Issue No. 3 ā€” Sunday, 10 July, 2022 By Jill Metcalfe

S U B S C R I B E

A L L I S S U E S

šŸ‘¤ You Can Be A World-Famous Mathematician And Still Suffer From Impostor Syndrome

One of the most thought-provoking articles I read this week was about June Huh, winner of the 2022 Fields Medal, the most prestigious prize in mathematics.

Thereā€™s very little about Juneā€™s story thatā€™s typical.

Photo by Caroline Gutman for Quanta Magazine

Photo by Caroline Gutman for Quanta Magazine

Who, me? from Giphy

Who, me? from Giphy

But the thing that stood out the most to me was that June Huh, one of the foremost mathematicians of his time, sometimes feels like a bit of a fraud.

ā€œDeep down, youā€™re a little bit worried that they might eventually figure out that youā€™re not actually that good.ā€

June Huh suffers from impostor syndrome ā€“ that nagging anxiety that youā€™re not good enough, that one day youā€™ll be found out and be publicly humiliated, and that enduring shame will be your just reward.

Iā€™ve had a severe case of it this week as my Twitter follower count jumped by a couple of hundred.

Thereā€™s a curious paradox at work here.

On the one hand, thereā€™s, ā€œWhy would these people want to follow me???ā€

And on the other, thereā€™s, ā€œBut, isnā€™t this what you wanted?ā€

Thereā€™s a tendency to put yourself through all sorts of mental contortions, but in the end you wind up back where you were, carrying on as before.

The fact is that everyone is totally just winging it, all the time. Weā€™re all impostors. But also, weā€™re all just doing the best we can with what we have.

šŸ—žļøĀ All The Best Newsletters Come Out On Sundays (Or Sometimes Other Days)

