00:42:31   basically have that sorted out now and [TS]

00:42:32   it's great I'm getting up nice and early [TS]

00:42:34   and I'm back into the routine I haven't [TS]

00:42:36   actually changed it just took a lot more [TS]

00:42:37   effort to click myself back into the way [TS]

00:42:39   that things used to be but so the way [TS]

00:42:42   things are working is I'm not actually [TS]

00:42:44   using the glass office space for the [TS]

00:42:51   writing and the video work in the same [TS]

00:42:52   way that my old office used to be what [TS]

00:42:55   I'm doing is I'm up early enough that [TS]

00:42:58   when I go into the building there's [TS]

00:43:01   nobody there [TS]

00:43:02   so I have just access to essentially the [TS]

00:43:06   whole building and there are a couple of [TS]

00:43:09   spots where it's like great I can just [TS]

00:43:10   take my iPad and I can work here and I [TS]

00:43:12   can write and talk out loud and there's [TS]

00:43:16   nobody else here because it's 6:30 in [TS]

00:43:19   the morning and and there's not going to [TS]

00:43:21   be anybody in this building for at least [TS]

00:43:23   another two hours really so it's having [TS]

00:43:27   access to a certain amount of space and [TS]

00:43:30   that's really great and the thing the [TS]

00:43:33   thing that I have ended up doing with [TS]

00:43:35   this here good class cube that I'm in is [TS]

00:43:38   I have set it up as I've set it up as it [TS]

00:43:42   like an administration Center for all of [TS]

00:43:45   what I regard as [TS]

00:43:47   light work stuff so this is email this [TS]

00:43:51   is communicating with people that I work [TS]

00:43:55   with this is editing the podcasts this [TS]

00:43:57   is editing videos or vlogs or just a [TS]

00:43:59   whole bunch of other stuff like I have [TS]

00:44:02   set up that space to do this kind of [TS]

00:44:06   work and I partly done it because for a [TS]

00:44:10   very very long time I've done all of [TS]

00:44:12   that work in the place where I am [TS]

00:44:15   speaking to you right now which is the [TS]

00:44:17   home office in my house which is like [TS]

00:44:19   the podcast recording studio but it has [TS]

00:44:22   been on my mind ever since the summer [TS]

00:44:24   that I want to push this idea of [TS]

00:44:27   separating workspaces further and harder [TS]

00:44:32   than I have before and so what I what I [TS]

00:44:34   am trying to do as much as possible now [TS]

00:44:37   is have it be the case that if I am home [TS]

00:44:41   I am doing no work right now the podcast [TS]

00:44:47   recording is the one exception to that [TS]

00:44:48   but if I'm not recording a podcast and I [TS]

00:44:51   am home I am not working and I've been [TS]

00:44:56   doing this for I guess it's about a [TS]

00:44:59   probably about a month now and I have to [TS]

00:45:02   say I really like it I really like [TS]

00:45:05   having that that additional physical [TS]

00:45:08   separation and I think it's working [TS]

00:45:10   really great that like my wife knows if [TS]

00:45:12   I am home for the most part that I ain't [TS]

00:45:14   like there isn't a thing that I'm going [TS]

00:45:16   to disappear and do I've essentially [TS]

00:45:18   recreated for myself this idea of like I [TS]

00:45:20   am going to the office because I have a [TS]

00:45:23   whole bunch of stuff that I need to do [TS]

00:45:25   and I'm gonna go there and I'm going to [TS]

00:45:26   work and then when I am done I am going [TS]

00:45:28   to come back home so that is the the [TS]

00:45:32   overarching idea for what is going on is [TS]

00:45:36   like I wanted a place to be able to move [TS]

00:45:40   a bunch of the light work out of the [TS]

00:45:44   house to this second location and that [TS]

00:45:48   is the reason why the glass cube is [TS]

00:45:50   tolerable because what I'm not doing in [TS]

00:45:54   there is walking back and forth talking [TS]

00:45:57   out loud while 600 people in the [TS]

00:46:01   neighboring glass cubes are all looking [TS]

00:46:03   at me right that's that is not what is [TS]

00:46:05   occurring in that space [TS]

00:46:06   why do you accord the audio for your [TS]

00:46:09   videos for now I'm still going to be [TS]

00:46:11   doing that in the house that's not good [TS]

00:46:13   right in the office I'm going to record [TS]

00:46:15   it at home in the same place that I am [TS]

00:46:18   recording the podcast which is at home [TS]

00:46:20   so the home office is the audio studio [TS]

00:46:23   and then all other work is performed in [TS]

00:46:27   the administration glass cube yes that's [TS]

00:46:30   the idea mm-hmm do you know what I'm [TS]

00:46:33   really keen on the what finding out what [TS]

00:46:36   this long-term plan is because in my [TS]

00:46:40   mind you're building an office building [TS]

00:46:42   that's this great ours this is what I [TS]

00:46:44   imagine is happening let's not get [TS]

00:46:48   distracted by the future in in the [TS]

00:46:53   meantime though I do have to say that [TS]

00:46:55   the thing about the glass cube is I I [TS]

00:46:59   I'm with you on there is there is a [TS]

00:47:03   strange element to attend I'm able to do [TS]

00:47:06   this I think partly because I'm viewing [TS]

00:47:09   it as not necessarily a long-term [TS]

00:47:12   solution and I'm also viewing it as [TS]

00:47:17   almost as a like an anthropological [TS]

00:47:20   experiment I am coming into this office [TS]

00:47:23   environment it's like oh yes hello [TS]

00:47:25   fellow office workers I had to do like [TS]

00:47:29   I'm just going to my desk and yes I I am [TS]

00:47:32   one of you - yes we are here all on the [TS]

00:47:35   computer is working together like I'm [TS]

00:47:36   treating it very much in this mental [TS]

00:47:38   mode of I am [TS]

00:47:40   apart from this like this this is I'm [TS]

00:47:43   just passing through on this thing and [TS]

00:47:46   there are so many details about this [TS]

00:47:48   that I find interesting and/or [TS]

00:47:53   horrifying that but I'm viewing them [TS]

00:47:56   from a distance or from a bit of a bit [TS]

00:48:00   of a separation and that is why this [TS]

00:48:02   thing is working [TS]

00:48:03   hello cortex listeners it's your friend [TS]

00:48:06   CGP grey recording now late at night [TS]

00:48:10   from my glass cube do you hear that [TS]

00:48:14   that's the sound of me knocking on the [TS]

00:48:17   wall of my cube because I'm a nosy sort [TS]

00:48:19   during the day I like to walk around and [TS]

00:48:21   look in all the cubes then see what [TS]

00:48:23   everybody's up to see what they're doing [TS]

00:48:25   you know what I see a lot of little [TS]

00:48:29   companies with a few people building a [TS]

00:48:32   website a website that looks terrible [TS]

00:48:35   you know what they need they need to [TS]

00:48:37   listen to cortex so that they know about [TS]

00:48:40   Squarespace if you're an a person [TS]

00:48:42   company in a smallish glass cube and you [TS]

00:48:45   just need a website to let the world [TS]

00:48:46   know what your business is you probably [TS]

00:48:49   shouldn't have one of those people [TS]

00:48:51   spending all of their time making a [TS]

00:48:53   website that's what Squarespace is for [TS]

00:48:56   with Squarespace you can have a website [TS]

00:48:58   up and running in no time flat [TS]

00:49:01   Squarespace is the place that lets you [TS]

00:49:03   easily create a website for your next [TS]

00:49:06   idea if you want to sell something [TS]

00:49:09   because you're a company you can do an [TS]

00:49:11   online store with Squarespace if you're [TS]

00:49:14   a design agency and you need to show off [TS]

00:49:16   your portfolio guess what [TS]

00:49:18   Squarespace does that maybe you just [TS]

00:49:20   need to have a blog where you can let [TS]

00:49:22   everybody know what your company is up [TS]

00:49:24   to you know the answer the answer is [TS]

