Blue Zones | Amazon CEO’s Annual Letter | Parkinson's Law
Post #2 from April 23, 2023
1/ Healthy: Blue Zones
Living past the age of 100 is not a common experience for humans. However, in a few communities around the world, the inhabitants regularly live [or claim to live] and thrive well past 100. In comparison, the life expectancy in the US is around 77, but that is only in birthdays—the quality of health by this point for many Americans is degraded to a state of high dependency on medications and constant care. These geographic areas with a prevalence of centenarians are known as blue zones and researchers believe they hold advice for how we can all improve our lifespan. Studies conducted on these communities have learned replicable behaviors and attributes for how anyone can extend their lifespan.
The Venn diagram below illustrates some common practices of three well-known blue zones: Okinawa, Japan; Loma Linda, California, USA; Sardinia, Italy
2/ Wealthy: Andy Jassy’s 2022 shareholder letter
One valuable resource for gaining insights into trends and areas of investment is the annual shareholder letter from top CEOs. These are some of the best informed people on the planet with a high interest in the future. One example of this is from Amazon CEO Andy Jassy's 2022 letter which emphasizes the importance of innovation, customer obsession, and talent development. Reading this letter can be a useful tool for investors looking to build wealth and make informed decisions in the market.
Andy Jassy’s 2022 Annual Letter
3/ Wise: Parkinson’s Law
Parkinson's Law states that work expands to fill the time available for its completion. This concept applies not only to time but also to space. The more space we have, the more things we tend to accumulate to fill it. For example, if you move into a larger house, you might find yourself buying more furniture, decorations, and household items to fill the extra space. Similarly, if you have a larger suitcase, you may be tempted to pack more items than you actually need for your trip.
By understanding and applying Parkinson's Law to our daily lives, we can become more mindful of how we use our resources, whether it be time or space. By setting limits on our resources, we can prioritize what is truly important and prevent ourselves from becoming overwhelmed with unnecessary clutter. So, next time you find yourself with an abundance of space or time, remember Parkinson's Law and take action to ensure that you use them wisely.
Big Idea: “Work expands to fill the amount of time available for its completion.”
A free time-tracker and a longer explanation of this can be found here
Until next week.
Thank You, The Well Spent Team
Reference: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_zone#/media/File%3A3_blue_zones_venn_diagram.svg