<aside> <img src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iNTEyIiBoZWlnaHQ9IjUxMiIgdmlld0JveD0iMCAwIDQ4IDQ4IiBmaWxsPSJub25lIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPgo8cmVjdCBvcGFjaXR5PSIwLjIiIHg9IjUiIHk9IjUiIHdpZHRoPSIzOCIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzOCIgcng9IjQiIGZpbGw9IiM2NkFBREEiLz4KPHBhdGggZD0iTTIxLjc5MTYgMTcuNTJDMjEuNzkxNiAxNi44MiAyMS43NTE2IDE2LjI2IDIxLjY3MTYgMTUuODRDMjEuNjExNiAxNS40IDIxLjQ4MTYgMTUuMDYgMjEuMjgxNiAxNC44MkMyMS4wODE2IDE0LjU2IDIwLjc5MTYgMTQuMzkgMjAuNDExNiAxNC4zMUMyMC4wNTE2IDE0LjIxIDE5LjU2MTYgMTQuMTQgMTguOTQxNiAxNC4xVjEyLjlIMjkuMDUxNlYxNC4xQzI4LjQzMTYgMTQuMTIgMjcuOTMxNiAxNC4xOCAyNy41NTE2IDE0LjI4QzI3LjE3MTYgMTQuMzggMjYuODgxNiAxNC41NiAyNi42ODE2IDE0LjgyQzI2LjQ4MTYgMTUuMDggMjYuMzUxNiAxNS40NCAyNi4yOTE2IDE1LjlDMjYuMjMxNiAxNi4zNiAyNi4yMDE2IDE2Ljk3IDI2LjIwMTYgMTcuNzNWMzYuMDZDMjYuMjAxNiAzOC41OCAyNS41NjE2IDQwLjUgMjQuMjgxNiA0MS44MkMyMy4wMDE2IDQzLjE0IDIxLjA5MTYgNDMuOCAxOC41NTE2IDQzLjhDMTYuNzMxNiA0My44IDE1LjMzMTYgNDMuNDkgMTQuMzUxNiA0Mi44N0MxMy4zNTE2IDQyLjI1IDEyLjg1MTYgNDEuNDYgMTIuODUxNiA0MC41QzEyLjg1MTYgMzkuOTIgMTMuMDQxNiAzOS40NyAxMy40MjE2IDM5LjE1QzEzLjc4MTYgMzguODUgMTQuMjMxNiAzOC43IDE0Ljc3MTYgMzguN0MxNS4yMzE2IDM4LjcgMTUuNjAxNiAzOC44MiAxNS44ODE2IDM5LjA2QzE2LjE0MTYgMzkuMyAxNi40NzE2IDM5Ljc1IDE2Ljg3MTYgNDAuNDFDMTcuMjcxNiA0MS4wNyAxNy42MzE2IDQxLjUxIDE3Ljk1MTYgNDEuNzNDMTguMjcxNiA0MS45NSAxOC42NjE2IDQyLjA2IDE5LjEyMTYgNDIuMDZDMTkuOTgxNiA0Mi4wNiAyMC42NDE2IDQxLjU5IDIxLjEwMTYgNDAuNjVDMjEuNTYxNiAzOS43MSAyMS43OTE2IDM4LjM5IDIxLjc5MTYgMzYuNjlWMTcuNTJaIiBmaWxsPSIjNjZBQURBIi8+Cjwvc3ZnPgo=" alt="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iNTEyIiBoZWlnaHQ9IjUxMiIgdmlld0JveD0iMCAwIDQ4IDQ4IiBmaWxsPSJub25lIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPgo8cmVjdCBvcGFjaXR5PSIwLjIiIHg9IjUiIHk9IjUiIHdpZHRoPSIzOCIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzOCIgcng9IjQiIGZpbGw9IiM2NkFBREEiLz4KPHBhdGggZD0iTTIxLjc5MTYgMTcuNTJDMjEuNzkxNiAxNi44MiAyMS43NTE2IDE2LjI2IDIxLjY3MTYgMTUuODRDMjEuNjExNiAxNS40IDIxLjQ4MTYgMTUuMDYgMjEuMjgxNiAxNC44MkMyMS4wODE2IDE0LjU2IDIwLjc5MTYgMTQuMzkgMjAuNDExNiAxNC4zMUMyMC4wNTE2IDE0LjIxIDE5LjU2MTYgMTQuMTQgMTguOTQxNiAxNC4xVjEyLjlIMjkuMDUxNlYxNC4xQzI4LjQzMTYgMTQuMTIgMjcuOTMxNiAxNC4xOCAyNy41NTE2IDE0LjI4QzI3LjE3MTYgMTQuMzggMjYuODgxNiAxNC41NiAyNi42ODE2IDE0LjgyQzI2LjQ4MTYgMTUuMDggMjYuMzUxNiAxNS40NCAyNi4yOTE2IDE1LjlDMjYuMjMxNiAxNi4zNiAyNi4yMDE2IDE2Ljk3IDI2LjIwMTYgMTcuNzNWMzYuMDZDMjYuMjAxNiAzOC41OCAyNS41NjE2IDQwLjUgMjQuMjgxNiA0MS44MkMyMy4wMDE2IDQzLjE0IDIxLjA5MTYgNDMuOCAxOC41NTE2IDQzLjhDMTYuNzMxNiA0My44IDE1LjMzMTYgNDMuNDkgMTQuMzUxNiA0Mi44N0MxMy4zNTE2IDQyLjI1IDEyLjg1MTYgNDEuNDYgMTIuODUxNiA0MC41QzEyLjg1MTYgMzkuOTIgMTMuMDQxNiAzOS40NyAxMy40MjE2IDM5LjE1QzEzLjc4MTYgMzguODUgMTQuMjMxNiAzOC43IDE0Ljc3MTYgMzguN0MxNS4yMzE2IDM4LjcgMTUuNjAxNiAzOC44MiAxNS44ODE2IDM5LjA2QzE2LjE0MTYgMzkuMyAxNi40NzE2IDM5Ljc1IDE2Ljg3MTYgNDAuNDFDMTcuMjcxNiA0MS4wNyAxNy42MzE2IDQxLjUxIDE3Ljk1MTYgNDEuNzNDMTguMjcxNiA0MS45NSAxOC42NjE2IDQyLjA2IDE5LjEyMTYgNDIuMDZDMTkuOTgxNiA0Mi4wNiAyMC42NDE2IDQxLjU5IDIxLjEwMTYgNDAuNjVDMjEuNTYxNiAzOS43MSAyMS43OTE2IDM4LjM5IDIxLjc5MTYgMzYuNjlWMTcuNTJaIiBmaWxsPSIjNjZBQURBIi8+Cjwvc3ZnPgo=" width="40px" /> Creative Companion by Jay Clouse

Untitled

If it seems like you just can't get any traction, there's one fundamental issue you need to address: Your message is not connecting with the people who are receiving it.

Read more about How to find traction.

</aside>

<aside> <img src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,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" alt="data:image/svg+xml;base64,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" width="40px" /> Six at 6 on Sunday by Billy Oppenheimer

Untitled

ā€œMost strengths have corresponding weaknesses. If you try to manage or mitigate a given weakness, you might also eliminate the corresponding strength.ā€

Find out more about Reciprocal Inhibition.