00:49:26   Squarespace because Squarespace is the [TS]

00:49:29   all-in-one platform that lets you do [TS]

00:49:31   everything you want to do and there's [TS]

00:49:34   nothing to install no patches to worry [TS]

00:49:37   about no upgrades needed and guess what [TS]

00:49:40   Squarespace is way cheaper than hiring [TS]

00:49:42   someone to work on a website all the [TS]

00:49:44   time Squarespace is just $12 a month [TS]

00:49:48   that gives you access to all of their [TS]

00:49:51   beautiful templates their 24/7 customer [TS]

00:49:53   support everything they offer that's why [TS]

00:49:56   my company in a glass cube uses [TS]

00:49:58   Squarespace because there's no room in [TS]

00:50:00   here for somebody else [TS]

00:50:01   to maintain a website all the time so [TS]

00:50:04   right now you can start a trial by going [TS]

00:50:06   to squarespace.com [TS]

00:50:08   and when you decide to sign up use the [TS]

00:50:11   offer code cortex to get 10% off your [TS]

00:50:14   purchase and show your support for the [TS]

00:50:17   show Squarespace [TS]

00:50:19   make your next move make your next [TS]

00:50:21   website thanks to Squarespace for [TS]

00:50:23   supporting cortex [TS]

00:50:24   and all of real afm how's that Nintendo [TS]

00:50:27   switch treating you that's good I'm [TS]

00:50:29   trying to get up my 200cc Mario Kart [TS]

00:50:33   skills mmm that's difficult got a break [TS]

00:50:35   come 200cc [TS]

00:50:36   smash into the corners anymore on that [TS]

00:50:42   yes that that's that's what I have [TS]

00:50:44   that's what I've learned so I need to [TS]

00:50:46   break a lot and I'm not very good at it [TS]

00:50:49   but well it's still 95 actually no [TS]

00:50:53   probably 99 percent Mario Kart around [TS]

00:50:57   these parts not so much Zelda it's good [TS]

00:51:00   got a little bored with his Zelda I want [TS]

00:51:04   to tell you about a game that I've been [TS]

00:51:06   playing for a couple of days but I've [TS]

00:51:08   been waiting for for a long time and I I [TS]

00:51:10   think you would like it [TS]

00:51:12   it's called stardew valley have you [TS]

00:51:15   heard of starchy Valley before I have [TS]

00:51:18   because you have pitched it to me before [TS]

00:51:20   okay on this very show yes just start [TS]

00:51:22   new Valley ISM I mentioned it to you as [TS]

00:51:24   a game that was upcoming when you when [TS]

00:51:27   you first got your switch a couple [TS]

00:51:28   months ago my memory is it's a farming [TS]

00:51:31   simulator yes I'm terribly boring yes [TS]

00:51:34   who would play farming simulators right [TS]

00:51:36   I mean this is why I am offering this [TS]

00:51:38   game to you as an option it is part [TS]

00:51:41   farming simulator part RPG if you ever [TS]

00:51:44   played Animal Crossing no I haven't the [TS]

00:51:47   only thing I know about Animal Crossing [TS]

00:51:48   is the video review of it that Yahtzee [TS]

00:51:52   did which is like a work of genius but [TS]

00:51:54   uh no I don't I don't I'm unfamiliar [TS]

00:51:57   with these things okay so I guess the [TS]

00:52:00   way for me to try and describe this game [TS]

00:52:01   to you [TS]

00:52:02   is that there is like a very light RPG [TS]

00:52:05   mechanic in there you're in a town and [TS]

00:52:08   there are people that you could talk to [TS]

00:52:09   and they sometimes they'll give you [TS]

00:52:10   quests but you could also you don't have [TS]

00:52:14   to do them actually it's it's way less [TS]

00:52:16   that the errands that you perform for [TS]

00:52:18   people a purely as a way to get you [TS]

00:52:21   money quicker like there isn't a story [TS]

00:52:23   that is forced in that way like you have [TS]

00:52:26   to progress through this like by doing [TS]

00:52:29   errands yes I don't need to find [TS]

00:52:30   chickens for a guy to get the boomerang [TS]

00:52:32   doesn't need to do that sort of stuff [TS]

00:52:34   because the the result of doing these [TS]

00:52:37   things they stick [TS]

00:52:38   money from them and then the money helps [TS]

00:52:39   you push forward and really the main [TS]

00:52:42   focus that you have is building your [TS]

00:52:44   farm right like it starts off great [TS]

00:52:47   actually like I don't want to say too [TS]

00:52:49   much that failing kept surprising but [TS]

00:52:51   like basically you were a person who [TS]

00:52:52   decides that you want to go start a farm [TS]

00:52:54   right like this is this is kind of what [TS]

00:52:56   you are and there are there is some [TS]

00:52:59   surprises in it for me in that there are [TS]

00:53:02   intriguing little things that happen [TS]

00:53:05   which build into a story which exists in [TS]

00:53:07   the game but you don't really have to [TS]

00:53:10   pay a ton of attention to it if you [TS]

00:53:11   don't want to like I feel like it's kind [TS]

00:53:13   of got this like addition of a story [TS]

00:53:15   that I wasn't expecting which is kind of [TS]

00:53:17   surprising but a lot of this game is [TS]

00:53:20   resource and time management hmm which [TS]

00:53:23   is why I think you would like it but you [TS]

00:53:26   are farming you are creating a farm and [TS]

00:53:28   like you're clearing out the farmland [TS]

00:53:30   you're planting the stuff you're [TS]

00:53:32   watering the plants you're harvesting [TS]

00:53:33   them and you're selling them and as a [TS]

00:53:35   way to build up more and more money to [TS]

00:53:37   plant more and more things and then to [TS]

00:53:39   get animals as a way to continually make [TS]

00:53:42   your farm bigger and bigger and bigger [TS]

00:53:43   like you have this huge plot of land [TS]

00:53:45   that you can work with and you can build [TS]

00:53:48   up the farm and then you can build up [TS]

00:53:50   your house and you can decorate if you [TS]

00:53:52   want to as like as a something else you [TS]

00:53:54   can spend your money on can i automate [TS]

00:53:56   this or hire people to do some of this [TS]

00:53:59   work for me that is a question that i [TS]

00:54:01   don't have an answer for because I'm not [TS]

00:54:03   that far in like I'm still relatively [TS]

00:54:05   small farm like I don't know if it's the [TS]

00:54:07   thing you can do to see that that's [TS]

00:54:09   where the sweet spot comes from in the [TS]

00:54:10   world of imaginary work when you start [TS]

00:54:12   thinking hmm how can i this imaginary [TS]

00:54:14   well so there's like I've seen some [TS]

00:54:16   elements of this in that like so one of [TS]

00:54:18   the things that I'm doing now every [TS]

00:54:19   morning I have to water my plants [TS]

00:54:21   right like I have to go through an [TS]

00:54:23   individually water every plant that's [TS]

00:54:24   like one of the things I have to do [TS]

00:54:25   every day but I know it's possible to [TS]

00:54:30   buy sprinklers like to make sprinklers [TS]

00:54:32   okay which then take that job away from [TS]

00:54:36   me right so like that's the thing that [TS]

00:54:38   I'll be able to do but yeah so the [TS]

00:54:40   reason the reason I asked just to be [TS]

00:54:42   clear here is because what I'm what I'm [TS]

00:54:44   cautious of is the like the farmville [TS]

00:54:48   type game play where the game [TS]

00:54:51   is just playing on your loss aversion [TS]

00:54:53   like oh you need to harvest your [TS]

00:54:54   pumpkins today otherwise you're going to [TS]

00:54:56   lose that right which is just solely [TS]

00:54:57   their their mechanism to make you keep [TS]

00:54:59   coming back yeah this game it has [TS]

00:55:01   elements of that but it's not it's not [TS]

00:55:03   what real-world time okay so things are [TS]

00:55:07   only growing when you're playing okay [TS]

