Mark Zuckerberg on learning through facing challenges, productivity tips, and Uber's first pitch deck

Welcome back to the Z Fellows newsletter! Every Monday we share 3 ideas - to help you build companies, ship products, and create your life's work.

1: Mark Zuckerberg on learning through facing challenges

While reflecting on the journey of building Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg shared a powerful insight on how leaning into challenges rather than avoiding them forged his values and helped him build a successful company:

“I think you learn what matters to you, what's important, and your place in the world through repeatedly hitting your head against different challenges.

I think that that is the journey. That's the entrepreneurial journey. It's also, I think, part of the beauty of building things.

This is something that Jensen talks a lot about too. I feel like when you go to start a company, everyone writes down what they would like their values to be. But values are not what you write down on the wall. It's your lived behaviors. 

You only really learn what you care about when you have to make hard trade-offs and face challenges. You learn the most important things through facing challenges.“

Source: The Mark Zuckerberg Interview by Acquired Podcast

2: Productivity tips from the world’s leading expert

Ali Abdaal is the world’s leading productivity expert, who offers evidence and anecdotal tips for enhancing your productivity and creativity workflows:

1. Allow your mind to wander - “Albert Einstein often credited his theory of relativity to moments of daydreaming during his regular walks, and J.K. Rowling came up with the idea for Harry Potter while stuck on a delayed train.”

2. Take regular breaks - “Pushing through without pausing often leads to diminishing returns. You end up working harder but getting less done.“

3. Get outside - ”Spending time outdoors, especially in green spaces, can improve creative thinking by as much as 60%.”

4. Green your space… - “Companies that made the leap and introduced biophilic design into their office quickly noticed the effects. Amazon’s Seattle office, The Spheres, is a good example. It’s packed with 40,000 plants, has treehouse meeting rooms, and feels like walking through a rainforest.“

5. Or change your space altogether - “Some of the world’s most creative minds know the power of a new environment. J.K. Rowling wrote parts of Harry Potter in various cafés around Edinburgh.“

6. Listen to music - “Music with moderate ambient noise, like instrumental tracks or nature sounds, can boost performance on creative tasks.“

7. Build creative rituals into your daily routine - “Establishing a creative ritual helps create the space you need to innovate.“

8. Go on artist dates - “Once a week, carve out time to do something just for yourself—something that’s fun and stimulating. It could be as simple as visiting a museum, trying out watercolours, or knitting a scarf for your niece.“

9. Work with other inspiring people - “Steve Jobs was known for his walking meetings, believing that walking led to his most creative ideas.“

10. Use your hands - “Physical activities give your mind space to wander, letting you approach problems from a different angle.“

11. Add constraints - “One of the best examples? Dr. Seuss. When challenged to write a book using only 50 different words, he came up with Green Eggs and Ham, one of the bestselling children’s books of all time.“

Source: How To Boost Your Productivity and Stay Creative by Ali Abdaal

3: Uber's first pitch deck

Best of The Week

See you next Monday,

- The Z Fellows Team

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