In this episode, we explore Paul Graham’s essay, "How to Do Great Work", a deep dive into the principles behind meaningful, high-impact work. How do you choose the right field? How do you push through obstacles? What role do curiosity, originality, and mindset play? We'll break it all down into four key segments, offering practical insights and clear takeaways.

Paul Graham is a programmer, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Y Combinator, a startup incubator that has helped launch companies like Airbnb, Dropbox, Stripe, and Reddit. His essay outlines a framework for identifying the right work, overcoming resistance, staying creative, and sustaining long-term motivation.

Topics in This Episode:

1. Choosing Your Frontier: Finding the right work by following curiosity and recognizing opportunities
2. Getting the Work Done: Overcoming procrastination, focusing deeply, and maintaining consistency
3. Originality, Creativity, and Breaking Rules: Embracing creativity, questioning assumptions, and identifying unconventional ideas
4. Mindset, Morale, and Environment: The role of optimism, resilience, and relationships in doing great work

Ask yourself: What’s one thing you can do today to move closer to doing great work?

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Read Paul Graham’s Essay: https://paulgraham.com/greatwork.htm

Related Episodes of So-Called Discoveries:

(Links are to Spotify; for all platforms, visit https://socalleddiscoveries.com)

The Effective Executive: Book Discussion | EP2

Reflecting on The Effective Executive, Time Tracking, Focus Tactics, and Success in New Jobs | EP3

The War of Art: Book Discussion (Part 1/3) | EP4

The War of Art: Book Discussion (Part 2/3) | EP5

The War of Art: Book Discussion (Part 3/3) | EP6

Wealth, Knowledge, and Leverage in the Modern Economy | EP8

Wisdom for Modern Life: Exploring "The Prophet" by Kahlil Gibran | EP18

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:26) Choosing Your Frontier (finding your field, reaching the frontier, and noticing gaps)

(07:55) Getting the Work Done (beating procrastination, deep work, and consistency)

(15:25) Originality, Creativity, and Breaking Rules (the right kind of crazy ideas)

(20:06) Mindset, Morale, and Environment (optimism, avoiding formality, and resilience)

(25:51) Conclusion

Stay Curious. Keep Learning. See you next time!

In this thoughtful solo episode, Anthony explores one of the most beloved works of poetic wisdom ever written: Kahlil Gibran's "The Prophet". Structured as a series of poetic teachings shared by the prophet Almustafa, this iconic book covers universal themes, including love, marriage, parenting, work, sorrow, and death.

Throughout the episode, Anthony reads selected excerpts from the text, offers reflective commentary, and relates the timeless wisdom of “The Prophet” to our modern lives and personal experiences.

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If you find this content valuable, please rate it up to 5 stars and consider leaving a review. Your feedback helps So-Called Discoveries provide you with even more insights and reflections.

Instagram (@socalleddiscoveries): https://instagram.com/SoCalledDiscoveries

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/socalleddiscoveries

All platforms: https://socalleddiscoveries.com

Buy the book, "The Prophet" by Kahlil Gibran: https://amzn.to/43AM8Ub

(Purchases from some links may earn So-Called Discoveries an affiliate fee)

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00:00) Introduction

(00:01:29) Kahlil Gibran & "The Prophet"

(00:04:24) The Coming of the Ship

(00:10:26) On Love

(00:12:39) On Marriage

(00:14:47) On Children

(00:18:15) On Giving

(00:22:52) On Eating and Drinking

(00:25:15) On Work

(00:28:59) On Joy and Sorrow

(00:32:05) On Houses

(00:33:29) On Clothes

(00:34:53) On Buying and Selling

(00:36:43) On Crime and Punishment

(00:38:47) On Laws

(00:41:06) On Freedom

(00:43:59) On Reason and Passion

(00:46:37) On Pain

(00:49:30) On Self-Knowledge

(00:53:16) On Teaching

(00:55:40) On Friendship

(00:57:30) On Talking

(00:59:52) On Time

(01:01:18) On Good and Evil

(01:04:58) On Prayer

(01:06:12) On Pleasure

(01:08:23) On Beauty

(01:09:39) On Religion

(01:11:36) On Death

(01:14:20) The Farewell

(01:23:23) Conclusion

Thanks for listening! I hope that you learned... something!

In this episode of So-Called Discoveries, I walk into small, independent businesses in Midtown Detroit and spontaneously interview the individuals behind them!

