Monday Inspiration (December 2023): Writing to think, embracing mediocrity and a beautiful Beatles cover

It’s been just over a year since ChatGPT burst into the public consciousness and had such a seismic impact on everything we talk and think about in the world of marketing:

Over the last 12 months it’s been difficult to miss the optimism, gloom, apathy and opportunism of AI. Yet despite all the noise, we’re starting to get a sense of where we really are. I thought this tweet/ X from Derek Thomson summarised research on the short-term effects of generative AI on employment nicely:

1. ChatGPT is already nibbling into (freelance) white collar work
2. As for mass disemployment fears: it’s best at discrete tasks, whereas most jobs are task bundles
3. It’s much better at levelling up low-performers than creating hyper-geniuses

What else caught my attention in November? Here are a few things that might offer some? inspiration for you too:

Writing to Think | Farnam Street

The advance of AI has made many people question the point of writing articles, reports, case studies and summaries. Why bother writing long-form yourself when you can get a machine or chatbot to do it for you? The reason is this: the act of writing forces us to think.?

“Writing is the process by which you realize that you do not understand what you are talking about. Of course, you can learn a lot about something without writing about it. However, writing about something complicated and hard to pin down acts as a test to see how well you understand it. When we approach our work as a stranger, we often discover how something that seems so simple in our heads is explained entirely wrong.”?

Perfectly Mediocre | Sideways?

The concept of ‘perfection’ is often associated with something positive. It’s why it’s one of the most popular answers to the classic interview question “What would you say is your biggest weakness”? To answer that you’re a perfectionist can only be a good thing, right? After all, who doesn’t want to strive for the best.?

But research by Dr Thomas Curran, author of The Perfection Trap and assistant professor of psychological and behavioural science at the London School of Economics, indicates that it can be quite the opposite. Starving for perfection can lead to anxiety, procrastination and depression.

In this episode of Sideways, Matthew Syed explores the virtues of embracing mediocrity and getting comfortable with being ‘average’. Instead of aiming for perfection all the time, we should learn new things and invest more time enjoying new experiences. Whether we’re good at them or not, this can help trigger neural plasticity and help strengthen our brains!?

Now and Then | Beatles cover by the Dimker Brothers?

I mentioned last month my excitement at the first new Beatles song since 1995: Now and Then. Over the last month there has been (another) newfound interest in the Beatles, which is great even for lifelong Beatles fans like me because it provides lots of great insight and inspiration.?

I’ve especially enjoyed some of the covers of the Beatles’ latest number 1 song and this version by the Dimpker Brothers is beautiful.