00:55:10   all right right so like if you left the [TS]

00:55:12   game for a week your crops don't die [TS]

00:55:13   right as you haven't been playing the [TS]

00:55:15   game right but there is an element of [TS]

00:55:18   going through and harvesting right you [TS]

00:55:20   you will do the harvesting but like I've [TS]

00:55:22   been enjoying the even though it's like [TS]

00:55:25   it's beginning more work right like to [TS]

00:55:27   make my farm bigger and bigger like [TS]

00:55:28   there was a moment when I was like oh [TS]

00:55:30   that's how I make more money I plant [TS]

00:55:32   more stuff right like it's just kind of [TS]

00:55:35   this this it's this very simple thing [TS]

00:55:36   but like it took me a month I was like [TS]

00:55:37   I'm making a lot of money on this game [TS]

00:55:39   cuz I just kind of was keeping the plot [TS]

00:55:41   that I made the same size and which is [TS]

00:55:43   refilling it it's like oh no I should [TS]

00:55:45   spend all of the money that I have to [TS]

00:55:48   buy more seeds as opposed to like trying [TS]

00:55:51   to slowly save up to buy something that [TS]

00:55:53   I need it so but there are like you know [TS]

00:55:56   there's also like there's mining that [TS]

00:55:59   you can do right so you go in and like [TS]

00:56:01   there is like a most spelunky like mine [TS]

00:56:04   that you go into and there are like [TS]

00:56:05   simple enemies that you kind of hack and [TS]

00:56:08   slash at and that's the way to blow up [TS]

00:56:10   resources and the deeper that you go [TS]

00:56:12   into this mind the better resources you [TS]

00:56:14   need like I need iron to build the [TS]

00:56:16   sprinklers and I'm sounds very minecraft [TS]

00:56:19   II in a way in a way yes like stardew [TS]

00:56:25   valley i think the reason that it has [TS]

00:56:27   become so popular cuz it's been a very [TS]

00:56:28   popular PC game for quite a while I [TS]

00:56:31   think one of the reasons that became so [TS]

00:56:33   popular is it borrows a lot of very [TS]

00:56:35   interesting mechanics from a bunch of [TS]

00:56:36   different types of games so like Animal [TS]

00:56:39   Crossing and society Valley and spelunky [TS]

00:56:41   and minecraft right like it's got all of [TS]

00:56:43   this type of aspect in it but it's all [TS]

00:56:44   presented in a 16-bit art style right [TS]

00:56:47   like this it's very simple the controls [TS]

00:56:50   are pretty simple like it is a good game [TS]

00:56:53   it isn't but it is one of those games [TS]

00:56:56   that like one of another reason I think [TS]

00:56:58   you'll like it is I accidentally spent [TS]

00:57:01   seven hours playing yesterday because [TS]

00:57:03   it's just whole [TS]

00:57:04   more day because everything's done in [TS]

00:57:06   days right no no no okay right yeah so [TS]

00:57:10   like you wake up you do your stuff and [TS]

00:57:12   then you go to sleep and like different [TS]

00:57:14   things happen so like you might do a [TS]

00:57:16   thing and it's like you get like a [TS]

00:57:17   little message like all tomorrow this [TS]

00:57:19   thing's gonna be on sale in the store [TS]

00:57:21   like well I could that would be good so [TS]

00:57:23   I'll get that and then I'll stop playing [TS]

00:57:25   after that but then there's this other [TS]

00:57:26   thing that happens and then there's [TS]

00:57:28   another day and another day and another [TS]

00:57:30   day and you know you have limited energy [TS]

00:57:32   as an individual so you plan around how [TS]

00:57:36   much energy you spend in a day [TS]

00:57:37   Bradley Keefe spent the whole day trying [TS]

00:57:39   to clear out the farm you'll get tired [TS]

00:57:42   but you can eat to build the energy back [TS]

00:57:45   up but you might want to save those [TS]

00:57:46   ingredients to sell them instead like I [TS]

00:57:48   think this is a game you would enjoy mmm [TS]

00:57:51   you're selling it very hard here Mike [TS]

00:57:54   because because I I think it's great I [TS]

00:57:58   think I love it yeah five stars from [TS]

00:58:01   Mike I think so I've waited for a long [TS]

00:58:04   time for this game and it's paid off [TS]

00:58:06   like I am enjoying it immensely in a way [TS]

00:58:09   that no man sky right like human people [TS]

00:58:11   was laughs when they hear the episode a [TS]

00:58:13   long time ago where I talk about oh I [TS]

00:58:14   can't wait for no man's guide to come [TS]

00:58:16   out and then it kind of ended up being [TS]

00:58:18   overwhelming doggy Valley I already had [TS]

00:58:21   a track record beforehand whereas [TS]

00:58:23   condition to be a great game I have a [TS]

00:58:25   bunch of flights coming up and I'm very [TS]

00:58:26   excited about the prospect of being able [TS]

00:58:28   to spend six hours just tending to my [TS]

00:58:32   crops alright alright you been pushing [TS]

00:58:33   it so hard I'll give it a try I want you [TS]

00:58:35   to try this one and you can report back [TS]

00:58:37   but I think that you would like this [TS]

00:58:39   game it's a it's one of those games so [TS]

00:58:42   it's perfect for the switch because you [TS]

00:58:43   can take it with you hmm [TS]

00:58:45   right I don't I don't know about this [TS]

00:58:47   idea about bringing a whole I know [TS]

00:58:49   everybody that's a selling feature for [TS]

00:58:50   the switch is oh boy you can bring it [TS]

00:58:52   with you alright so I got another thing [TS]

00:58:54   to bring any now I need to bring my USBC [TS]

00:58:56   cable to charge the thing as well I'm [TS]

00:58:59   not sure I'm ever gonna be a guy who [TS]

00:59:00   travels with a switch yeah but you [TS]

00:59:02   should already do that because you have [TS]

00:59:04   a MacBook Pro oh god yes that's right of [TS]

00:59:06   course nevermind no it's all the same [TS]

00:59:08   charges [TS]

00:59:08   yes Universal the u.s. USB see the [TS]

00:59:12   universal plug that I love so much [TS]

00:59:15   externally symmetrical internally in the [TS]

00:59:17   wire not the [TS]

00:59:18   same everywhere it's great I love you [TS]

00:59:20   USBC yeah I'm not sure I'm going to be [TS]

00:59:22   someone who brings a switch with me [TS]

00:59:23   here's here's the here's the thing like [TS]

00:59:26   it's not that I wouldn't enjoy bringing [TS]

00:59:28   the switch with me but I think there is [TS]

00:59:30   something there's something that I [TS]

00:59:32   resist about the idea of acknowledging [TS]

00:59:36   in advance that when I am traveling I'm [TS]

00:59:39   going to be playing a bunch of video [TS]

00:59:41   games that I feel like I have a little [TS]

00:59:43   bit of psychological resistance to that [TS]

00:59:45   because normally when I'm traveling it's [TS]

00:59:47   the idea that I'm doing I'm traveling [TS]

00:59:49   because there's a good reason there's a [TS]

00:59:51   thing that I want to do doing on the [TS]

00:59:52   plane no I like is but see in in [TS]

00:59:55   Fantasyland on what I'm doing on the [TS]

00:59:58   plane is [TS]

00:59:58   plane is [TS]

01:00:00   amazing work in an isolated room Hasson [TS]

01:00:03   which here's the problem it's like a [TS]

01:00:06   slot machine right every every once in a [TS]

01:00:09   while it does and it's fantastic and I'm [TS]

01:00:11   always I'm always hoping for that but [TS]

01:00:13   yes most of the time the idea of what [TS]

01:00:15   I'm going to do on the plane first is [TS]

01:00:17   the reality of what actually happens on [TS]

01:00:19   the plane is not is not one of the same [TS]

01:00:21   and of course the plane would be an [TS]

01:00:23   absolutely perfect time to bring a [TS]

