I almost didn’t get the newsletter out this week.
The world is a very different place since I last wrote to you. For all of us, but also especially for my family, as we welcomed into the world a beautiful boy, Leo Barry.
What a time to be born.
I almost didn’t get the newsletter out this week, because we’re all hands on deck learning how to care for the little guy, but also because of what’s going on out there. If we’re being honest with ourselves, we’re all a little uncertain. Scared even. Yes, life must, and is, moving on. But things are different. In my note to you this week I want to reflect on the good kind of different. I’ve also shared some helpful links I came across this week in case you find something in there that helps you through this time.

A good kind of different
As millions of people discover what it’s like to work from home for the first time, a few obvious benefits are emerging to me:
- Things are slowing down.
- Gone is the frantic pace that starts with the morning commute and ping-pongs at an exponential pace from meeting to meeting.
- We’re spending more time with our loved ones.
- Parents are homeschooling their kids. Families are cooking dinner together. Everyone has more time connecting in person instead of via text message or phone.
- We’re learning.
- My wife and I are learning how to care for a newborn. Others are learning new meals to cook, or even how to cook at all. Still others are learning how to exercise at home, or how to amuse a family without relying on too much TV. We’re all learning better hygiene. All of these things will serve us well when the virus is conquered.
- We’re being inspired.
- The nurses and doctors that cared for my wife brought home for us the special kind of human it takes to live (risk) their life to care for others. Italians are singing from their balconies to raise each other’s spirits. People are donating food and wages to laid-off or at-risk workers who don’t have the luxury of working from home. All these acts inspire us to be better.
We’re still nowhere near the end of this, and things may get worse before they get better. But they will get better. And when they do, here’s hoping a few of these changes are here to stay.
Till next time, stay safe.
Andrew
A COLLECTION OF COVID-19 RESOURCES
Educate yourself
- This excellent podcast special episode from Shane Parrish and Balaji Srinivasan covers everything from the origin of the virus to the 2nd and 3rd order consequences.
- This absolutely fascinating Twitter thread documents the real-time spread of the virus from Wuhan, to Thailand, and beyond. It starts back in mid-January.
- This heavily shared and read article educates us on why you should act now.
- Latest data on COVID-19 shows how it impacts kids and pregnant mothers from Emily Oster.
- This Twitter thread speculates on the possible economic impact of the virus.
Food & Fitness
- South Africa’s premier kitchen and homeware store Yuppie Chef is offering their Online Cooking School bundle free for the next 30 days.
- With gyms and fitness studios shutting down, working from home also means exercising from home. Exercise app Fitbod has released all their body weight exercises for free till May 1st. Click here on a mobile phone to access.
Looking after kids
- The website School Closures is providing guidance to parents while their children remain at home.
- Want to teach your kids how soap can help protect them? Show them this visually powerful demonstration.
- For older kids, arguably the best YouTube channel to learn math, also has a great video on exponential growth and how epidemics spread.
Helping others
- You can support your local restaurant through Give Local, which makes it easy to buy gift cards. Restaurants get cash now, when they need it most. You get to have a delicious meal later, once it’s safe to do so.
- 19 other causes combating corona for us all to support
Working from home
- In need of some deep focus to avoid the disruptions at home? Check out Clem Leek for the most relaxing music on the planet (seriously, this helped my wife through labor). If you want something a little harder to power through those spreadsheets, try this Deep House playlist.
The lighter side
- For all those March birthdays (my son included), this one’s for you.
LONGER FORM ON THE BLOG
- How VR and AR Can Improve Skill Training
- A longer read on what the future of corporate training could look like for more people than we thought a few weeks ago.
- Seven essays to improve your thinking in 2020
- If you find yourself with a bit more time on your hands, these 7 essays I read last year may inspire you, or at least help you pass the time.
- Power skills for the future of work
- Remote work is the new normal. Here are 10 skills you and your team may need more going forward.
This email newsletter was originally shared with subscribers on March 19th, 2020. To receive the latest newsletters twice a month, sign up below!