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Connect on all platforms: https://socalleddiscoveries.com

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/1dJdRxt9qOY

BUSINESSES INTERVIEWED:

RUNdetroit: https://www.run-detroit.com

Source Booksellers: https://www.sourcebooksellers.com

Marcus Market: https://www.instagram.com/marcusmarket

Casa de Fleur: https://www.instagram.com/_casadefleur_

Bangkok 96: https://www.b96streetfood.com

David Vintage: https://www.davidvintage.com

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Introduction

(03:14) RUNdetroit

(07:32) Source Booksellers

(14:22) Marcus Market

(17:34) Chasing your dream

(18:36) Detroit Shipping Co.

(20:50) David Vintage (part 1)

(18:34) Casa de Fleur

(22:32) Bangkok 96

(29:20) David Vintage (part 2)

(35:08) Conclusion

In this episode, we learn from emotional intelligence and leadership coach, Catherine Cruveillier! Catherine is the founder of Planet Emotions, which guides innovative leaders and their teams into extraordinary performance, higher profit, and net positive impact. Our wide-ranging chat features discussion on emotions, feelings, vision, personal development, darkness, fear, empathy, and compassion.

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Connect: https://socalleddiscoveries.com

Connect with Catherine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinecruveillier

Planet Emotions: https://planetemotions.com

Timestamps: 

[0:00:00] Welcome

[0:01:20] Catherine Cruveillier

[0:19:01] Emotions, attraction, patterns, behavior

[0:24:55] Is this good or bad?

[0:27:50] Catherine's education and early professional experience

[0:37:07] Planet Emotions, dreams, personal development stages, strategic planning, vision

[0:51:35] Planning your perfect day

[0:54:10] Feelings, discomfort, messages, moving on

[1:01:57] An existing example

[1:12:53] Feeling, thinking, communication

[1:19:09] Fear

[1:23:30] Darkness, empathy, compassion

[1:30:33] Final words from Catherine

In this episode, I sit with Breeze and Sa'bree, the owners of Immense Films! We discuss their writing, directing, acting, and overall film experience. I watched a couple films they've worked on ("Red Flagz" and "Chasing the Ghost") and give my thoughts. We learn the filmmaking process, from script to distribution, and hear the Immense vision driving the independent duo. We discuss advice for creatives and people with ideas, as well as being open to receiving in life. 

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Connect: https://socalleddiscoveries.com

Connect with IMMENSE FILMS: [email protected]

https://www.instagram.com/immensefilms

https://www.instagram.com/breezethedirector

https://www.instagram.com/nzuri__

Stream films discussed:

Nasty: https://tubitv.com/movies/714158/nasty

Red Flagz: https://tubitv.com/movies/693212/red-flagz

Chasing the Ghost: https://tubitv.com/movies/697474/chasing-the-ghost

Detroit theaters discussed:

https://belairluxurycinema.com

https://www.cinemadetroit.org

Timestamps: 

[0:00:00] Welcome

[0:02:17] SA’BREE & BREEZE of IMMENSE FILMS

[0:17:42] Genre

[0:20:25] Pushback

[0:26:41] ENERGY script, preproduction, funding story

[0:32:55] Receiving, openness, partners

[0:35:30] LiT TV

[0:39:03] Casting, rehearsals, filming, editing

[0:47:34] Premieres, Detroit theaters, streaming

[0:51:15] The IMMENSE FILMS vision

[1:00:34] Quick rant on Instagram guidelines

[1:01:54] Affirmations for black girls and boys

[1:03:35] Advice for creative people with ideas

[1:10:17] He who opens himself to GOD

[1:12:00] Final words from BREEZE & SA’BREE

[1:13:00] This will go down in HISTORY

In this episode, I approach So-Called Strangers in New York City and ask for quick conversations. The results were lovely! The final few minutes feature a behind-the-scenes chat with a couple former strangers, captured by their video camera and sent to me.

Photos of the So-Called Strangers from this episode: https://www.instagram.com/socalleddiscoveries

Behind-the-scenes chat (video): https://youtu.be/xS8rbeTfdAY

Subscribe, enable notifications, rate, and review!

Connect: https://socalleddiscoveries.com

Timestamps: 

[00:00] Introduction

[02:11] Skater girls, just do it, protect your peace and energy

[05:25] Superhero, life is beautiful, keep going, never stop

[06:33] Find a cute animal, or at least some joy

[09:09] Questions on my finances from a finance influencer, invest in your financial education

[12:34] Chess in the park, learn openings and endgames, do what you are good at AND what you love

[15:53] A new enterprise in an emerging industry

[18:47] Find something that gets you moving

[21:22] Meow

[24:29] Skater boys, follow your dreams, don't give up

[27:29] Feed the birds, live free

[32:09] A quick aside...