01:00:24   switch but I'm resistant to bringing the [TS]

01:00:28   switch feels like giving in and [TS]

01:00:30   acknowledging that the amazing work [TS]

01:00:33   times on a plane you'll never have [TS]

01:00:34   missing because I'm just going to switch [TS]

01:00:36   you're missing out like you could be [TS]

01:00:38   playing Mario Kart instead of watching a [TS]

01:00:40   dumb movie right like just you need to [TS]

01:00:44   do two things one you need to by study [TS]

01:00:45   valley and then the next time you get on [TS]

01:00:47   a plane you have to take this thing with [TS]

01:00:48   you I'm telling you man it's so good [TS]

01:00:51   like some of these trips that me and you [TS]

01:00:53   take I've got to bring the little card [TS]

01:00:54   with me the little card will little card [TS]

01:00:57   the I need to bring a little I need to [TS]

01:01:00   remember which memory cards to bring [TS]

01:01:01   with me which I didn't even know this [TS]

01:01:06   was the thing yeah but you had to buy [TS]

01:01:08   the another shop you need to have an SD [TS]

01:01:10   card like a micro SD card but they're [TS]

01:01:12   super chimp cheap and super easy to deal [TS]

01:01:14   with [TS]

01:01:14   you just put by like a big micro SD card [TS]

01:01:17   pop it in the back and then you can [TS]

01:01:19   stand load games from the eShop oh I [TS]

01:01:23   didn't even know they only own one car [TS]

01:01:25   which is Zelda and the Zelda cartridge [TS]

01:01:28   stays in the Nintendo switch has never [TS]

01:01:30   been taken out from the day I got the [TS]

01:01:32   switch so it's always there everything [TS]

01:01:34   else I don't know I've been thinking [TS]

01:01:36   I've been thinking Nintendo really needs [TS]

01:01:39   to get on this idea of an app store so I [TS]

01:01:40   can just download games it's like a [TS]

01:01:44   shopping bag it's it's where you go to [TS]

01:01:45   buy the game never even never even know [TS]

01:01:49   didn't eat shows to me yep [TS]

01:01:51   the Saudi Valley do you know what like [TS]

01:01:54   do you know what I'm looking at on my [TS]

01:01:55   screen literally right now Mike I'm [TS]

01:01:57   looking at amazon co UK where I typed in [TS]

01:02:00   stardew valley switch to try to define [TS]

01:02:02   the thing where I buy the card and I [TS]

01:02:03   didn't I didn't see it I was like how am [TS]

01:02:05   I supposed to get this game because it's [TS]

01:02:06   they haven't got a physical release of [TS]

01:02:07   it yet it's just a digital release no [TS]

01:02:10   see I learned something today [TS]

01:02:13   I see you put the thing in the shownotes [TS]

01:02:15   Mike the thing that you have been [TS]

01:02:17   bothering me about for six months maybe [TS]

01:02:22   more probably longer than that yeah I [TS]

01:02:25   actually think this is the thing that [TS]

01:02:27   I've had since my original notes [TS]

01:02:30   document from before cortex existed okay [TS]

01:02:35   so I want to do a cortex Book Club [TS]

01:02:38   episode on the next show so that means [TS]

01:02:41   in advance me and you were gonna read a [TS]

01:02:43   book and we're gonna talk about it and [TS]

01:02:44   we want to tell people about it now so [TS]

01:02:46   they can read along with the book if [TS]

01:02:48   they so choose [TS]

01:02:49   right we're going to be discussing seven [TS]

01:02:53   Habits of Highly Effective People by [TS]

01:02:56   Stephen Arco V yes which is a book that [TS]

01:03:00   you've probably heard of right I feel [TS]

01:03:03   like of in the pantheon of business [TS]

01:03:06   books this is one of the big ones yeah [TS]

01:03:09   there's this one and there's that book [TS]

01:03:11   about moving cheese where is my cheese [TS]

01:03:14   who moved my cheese that one who moved [TS]

01:03:16   my cheese yeah I saw an animated video [TS]

01:03:19   version of that uh-huh about five or six [TS]

01:03:23   years ago one time I cannot get the song [TS]

01:03:28   out of my head every time I hear it it's [TS]

01:03:32   so bad it was like an animation done in [TS]

01:03:34   the 80s and they have this little song [TS]

01:03:37   who moved my cheese song and it's just [TS]

01:03:39   horrific I see if I can find a link I'll [TS]

01:03:41   put it in the show notes if I can find a [TS]

01:03:42   link to this on YouTube [TS]

01:03:44   don't do that you're gonna confuse the [TS]

01:03:45   people Mike it just okay so we got off [TS]

01:03:48   on a bit of a tangent straightaway yeah [TS]

01:03:49   it is my brain just resists and slides [TS]

01:03:53   off seven habit a lot of the affected [TS]

01:03:55   people because okay so here's why [TS]

01:03:57   back story here's why it's been the show [TS]

01:03:59   notes for forever is because I know I [TS]

01:04:01   already read this book a long time ago [TS]

01:04:04   and I just I have had a great deal of [TS]

01:04:07   resistance to the idea of reading it [TS]

01:04:11   again but mike has been bothering me [TS]

01:04:12   about it for so long and I don't know [TS]

01:04:15   why but I finally caved and so we're [TS]

01:04:19   going to do this so if you if you want [TS]

01:04:21   to be all caught up on the book club [TS]

01:04:25   before the next episode of the show [TS]

01:04:26   you two can read seven Habits of Highly [TS]

01:04:29   Effective People and we're going to talk [TS]

01:04:32   about it next time but the thing that is [TS]

01:04:34   always worth remembering with the book [TS]

01:04:36   club is we're gonna do our very best to [TS]

01:04:39   give you all of the important [TS]

01:04:41   information in the episode so if you [TS]

01:04:45   want to read along then do it but we're [TS]

01:04:47   gonna do our best to try and digest it [TS]

01:04:49   and give you the important stuff so [TS]

01:04:51   seven Habits of Highly Effective People [TS]

01:04:53   I can't wait to be highly effective you [TS]

01:04:56   you can read it but you can also listen [TS]

01:04:59   to the tone of my voice as you think [TS]

01:05:03   about me having put this off for so very [TS]

01:05:06   long says is there is like an option on [TS]

01:05:08   the table it's an option at the book [TS]

01:05:11   buffet that you can pick up or you can [TS]

01:05:14   you can pass right by it's just there [TS]

01:05:16   but we'll be talking about it next time [TS]

01:05:19   gray it is time for some hash tag ask [TS]

01:05:22   cortex questions though so listeners you [TS]

01:05:26   can send these in to us you just tweet [TS]

01:05:28   with the hashtag ask cortex they go into [TS]

01:05:30   a document and I want to try and do this [TS]

01:05:31   more often [TS]

01:05:32   so we're gonna start today with some [TS]

01:05:34   questions that I've picked out from our [TS]

01:05:35   listeners and the first one comes from [TS]

01:05:38   Nathan and Nathan asks how do you to [TS]

01:05:41   deal with tasks that you despise but [TS]

01:05:43   have to do yourself a must complete in a [TS]

01:05:46   timely manner [TS]

01:05:51   okay Micah I think you should go first [TS]

01:05:54   on this one so the way that I handle [TS]

01:05:58   this is knowing when I need to do the [TS]

01:06:00   task right so like knowing what the [TS]

01:06:02   deadline is and then setting the to-do [TS]

01:06:05   item like three weeks before the due [TS]

01:06:07   time okay because it is the constant [TS]

01:06:12   badgering that I may end up doing it [TS]

01:06:15   right so this is like say for example [TS]

01:06:17   it's a tax related thing right because [TS]

01:06:19   nobody ever wants to do that stuff for [TS]

01:06:20   Alec I guess in the English press you're [TS]

01:06:22   an accountant I guess I wonder if [TS]

01:06:25   accountants like doing their own taxes [TS]

01:06:27   anyway so I would set something like [TS]