</aside>

<aside> <img src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iNTEyIiBoZWlnaHQ9IjUxMiIgdmlld0JveD0iMCAwIDQ4IDQ4IiBmaWxsPSJub25lIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPgo8cmVjdCBvcGFjaXR5PSIwLjIiIHg9IjUiIHk9IjUiIHdpZHRoPSIzOCIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzOCIgcng9IjQiIGZpbGw9IiM2NkFBREEiLz4KPHBhdGggZD0iTTI0LjI2MiAzMC4zOUwzMS4xOTIgMTIuOUgzOS45NTJWMTQuMUMzOS4yOTIgMTQuMSAzOC43NTIgMTQuMTcgMzguMzMyIDE0LjMxQzM3LjkzMiAxNC40MyAzNy42MjIgMTQuNjYgMzcuNDAyIDE1QzM3LjE4MiAxNS4zNCAzNy4wMzIgMTUuODEgMzYuOTUyIDE2LjQxQzM2Ljg5MiAxNi45OSAzNi44NjIgMTcuNzMgMzYuODYyIDE4LjYzVjMwLjI3QzM2Ljg2MiAzMS4yNyAzNi45MDIgMzIuMDYgMzYuOTgyIDMyLjY0QzM3LjA2MiAzMy4yMiAzNy4yMjIgMzMuNjcgMzcuNDYyIDMzLjk5QzM3LjcwMiAzNC4zMSAzOC4wNDIgMzQuNTIgMzguNDgyIDM0LjYyQzM4Ljk0MiAzNC43MiAzOS41NDIgMzQuNzggNDAuMjgyIDM0LjhWMzZIMjkuMDAyVjM0LjhDMjkuNzQyIDM0Ljc4IDMwLjMzMiAzNC43MiAzMC43NzIgMzQuNjJDMzEuMjMyIDM0LjUgMzEuNTgyIDM0LjI5IDMxLjgyMiAzMy45OUMzMi4wODIgMzMuNjkgMzIuMjUyIDMzLjI3IDMyLjMzMiAzMi43M0MzMi40MTIgMzIuMTcgMzIuNDUyIDMxLjQyIDMyLjQ1MiAzMC40OFYxNi40NEgzMi4zMDJMMjQuMjMyIDM2LjNIMjIuMDEyTDEzLjY3MiAxNi40NEgxMy41NTJWMzAuMjdDMTMuNTUyIDMxLjI3IDEzLjU5MiAzMi4wNiAxMy42NzIgMzIuNjRDMTMuNzUyIDMzLjIyIDEzLjkxMiAzMy42NyAxNC4xNTIgMzMuOTlDMTQuMzkyIDM0LjMxIDE0LjczMiAzNC41MiAxNS4xNzIgMzQuNjJDMTUuNjMyIDM0LjcyIDE2LjIzMiAzNC43OCAxNi45NzIgMzQuOFYzNkg3LjczMjAzVjM0LjhDOC40NzIwMyAzNC43OCA5LjA3MjAzIDM0LjcyIDkuNTMyMDMgMzQuNjJDOS45OTIwMyAzNC41IDEwLjM0MiAzNC4yOSAxMC41ODIgMzMuOTlDMTAuODQyIDMzLjY5IDExLjAxMiAzMy4yNyAxMS4wOTIgMzIuNzNDMTEuMTcyIDMyLjE3IDExLjIxMiAzMS40MiAxMS4yMTIgMzAuNDhWMTguNDJDMTEuMjEyIDE3LjU4IDExLjE3MiAxNi44OCAxMS4wOTIgMTYuMzJDMTEuMDEyIDE1Ljc2IDEwLjg2MiAxNS4zMiAxMC42NDIgMTVDMTAuNDIyIDE0LjY2IDEwLjEwMiAxNC40MyA5LjY4MjAzIDE0LjMxQzkuMjgyMDMgMTQuMTcgOC43NDIwMyAxNC4xIDguMDYyMDMgMTQuMVYxMi45SDE3LjE1MkwyNC4xNDIgMzAuMzlIMjQuMjYyWiIgZmlsbD0iIzY2QUFEQSIvPgo8L3N2Zz4K" alt="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iNTEyIiBoZWlnaHQ9IjUxMiIgdmlld0JveD0iMCAwIDQ4IDQ4IiBmaWxsPSJub25lIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPgo8cmVjdCBvcGFjaXR5PSIwLjIiIHg9IjUiIHk9IjUiIHdpZHRoPSIzOCIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzOCIgcng9IjQiIGZpbGw9IiM2NkFBREEiLz4KPHBhdGggZD0iTTI0LjI2MiAzMC4zOUwzMS4xOTIgMTIuOUgzOS45NTJWMTQuMUMzOS4yOTIgMTQuMSAzOC43NTIgMTQuMTcgMzguMzMyIDE0LjMxQzM3LjkzMiAxNC40MyAzNy42MjIgMTQuNjYgMzcuNDAyIDE1QzM3LjE4MiAxNS4zNCAzNy4wMzIgMTUuODEgMzYuOTUyIDE2LjQxQzM2Ljg5MiAxNi45OSAzNi44NjIgMTcuNzMgMzYuODYyIDE4LjYzVjMwLjI3QzM2Ljg2MiAzMS4yNyAzNi45MDIgMzIuMDYgMzYuOTgyIDMyLjY0QzM3LjA2MiAzMy4yMiAzNy4yMjIgMzMuNjcgMzcuNDYyIDMzLjk5QzM3LjcwMiAzNC4zMSAzOC4wNDIgMzQuNTIgMzguNDgyIDM0LjYyQzM4Ljk0MiAzNC43MiAzOS41NDIgMzQuNzggNDAuMjgyIDM0LjhWMzZIMjkuMDAyVjM0LjhDMjkuNzQyIDM0Ljc4IDMwLjMzMiAzNC43MiAzMC43NzIgMzQuNjJDMzEuMjMyIDM0LjUgMzEuNTgyIDM0LjI5IDMxLjgyMiAzMy45OUMzMi4wODIgMzMuNjkgMzIuMjUyIDMzLjI3IDMyLjMzMiAzMi43M0MzMi40MTIgMzIuMTcgMzIuNDUyIDMxLjQyIDMyLjQ1MiAzMC40OFYxNi40NEgzMi4zMDJMMjQuMjMyIDM2LjNIMjIuMDEyTDEzLjY3MiAxNi40NEgxMy41NTJWMzAuMjdDMTMuNTUyIDMxLjI3IDEzLjU5MiAzMi4wNiAxMy42NzIgMzIuNjRDMTMuNzUyIDMzLjIyIDEzLjkxMiAzMy42NyAxNC4xNTIgMzMuOTlDMTQuMzkyIDM0LjMxIDE0LjczMiAzNC41MiAxNS4xNzIgMzQuNjJDMTUuNjMyIDM0LjcyIDE2LjIzMiAzNC43OCAxNi45NzIgMzQuOFYzNkg3LjczMjAzVjM0LjhDOC40NzIwMyAzNC43OCA5LjA3MjAzIDM0LjcyIDkuNTMyMDMgMzQuNjJDOS45OTIwMyAzNC41IDEwLjM0MiAzNC4yOSAxMC41ODIgMzMuOTlDMTAuODQyIDMzLjY5IDExLjAxMiAzMy4yNyAxMS4wOTIgMzIuNzNDMTEuMTcyIDMyLjE3IDExLjIxMiAzMS40MiAxMS4yMTIgMzAuNDhWMTguNDJDMTEuMjEyIDE3LjU4IDExLjE3MiAxNi44OCAxMS4wOTIgMTYuMzJDMTEuMDEyIDE1Ljc2IDEwLjg2MiAxNS4zMiAxMC42NDIgMTVDMTAuNDIyIDE0LjY2IDEwLjEwMiAxNC40MyA5LjY4MjAzIDE0LjMxQzkuMjgyMDMgMTQuMTcgOC43NDIwMyAxNC4xIDguMDYyMDMgMTQuMVYxMi45SDE3LjE1MkwyNC4xNDIgMzAuMzlIMjQuMjYyWiIgZmlsbD0iIzY2QUFEQSIvPgo8L3N2Zz4K" width="40px" /> Mattā€™s Mix Tape by Matt Tillotson

