No. 668 – February 15, 2026
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Tiny Thoughts
Focus on the inputs you control and the outputs will follow.
The more you watch the score, the worse you play.
Checking the scoreboard feels like doing something, but it pulls attention away from the only thing that can change it: What now?
What you say about yourself is forgotten. What you do for others compounds.
Serve people well, and their word about you will travel further than yours ever could.
Insights
Founder Brian Halligan on people:
“The older I get, the more I think outstanding taste in people is the only real alpha.”
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers on haters:
“You shouldn’t worry about criticism from someone that you would never ask advice from.”
Climber Elizabeth Rose on suffering:
“Suffering isn’t something I avoid. It’s something I love—I love what it brings, what’s on the other side of it. When we’re climbing Mt. Everest, we’re all suffering together, facing the same battle, chasing the same dream. Suffering makes the accomplishment that much more fulfilling.”
The Knowledge Project
No new episode this week, but let’s look back at some of the most replayed moments from the last few episodes. Some of these surprised me:
+ James Clear: Complexity vs. Simplicity and Finding the Confidence to Start
+ Morgan Housel: Can You Beat the Market? and Housing Affordability
+ Rory Sutherland: The Map is Not the Territory and Signalling to Ourselves
+ Ron Shaich: The Most Important Lesson and The Commitment Owns You
Still curious?
+ If you’re hungry for a new episode, members have early access to next week’s episode with Nicolai Tangen, who manages the Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund (~ 2.1 trillion).
Thanks for reading,
— Shane Parrish