01:06:31   three weeks in advance and know that it [TS]

01:06:34   needs to be done and one of the reasons [TS]

01:06:36   I do this for two reasons right one of [TS]

01:06:38   the reasons is if it was to pop up [TS]

01:06:40   on that final day I wouldn't be so [TS]

01:06:42   annoyed at the universe right because [TS]

01:06:45   it's like oh why do I have to do this [TS]

01:06:47   thing today you feel like you were given [TS]

01:06:48   fair notice exactly yeah it's not a [TS]

01:06:52   surprise the boss didn't barge in and be [TS]

01:06:54   like you've got to get me this TPS [TS]

01:06:56   report by 5:00 right now and the other [TS]

01:06:58   is for the benefit of work crass [TS]

01:07:03   donation which I believe is a thing that [TS]

01:07:06   I've spoken about before in where I [TS]

01:07:09   procrastinate from work that I need to [TS]

01:07:11   do on a day by doing work that I don't [TS]

01:07:13   need to do yeah which is a great use of [TS]

01:07:15   time actually that I feel like I can be [TS]

01:07:17   like oh it's okay I didn't do that thing [TS]

01:07:19   I had to do today but I did other stuff [TS]

01:07:21   so I have these tasks which are like [TS]

01:07:23   these menial because the things these [TS]

01:07:25   things they tend to be like admin or [TS]

01:07:27   like menial tasks that like oh yeah I [TS]

01:07:29   can do I don't really think anybody [TS]

01:07:31   likes tasks like this right which is [TS]

01:07:33   just like there is this thing which is [TS]

01:07:35   an administrative thing you don't want [TS]

01:07:36   to have to deal with right like it's [TS]

01:07:37   entering some data into a spreadsheet [TS]

01:07:39   finding some receipts in a folder [TS]

01:07:41   scanning stuff right like just this [TS]

01:07:43   boring like tasks which don't really [TS]

01:07:46   have a result to them which you are [TS]

01:07:48   comfortable like which you are excited [TS]

01:07:49   about mm-hmm so but these are perfect [TS]

01:07:52   time fillers yeah so that's how I do it [TS]

01:07:56   like I set the the task really early in [TS]

01:07:59   the hopes that I will be slacking off [TS]

01:08:02   one day and decide that I'll just take [TS]

01:08:04   care of that scanning nail that's how I [TS]

01:08:07   do it okay so you're hoping that it [TS]

01:08:09   it'll be an opportunity for work craft [TS]

01:08:11   ination in the future like I'm tricking [TS]

01:08:13   myself basically into doing these things [TS]

01:08:15   yeah but you know what that's what all [TS]

01:08:17   of this stuff is right it's all about [TS]

01:08:18   tricking yourself I'm a big believer in [TS]

01:08:21   the method of tricking yourself because [TS]

01:08:23   just like your brain is lazy and you got [TS]

01:08:26   it you got to have a whole bunch of [TS]

01:08:27   tricks up your sleeve to get anything [TS]

01:08:29   done [TS]

01:08:32   so here's the thing when I look at this [TS]

01:08:37   question right so at first I thought I [TS]

01:08:41   was going to get a little bit out of it [TS]

01:08:42   because I thought well just like I [TS]

01:08:48   didn't want to be the person who [TS]

01:08:50   actually cancels my old office like I [TS]

01:08:53   will hand this off to my assistant to do [TS]

01:08:55   I try to hand many things off to my [TS]

01:08:57   assistant to do but when the question [TS]

01:09:00   then specifies that you have to do it [TS]

01:09:04   becomes a slightly different thing so [TS]

01:09:05   here is the thing that I think is both [TS]

01:09:07   good and sometimes bad which is that I [TS]

01:09:12   cannot help but always think about like [TS]

01:09:14   the return on investment of time or like [TS]

01:09:16   the upside or downside of doing various [TS]

01:09:18   things you know where this is going [TS]

01:09:21   don't you Mike and so like I know I know [TS]

01:09:26   the kind of question that this person is [TS]

01:09:28   asking and look everyone everyone can't [TS]

01:09:33   do this because civilization will fall [TS]

01:09:35   apart but I often find my brain whispers [TS]

01:09:38   to itself what really happens if we [TS]

01:09:42   don't do this like what's the like [TS]

01:09:48   what's the real downside of not doing [TS]

01:09:52   this how big will the fine be well I [TS]

01:09:59   have to go to prison for how big is the [TS]

01:10:01   fine and what is my hourly rate right [TS]

01:10:04   okay well so like I really like [TS]

01:10:08   basically I need a lot of motivation if [TS]

01:10:11   a task falls into the category of [TS]

01:10:14   something that I despise that also has a [TS]

01:10:19   deadline that I need to do myself it's [TS]

01:10:25   like I need a hell of a lot of [TS]

01:10:27   motivation to do that kind of thing so [TS]

01:10:28   it's like if this task is not the kind [TS]

01:10:31   of thing that can be done by somebody [TS]

01:10:35   else it's there needs to be a real big [TS]

01:10:39   downside to motivate me so that that is [TS]

01:10:41   that is the honest answer to this [TS]

01:10:43   I'm just not very good at doing tasks [TS]

01:10:46   that my brain doesn't see a real upside [TS]

01:10:48   for I'm terrible at that and it's it's a [TS]

01:10:52   thing that I have definitely gotten way [TS]

01:10:55   worse at as I have gotten older like my [TS]

01:10:58   tolerance for doing that kind of stuff [TS]

01:11:00   has has gone way down so don't don't [TS]

01:11:04   take my advice on this thing this is bad [TS]

01:11:06   advice all right this is straight-up bad [TS]

01:11:09   advice well well it is bad advice [TS]

01:11:11   because again civilization would fall [TS]

01:11:14   apart because once you do this once and [TS]

01:11:18   you realize hey wait a minute nothing [TS]

01:11:20   really that bad happens it you can [TS]

01:11:23   realize oh I could do this more but [TS]

01:11:24   everybody can't do that if everybody [TS]

01:11:26   does that it's it's bad for civilization [TS]

01:11:29   so I shouldn't even be saying it out [TS]

01:11:30   loud on the show but I mean this is why [TS]

01:11:33   fines exist yeah this is everybody [TS]

01:11:37   didn't do it at first right start [TS]

01:11:40   finding people to make them do it yeah [TS]

01:11:43   but so uh so that's my answer is I break [TS]

01:11:47   civilization this episode of cortex is [TS]

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01:12:29   these meals at home and every single [TS]

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01:12:46   I'll let blue aprons culinary team [TS]

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01:12:53   chops with stewed collard greens and [TS]

01:12:55   sweet potatoes spiced cauliflower and [TS]

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01:12:59   sauce or even cheesy chicken and black [TS]

01:13:02   bean enchiladas with salsa verde [TS]

01:13:04   well it sounds amazing there's no weekly [TS]

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01:13:19   meals a blue apron so get started today [TS]

01:13:22   go to blue apron commish cortex and we'd [TS]

01:13:24   like to thank blue apron for their [TS]

01:13:25   support of cortex relay FM blue apron a [TS]

01:13:28   better way to cook we have been well [TS]

01:13:31   known to like to try our email apps and [TS]

01:13:34   to do apps that is a thing that me and [TS]

01:13:36   you both enjoy greatly and Adrian wants [TS]

01:13:38   to know if either of us have tried the [TS]

01:13:40   app on iOS and on the Mac things free if [TS]

01:13:45   you spent any time with things three oh [TS]

01:13:47   yeah of course I try everything oh yeah [TS]

01:13:49   yeah I'm I'm always I haven't tried this [TS]

01:13:51   one I mean I've tried things three even [TS]

01:13:54   though I you know I bought things - I'm [TS]

01:13:56   pretty sure I bought the original things [TS]

01:13:58   I know I had the original and and things [TS]

01:14:01   - because things - was around for like a [TS]

01:14:03   hundred years yeah maybe at maybe I [TS]