Untitled

Make it easier to work from anywhere by identifying ā€œgroundingā€ activities to help you maintain a sense of routine.

ā–ŖļøĀ Up at 6AM. Journal and writing time. Clear out Slack. Then a workout (lift or run). ā–ŖļøĀ Eating the same foods at lunchtime whenever possible.

More here.

</aside>

šŸ‘‰ T H E N O T I O N Z O N E

Untitled

Khe Hy of RadReads has just published the Notion For Business Ultimate Guide - a comprehensive free resource that guides you through the process of creating a company wiki, setting up a project and task management system, creating a CRM and all sorts of other stuff, in Notion.

Read it here and follow the link to be added to the waiting list to get all 17 templates.

Itā€™s hard to believe that all this is available for absolutely free, rather than being sold for $150 on Gumroad. But there you go.

šŸ‘‹ S O L O N G, N E R D S

Last week, a Minecraft YouTuber known as Technoblade died of cancer at the age of 23. I didnā€™t follow him but my kids did, and I found this video incredibly moving.

šŸ–‡ļø A L L T H E L I N K S

ARTICLES

NEWSLETTERS

OTHER STUFF


<aside> šŸ–‹ļø If you havenā€™t already subscribed, sign up here to receive more of this nonsense in your inbox every Sunday-ish.

</aside>

<aside> <img src="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/4d234c7e-ae6b-4beb-af25-e9f2d946774c/152573939-ink-sketch-lorgnette-1_2.png" alt="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/4d234c7e-ae6b-4beb-af25-e9f2d946774c/152573939-ink-sketch-lorgnette-1_2.png" width="40px" /> The Lorgnette is created in Notion by Jill Metcalfe. Come and say hello on Twitter.

</aside>