| Sunday, 17 December 2023 |
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Good morning [%first_name |Dear Reader%],
Good morning. I was meeting a friend over drinks recently and we got round to talking about our kids (this isn’t a parenting-themed edition, don’t worry). We agreed that kids today were almost universally better than us, back when we were their age. Except for one thing.
“They have terrible spatial awareness!” he said. I agreed.
Was it perhaps that we (fathers) grew up in the pre-Google Maps era, where you had to learn to navigate without GPS or real-time directions? Or was it because we were forced to (pointlessly) memorise countries and capitals at school, and be forced to point them out too?
I don’t know.
What I do know is that we’re increasingly becoming less spatially aware in our lives, which is making it harder for us to navigate it too.
Because we are all explorers and travellers. On any given day we’re navigating neighbourhoods and roads, yes, but also products, relationships, careers, and even time.
This is a Sunday newsletter (even if many of you read this on a Monday), so I’m allowed to lead with reflection.
Welcome to edition 24 of First Principles. This Sunday we’re going to talk about navigation, maps, and compasses.
Before we dive in, here’s what I have for you this week:
- Navigating with compasses and maps 🧭🗺️
- #FPBooks (4 recommendations)
- #FPHabits (2 recommendations) ✅
- #SilentSunday Photos 📷
- #FPPlaylist (“Reflective Sundays”) 🎧😊
Pro tip: If your default setting is to not show images within emails, please consider turning it off for this newsletter. Or else, you’ll miss many of the interesting images and photos we carry each Sunday 🏞️🤳🏽
1. Navigating with compasses and maps 🧭🗺️
I was talking to you about our increasing lack of spatial awareness earlier. On the roads, it’s thanks to GPS and Google Maps (or OSMAnd, Apple Maps etc.). Why bother wasting brain cycles memorising landmarks, roads, and directions if we can count on technology to assist us 24×7, right?
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