01:14:05   didn't have the original yeah maybe it [TS]

01:14:06   was just things - but yeah that one was [TS]

01:14:08   around for a very long time I've tried [TS]

01:14:12   it after I like I like the aesthetics of [TS]

01:14:18   things and I think that app has a good [TS]

01:14:21   look [TS]

01:14:22   oh it's beautiful the way it organizes [TS]

01:14:24   stuff wonderful looking yeah as opposed [TS]

01:14:27   to say to Taoist which is very ugly I [TS]

01:14:34   find in in the way it arranges stuff [TS]

01:14:37   it's hard to pin down what it is I just [TS]

01:14:38   think it's ugly I wouldn't call it ugly [TS]

01:14:40   I would it is an application that is [TS]

01:14:44   cross-platform InDesign yeah yes that [TS]

01:14:48   are that way they don't necessarily have [TS]

01:14:51   the beauty of any of the platforms that [TS]

01:14:54   they're on its the strip back in a non [TS]

01:14:57   minimalistic way it's like strip back in [TS]

01:14:59   a functional way mmm [TS]

01:15:00   which makes it unattractive yeah maybe [TS]

01:15:03   that's what it is [TS]

01:15:04   but so yeah think think three looks [TS]

01:15:07   great I played around with it because I [TS]

01:15:09   just I like to keep my [TS]

01:15:11   my mind on what are the uses of these [TS]

01:15:15   various apps because I do I do use more [TS]

01:15:17   than one to do manager for different [TS]

01:15:19   purposes and things things three just [TS]

01:15:21   Falls to me in an uncomfortable category [TS]

01:15:23   of it's complicated enough that it [TS]

01:15:28   doesn't fulfill the needs for my very [TS]

01:15:32   simple to do managers where I just want [TS]

01:15:35   like a little list of things but it's [TS]

01:15:37   not complicated enough to even come [TS]

01:15:39   close to replacing something like [TS]

01:15:41   OmniFocus so for me personally I find [TS]

01:15:44   things three fits in a in a weird middle [TS]

01:15:48   ground of I would for me to use it would [TS]

01:15:52   either need to be much simpler or much [TS]

01:15:54   more complicated so I can't see myself [TS]

01:15:57   personally personally using it at any [TS]

01:15:59   point the reason I haven't tried it is a [TS]

01:16:01   similar answer right like I or I know [TS]

01:16:04   it's bigger and is more complex than the [TS]

01:16:08   basic stuff that I have for something [TS]

01:16:10   like do you I know it's that this is an [TS]

01:16:12   app that is bigger than take out the [TS]

01:16:14   garbage right but I know that it doesn't [TS]

01:16:18   have any automation ABS aspects so that [TS]

01:16:22   makes it not enough like I'm only ever [TS]

01:16:24   going to move to a to-do application [TS]

01:16:26   that has a Web API now because that is [TS]

01:16:30   what I've gotten used to and to do is [TS]

01:16:31   even though I don't have a lot of things [TS]

01:16:33   that use it I don't want to move away [TS]

01:16:36   from it because I like to have that if I [TS]

01:16:39   have an idea that I can fulfill that [TS]

01:16:42   idea hmm right like because that is my [TS]

01:16:46   favorite thing about using web [TS]

01:16:47   automation is that I might have an idea [TS]

01:16:50   and then I want to fulfill it like so [TS]

01:16:51   for example what we're getting married [TS]

01:16:55   and Amanda dinner getting married next [TS]

01:16:56   year and we sent out RSVPs no RSVPs were [TS]

01:16:59   firing off a form that landed results in [TS]

01:17:01   a Google sheet so I set up a task of [TS]

01:17:06   zapier to give me a push notification [TS]

01:17:08   when something was filled out because I [TS]

01:17:12   just wanted to know so I didn't have to [TS]

01:17:14   keep checking [TS]

01:17:14   so like that is how I kind of see [TS]

01:17:17   automation is like I have a new thing [TS]

01:17:19   that's come up oh how can I make this [TS]

01:17:20   better for me so I'd like to have all of [TS]

01:17:23   the services that I have [TS]

01:17:25   some kind of automation in them if it's [TS]

01:17:27   possible and it's possible to have [TS]

01:17:29   automation in a task manager so I want [TS]

01:17:31   automation in my trans manager Doug [TS]

01:17:33   Rowan and Doug says Mike how do you [TS]

01:17:35   decide between making content that will [TS]

01:17:37   be easily received by an audience and [TS]

01:17:40   therefore more popular and content that [TS]

01:17:42   you want to make and Doug goes into a [TS]

01:17:44   bit more context here so he says I've [TS]

01:17:46   noticed on your YouTube channel that [TS]

01:17:48   your most popular video is you reviewed [TS]

01:17:50   the Nintendo switch which has around [TS]

01:17:52   30,000 views meanwhile your vlogs tend [TS]

01:17:55   to hover between 10 to 15,000 views I [TS]

01:17:58   also noticed that despite the greater [TS]

01:18:00   success of this technology review video [TS]

01:18:02   that you're still making vlogs mostly [TS]

01:18:04   I'm personally facing this issue with my [TS]

01:18:06   own channel and I'd love to hear what [TS]

01:18:08   you and grey have to say about this so [TS]

01:18:11   hmm it's a very good question [TS]

01:18:13   because the logic like the logical route [TS]

01:18:17   with the YouTube channel is that I would [TS]

01:18:20   keep making technology product review [TS]

01:18:22   videos because they are about two times [TS]

01:18:25   more successful than the vlog videos [TS]

01:18:28   that I've made well I mean just I'll put [TS]

01:18:31   a little asterisk here in that I don't [TS]

01:18:32   think you you don't really have enough [TS]

01:18:34   data points to say that with confidence [TS]

01:18:37   no but it's but you do have an [TS]

01:18:39   indication of it yeah you know it's like [TS]

01:18:41   I made one of them and it was more [TS]

01:18:43   successful right so it's like that's [TS]

01:18:46   still an interesting data point because [TS]

01:18:48   it was like I didn't have a channel that [TS]

01:18:50   was known for this stuff but yet it's [TS]

01:18:52   still either amongst my existing [TS]

01:18:54   audience or people that were [TS]

01:18:55   tangentially aware of me they still [TS]

01:18:57   wanted to watch this video and or it [TS]

01:18:59   probably got chewed up by the algorithm [TS]

01:19:01   or which it would right like yeah a [TS]

01:19:03   video about a product is gonna go into [TS]

01:19:05   the algorithm easier than my trip to [TS]

01:19:07   Disneyland you know that sort of stuff [TS]

01:19:11   is gonna get there isn't actually a trip [TS]

01:19:13   to Disneyland but it just in case people [TS]

01:19:15   like hey where's your Disneyland flood [TS]

01:19:16   it wasn't like hey where's your [TS]

01:19:17   Disneyland blog I haven't been to [TS]

01:19:19   Disneyland because I didn't go to VidCon [TS]

01:19:21   but so why why do I do this it's purely [TS]

01:19:25   a case of the YouTube channel just being [TS]

01:19:28   whatever it is that I want to make like [TS]

01:19:30   I don't have grand plans when it comes [TS]

01:19:36   to the YouTube video like if I was [TS]

01:19:37   following just data then [TS]

01:19:39   sure like I would make videos about [TS]

01:19:41   technology hardware constantly but I [TS]

01:19:43   made the video about the switch because [TS]

01:19:45   it was a video that I've really wanted [TS]

01:19:46   to make and I have an idea for another [TS]

01:19:49   video at some point this year which is [TS]

01:19:51   also about technology hardware because [TS]

01:19:54   it's a video it's an idea that I've [TS]

01:19:55   really want to make and so the reason [TS]

01:19:58   that I tend to make non technology [TS]

01:20:00   videos is because that's just where I'm [TS]

01:20:01   being pulled to it's if I was if I had [TS]

01:20:04   made the decision at any point that like [TS]

01:20:06   YouTube is where I want to be or like [TS]