[33:12] BONUS: behind-the-scenes chat on So-Called Discoveries

In this episode, I visit my favorite Detroit pizza shop, Sicily's Pizzeria! I sit with the owner, Ali Beydoun, and discuss his immigrant journey from Lebanon to Southwest Detroit, The American Dream, and the perfect pizza experience. We also discuss hard work, commitment, passion, pride, and being well-equipped in this world.

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Connect: https://SoCalledDiscoveries.com

~ Connect with Sicily's Pizzeria ~

3554 Vernor Hwy, Detroit, MI 48216

https://sicilysdetroit.com

https://www.instagram.com/sicilysdetroit/

https://www.facebook.com/sicilysdetroit/

~ Timestamps ~

[00:00] Introduction

[01:38] Welcome to Sicily's Pizzeria

[02:16] Ali knows his customers

[04:05] The perfect pizza experience

[09:41] Sicily's sourdough, cheese, and other high quality ingredients

[13:11] Growing up in Lebanon

[17:45] Ali's American Dream over time

[20:06] Ali's start in the U.S.

[22:16] Take life seriously and have pride in what you do

[26:49] The path to pizza

[31:15] Passion can bloom from hard work and commitment

[33:58] Words of wisdom, and Ali's hopes for his daughters

[39:07] A wholesome moment

[39:50] Conclusion

In this episode, we learn about Orangetheory from Coach Anna Eller! Anna entered fitness through her dance career, which includes dancing professionally for the Detroit Pistons. More recently, she has been Head Trainer at the Orangetheory studio in Detroit, MI, which is how we met. We discuss what Orangetheory is, the benefits of heart rate training, and advice for beginners. We also discuss her new role at a different Orangetheory studio in Ann Arbor, MI.

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Connect: https://SoCalledDiscoveries.com

Connect with Coach Anna: [email protected]

https://www.instagram.com/__annaeller/

https://www.facebook.com/anna.shahinian

Find an Orangetheory: https://www.orangetheory.com/en-us/locations?referralUUID=0fcd49cc-7e3e-475b-be7e-6fa763547c21&utm_medium=sms&utm_source=adb&utm_term=corporate&utm_campaign=1--MemberReferral&utm_content

Timestamps:

[00:00] Introduction

[04:45] What is Orangetheory?

[05:53] Heart rate training and zones

[08:04] Coach Anna's fitness story and career

[14:28] Functional strength, longevity, and "more life"

[16:50] Orangetheory workout structure and style

[18:17] Getting started with Orangetheory

[20:26] Community and experience

[22:58] Rest days

[26:22] OT benchmarks and signature workouts

[29:16] Advice for beginners

[31:20] Support systems

[34:55] Health outside the gym

[37:46] How Anna and Anthony include Orangetheory workouts in their routine

[40:28] Advice for aspiring coaches and trainers

[43:28] How Anna stays up to date

[44:43] Anna's future as a coach

[46:04] Final words from Coach Anna

[46:33] Conclusion

[47:33] Lastly...

In the 10th episode of So-Called Discoveries, we reflect on the show thus far, including The Effective Executive, The War of Art, my story, Naval Ravikant, and Marcus Aurelius. I discuss plans for the show's growth, and tease the next episode (our first guest!). I also give thoughts on how to kick ass in 2023 by focusing on the little things. Happy New Year!

If you enjoy So-Called Discoveries, subscribe, enable notifications, rate, and review!

Connect: https://SoCalledDiscoveries.com

~Some links may earn affiliate fees~

Purchase "The Effective Executive" by Peter F. Drucker: https://amzn.to/3U7vaFt

Purchase "The War of Art" by Steven Pressfield: https://amzn.to/3SZshFp

Read "The Almanack of Naval Ravikant": https://navalmanack.com

Purchase "Meditations" by Marcus Aurelius: https://amzn.to/3VHNB4n

Purchase "Stoic Classics Collection": https://amzn.to/3Gb7aM3

Timestamps:

[00:00] Introduction

[01:42] The show thus far

[14:30] The show must go on

[22:56] Kick ass in 2023

[29:13] That's Enough / Happy New Year / Bye