01:20:08   that's that's what I want to do like a [TS]

01:20:11   rather than it just being a flight of [TS]

01:20:12   fancy like I want to push into that then [TS]

01:20:16   I would target the things that have been [TS]

01:20:18   the most successful but because this is [TS]

01:20:20   kind of just like a aside creative [TS]

01:20:23   project I'm cool with just doing [TS]

01:20:26   whatever it is that I'm most interested [TS]

01:20:27   in because at the same time I'm like [TS]

01:20:30   playing around with different things and [TS]

01:20:31   different ideas until I find a thing [TS]

01:20:33   that I really want to make or not yeah [TS]

01:20:35   and I remember you at the time also just [TS]

01:20:38   talking about that you partly wanted to [TS]

01:20:40   do that switch review to just try doing [TS]

01:20:42   something different like doing a [TS]

01:20:44   different thing was part of the [TS]

01:20:48   motivation behind it yep and the switch [TS]

01:20:50   video was is what was vastly more [TS]

01:20:52   complicated to put together then their [TS]

01:20:55   names of love videos have been yeah you [TS]

01:20:57   seemed real exhausted that weekend it [TS]

01:20:58   was horrible it was fun but it was [TS]

01:21:01   really really hard I mean and I will say [TS]

01:21:03   this having like right now I have like a [TS]

01:21:07   final cut project of a vlog video that [TS]

01:21:11   like I don't know if it's ever gonna get [TS]

01:21:13   done it's just in there and it's been [TS]

01:21:15   sitting there for ages like so yeah [TS]

01:21:18   but mm-hmm I know the feeling like yeah [TS]

01:21:21   I do feel I feel like you a little bit [TS]

01:21:23   with this right like I have this final [TS]

01:21:25   cut project which is just like it's got [TS]

01:21:28   a chip taken out of it and yeah I mean [TS]

01:21:37   as a side comments to Doug here when he [TS]

01:21:41   says he's facing this with his own [TS]

01:21:42   channel like there's a thing I I think [TS]

01:21:45   that you can see people doing on YouTube [TS]

01:21:48   in particular which is channels that are [TS]

01:21:52   trying [TS]

01:21:52   a whole bunch of stuff waiting to see [TS]

01:21:56   what hits and then and then trying to [TS]

01:21:59   replicate those hits I think there's a [TS]

01:22:03   totally reasonable strategy to do which [TS]

01:22:06   is s yeah that is that is a pause yeah [TS]

01:22:09   it's like what what are you what are you [TS]

01:22:12   trying to do with a youtube channel or [TS]

01:22:15   anything like this that you're trying to [TS]

01:22:17   do in the public and like well one of [TS]

01:22:19   the most data-driven ways to do that [TS]

01:22:21   it's like just try a whole bunch of [TS]

01:22:22   stuff see what works and keep building [TS]

01:22:26   on the thing that works that is a way [TS]

01:22:29   over time to try and build an audience [TS]

01:22:32   but I say like what do you what do you [TS]

01:22:34   want to do with the thing and it's like [TS]

01:22:37   well if you want to grow a thing as big [TS]

01:22:38   as possible that is definitely what you [TS]

01:22:40   should do but that strategy also doesn't [TS]

01:22:45   take into account what you is the [TS]

01:22:49   creator want to do but that's like [TS]

01:22:51   that's a as a trade-off here I think [TS]

01:22:52   it's definitely thing like I know we [TS]

01:22:54   video sometimes like I'm making this [TS]

01:22:55   thing because I'm interested in this [TS]

01:22:56   thing and it's not it's not necessarily [TS]

01:22:59   going to be as popular as other stuff [TS]

01:23:02   but so you just have to know like what [TS]

01:23:04   what is the goal here is if your goal is [TS]

01:23:05   I want this channel to get as big and [TS]

01:23:08   grow as fast as possible then you need [TS]

01:23:11   to follow what the audience wants more [TS]

01:23:15   now how I always point out that my few [TS]

01:23:18   list video that I have ever done were [TS]

01:23:20   done when I was pushing the channel as [TS]

01:23:22   hard and as fast as I could because I [TS]

01:23:24   had a deadline by which I was needed to [TS]

01:23:25   quit my job is like lists video time [TS]

01:23:28   right but I haven't done list videos and [TS]

01:23:30   in forever [TS]

01:23:31   since then because that's where I was [TS]

01:23:33   like I'm pushing more on people love [TS]

01:23:36   lists so I'm gonna go with the data on [TS]

01:23:38   this yeah but I haven't done that in you [TS]

01:23:41   know in a while so if you follow the [TS]

01:23:44   data you may end up running a YouTube [TS]

01:23:47   channel that you don't like very much [TS]

01:23:49   but it's very popular and I've met those [TS]

01:23:53   people and you know they are they are [TS]

01:23:55   very professionally successful we can [TS]

01:23:58   speak and say that so yeah it's just a [TS]

01:24:01   question about like what is what is the [TS]

01:24:02   goal what are you trying to achieve and [TS]

01:24:04   I think I might you have [TS]

01:24:07   answered in particularly for your [TS]

01:24:08   channel you're not trying to make the [TS]

01:24:10   YouTube channel the main thing and so [TS]

01:24:13   you're just experimenting and playing [TS]

01:24:14   around with it and and seeing what [TS]

01:24:17   happens over there out of interest yeah [TS]

01:24:19   I'm lucky in the sense that my my job is [TS]

01:24:24   a creative outlet and all the shows that [TS]

01:24:28   I have about things that I enjoy [TS]

01:24:30   so I personally don't see a value in [TS]

01:24:33   chasing something just for the sake of [TS]

01:24:36   chasing it because they don't have to do [TS]

01:24:38   that in my day job well right for me to [TS]

01:24:40   feel creatively fulfilled in podcasting [TS]

01:24:43   I don't have to chase the list version [TS]

01:24:48   of a podcast I could just make the stuff [TS]

01:24:50   that I want to make so I can't imagine [TS]

01:24:52   with a side project wanting to do the [TS]

01:24:55   opposite like I just make the things [TS]

01:24:56   that I want to make right and if there [TS]

01:24:58   is something that ever comes along one [TS]

01:25:00   day where I'm like I think I can do this [TS]

01:25:02   but I got to build a base first then [TS]

01:25:04   sure maybe I'll chase off the data [TS]

01:25:06   driven approach but like with the [TS]

01:25:08   YouTube channel like I don't feel that [TS]

01:25:09   like the YouTube channel for me is just [TS]

01:25:11   a thing and sometimes I'll have a video [TS]

01:25:16   that I want to put together because I [TS]

01:25:17   think it might be interesting so I'll do [TS]

01:25:18   it and if I don't do one I'm gonna beat [TS]

01:25:20   myself up about it this is a change that [TS]

01:25:21   I made in the last few months we spoke [TS]

01:25:23   about it right like ideally I would like [TS]

01:25:25   to have a video a month but if I don't [TS]

01:25:27   I'm cool with that [TS]

01:25:28   I missed September I'm fine with that [TS]

01:25:29   like I'm not gonna beat myself up over [TS]

01:25:31   it like I'm I'm good I have enough stuff [TS]

01:25:34   to do that is more important that is my [TS]

01:25:37   actual job I'm not gonna take time away [TS]

01:25:39   from that to put the video together like [TS]

01:25:41   I spent seven hours playing stardew [TS]

01:25:43   valley yesterday I should have maybe [TS]

01:25:45   edit at the vlog but do you know what I [TS]

01:25:46   wanted to play star diva hell he instead [TS]

01:25:48   so I did that yeah and if you if you [TS]

01:25:50   spent the whole day grinding away at a [TS]

01:25:52   vlog but you didn't feel like doing it's [TS]

01:25:54   like well guess what you've just turned [TS]

01:25:55   your YouTube channel into a job now yeah [TS]

01:25:58   that's what you've done yep this [TS]

01:26:00   question comes from Samuel Samuel wants [TS]

01:26:02   to know if we use fidget spinners oh [TS]

01:26:04   this is a very on site Geist question I [TS]

01:26:07   guess no I don't use a fitted spinner [TS]

01:26:12   I've played with them I don't really get [TS]

01:26:15   it okay [TS]

01:26:16   do you there's not mean a podcast [TS]

01:26:19   recorded and maybe [TS]

01:26:20   the last two or three months where I [TS]

01:26:22   haven't been using one constantly I'm [TS]

01:26:24   spinning a widget spinner right now I [TS]

01:26:26   didn't know that I first got a fidget [TS]

01:26:29   spinner a few months ago I think it when [TS]

01:26:31   the wire cutter put out their [TS]

01:26:32   recommendations because like I was like [TS]

01:26:34   what is this like what is this thing [TS]

01:26:36   right like why do people do this so I [TS]

01:26:37   went to Amazon this as months ago like [TS]

01:26:39   when when it was just starting to take [TS]

01:26:40   off and Amazon is just like a sea of [TS]

01:26:43   fidget spinners vastly varying prices [TS]

01:26:46   and they all kind of look the same so I [TS]

01:26:48   kind of closed the tab because I was [TS]

01:26:50   like this is too much like I need the [TS]

01:26:51   wire cutter to tell me and then a few [TS]

01:26:54   months later they did the wire cutter [TS]

01:26:56   published an article with their fidgets [TS]

01:26:58   Bennett recommendations so I bought one [TS]

01:27:00   of the plastic ones you know the ones [TS]

01:27:01   that you seen everywhere like the one [TS]

01:27:03   that they recommended and it came and I [TS]

01:27:04   didn't understand it like it was arrived [TS]

01:27:07   I span it and I was like I don't get it [TS]

01:27:08   then I put it on my desk and then I [TS]

01:27:11   realized oh this is something for my [TS]

01:27:13   hands to do when I'm recording which is [TS]

01:27:16   the thing that I tend to desperately [TS]

01:27:17   need right like just another way to help [TS]

01:27:20   me keep focused what I'm actually doing [TS]

01:27:21   which is talking into a computer whilst [TS]

01:27:23   looking at a screen that doesn't move [TS]

01:27:25   right like and so spinning the fidgets [TS]

01:27:28   spinners is a way to help me keep focus [TS]

01:27:30   so I have a plastic one which was their [TS]

01:27:32   recommendation and then I also bought [TS]

01:27:33   their metal one would like that they [TS]

01:27:36   recommend it as well which is the one [TS]

01:27:38   that I'm spinning right now and it's the [TS]

01:27:40   thing that I'm able to do and keep quiet [TS]

01:27:42   like I have one of those fidget cube [TS]

01:27:43   things but that's just all about making [TS]

01:27:46   noise right like I back to the [TS]

01:27:48   Kickstarter for the fidget cube which [TS]

01:27:49   came before the fidgets better and that [TS]

01:27:51   thing just makes sound all the time and [TS]

01:27:53   I can't be making sound so I get to spin [TS]

01:27:56   my fidget spinner and silence unless I [TS]

01:27:58   drop it especially the metal one and it [TS]

01:28:00   crashes into the table and then I have [TS]

01:28:02   to edit around it but for the majority [TS]

01:28:04   of the time that you hear me recording [TS]

01:28:06   today including this and maybe the last [TS]

01:28:08   five or six cortex episodes you can feel [TS]

01:28:11   happy and knowing that millennial [TS]

01:28:12   hipster mic has been spinning a fitted [TS]

01:28:14   spinner the whole time so this is your [TS]

01:28:16   new coloring yeah this is the new color [TS]

01:28:19   although I will say on this show as well [TS]

01:28:22   and I have always done this I have a pad [TS]

01:28:24   in front of me and a bunch of pens and I [TS]

01:28:27   doodle and I always have done it Carano [TS]

01:28:31   noticed something in episode 39 gray [TS]

01:28:34   compares you [TS]

01:28:34   to processing to rolling 100d 20s has [TS]

01:28:38   gray ever played anything like dragons I [TS]

01:28:41   have never played real official Dungeons [TS]

01:28:46   and Dragons I'm familiar enough with it [TS]

01:28:49   that I know the the mechanics of it [TS]

01:28:51   I've never played real Dungeons and [TS]

01:28:53   Dragons I've played my time be [TS]

01:28:57   remembering the name correctly but I [TS]

01:28:59   used to play me just look it was it [TS]

01:29:01   called hero quests oh no yeah hero quest [TS]

01:29:06   that's what it was [TS]

01:29:06   I played hero quest as a kid Wow this [TS]

01:29:10   this Google Image Search really brings [TS]

01:29:12   back memories I played that a ton as a [TS]

01:29:16   kid which as far as I can tell is [TS]

01:29:18   Dungeons & Dragons for babies [TS]

01:29:21   but I was the the dungeon master for [TS]

01:29:24   hero's quest in my local neighborhood [TS]

01:29:27   for forever so that is the thing that I [TS]

01:29:30   had very very many fond memories for a [TS]

01:29:33   long time of playing and it's but it's [TS]

01:29:35   the same idea like you're doing the dice [TS]

01:29:37   rolls the dungeon master is creating a [TS]

01:29:40   story and people are barbarians and [TS]

01:29:42   wizards and all the rest of it it's just [TS]

01:29:43   it's a simpler version of Dungeons & [TS]

01:29:46   Dragons but so no I have never played [TS]

01:29:49   the full full-on Dungeons and Dragons [TS]

01:29:53   well you only ever the DM you never [TS]

01:29:55   played yeah no I know I don't want to be [TS]

01:29:58   the player I was the dungeon master [TS]

01:30:00   that's that's the only way to roll Mike [TS]

01:30:02   interesting okay [TS]

01:30:04   follow that away for future use okay [TS]

01:30:07   Zachary asked I recently heard of going [TS]

01:30:10   to work in cafes without your device [TS]

01:30:13   charger to motivate yourself to get work [TS]

01:30:15   done what do you think I actually think [TS]

01:30:17   it's a kind of genius idea and I [TS]

01:30:21   definitely know that on the cases when I [TS]

01:30:23   have forgotten or I don't have access to [TS]

01:30:26   a charger I way more focused on on the [TS]

01:30:30   work I do wonder though if this is just [TS]

01:30:33   a Hawthorne effect where it's like Oh [TS]

01:30:35   something has changed and so because of [TS]

01:30:37   the change you're more focused and it's [TS]

01:30:41   it's not the absolute state that if you [TS]

01:30:43   started doing it on a regular basis [TS]

01:30:45   maybe it wouldn't be as effective but [TS]

01:30:48   it is it has definitely been a thing [TS]

01:30:49   that causes me to focus a great deal [TS]

01:30:51   more I think I made a very quick [TS]

01:30:52   reference to it on the vlog that I [TS]

01:30:55   actually put up where I was on a plane [TS]

01:30:57   without power in the seats and it's like [TS]

01:30:59   man was I really focused on trying to [TS]

01:31:02   get as much done it's like good while [TS]

01:31:04   that laptop battery was was draining [TS]

01:31:07   down so I'm not exactly sure if I feel [TS]

01:31:10   like I would ever want to do it on [TS]

01:31:12   purpose but there is a noticeable effect [TS]

01:31:14   when it happens by accident my concern [TS]

01:31:17   is that I would use this as an excuse [TS]

01:31:19   mmm I could see that I would get to a [TS]

01:31:22   certain point in the day and I have like [TS]

01:31:23   20% left and I'm like might as well pack [TS]

01:31:26   it up and go home because I might run [TS]

01:31:27   out battery at any moment that would be [TS]

01:31:30   my concern about me I can see how it may [TS]

01:31:32   motivate people but I think I would use [TS]

01:31:34   it as an excuse to pack up and go home [TS]

01:31:37   yeah you never know when the battery [TS]

01:31:40   runs out [TS]