Issue #197 | Subscribe

Around last year, I came across a non-popular version of comparison in the book Big Feelings.

Previously, I had always viewed comparison as something to be avoided at all costs. But this book had me rethinking whether that was entirely helpful.

In Liz and Mollie's own words:

“Comparison can teach you what you value: you’re more likely to feel intense admiration when you see someone doing something that you want for yourself—even if you haven’t consciously allowed yourself to want it.”

The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that this is a better interpretation than the popular one.

Whenever I read about someone running a thriving small business — online or offline — I admire that person because I want to be there one day. That's the kind of lifestyle I value immensely.

Now, I know there are dark sides to comparing your life with others because it can send you down a spiral of shallow keeping up with the Joneses habit.

You know, that urgent desire to buy a new car, new clothes, etc., immediately after seeing a post from a friend or a popular figure on Instagram.

But wielded to our advantage, comparison can help us distinguish the signal from the noise and shape our future goals.

Think about it.

P.S.:- This year, I published 13 well-thought-out pieces spanning across stories, experiments, workflows, and processes with Hulry Plus members on the blog.

If you haven't had the chance to sign up for Hulry Plus, this is a great time to join the community.

I'm working on new articles that I'll gradually publish for members throughout the next year.

The membership is still available for a one-time joining fee to keep it accessible. I look forward to having you onboard.

Now, before you move on to the rest of this newsletter issue, here are a few words from:

This Week's Sponsor

Your own personal boardroom, on demand.

The Pocket Advisory Architect GPT creates a custom group of advisors — from strategists to creatives to archetypes — tailored to your work, goals, and growth edges.

Clearer thinking, fewer blind spots, better decisions.

Sponsorships are paid callouts seen by over 4,310 people every Friday. Promote your product or service.

Your Next Read

Biography

I Deliver Parcels in Beijing

This book will give you a close-up glimpse into the life of a gig worker. Though based in China, I think the story is the same everywhere, especially in Asia.

Apps & Services

Walk Mate

Generate random walking paths around your block

Whether you go out for daily runs or occasionally step out to explore your neighbourhood, this app will generate random, circular routes for you to try on your next walk. You can choose your difficulty level for more personalised routes. Available on iOS and is free to start.
Index for ChatGPT

A floating table of contents in ChatGPT

When chats in ChatGPT become too lengthy, they can be cumbersome to browse and follow. This extension automatically creates a clickable table of contents for your chats, making it easy to jump across sections. Available on Google Chrome for free.
ClipBook

A clipboard history manager for your Mac

Clipboard history apps have become an indispensable part of my workflow. I use Paste, and it’s one of the subscriptions I get the most value out of, but if you’re looking for a subscription-less alternative, this app is it. Available on macOS for a $9.99 one-time fee.

Handy Shortcut

⌘

Shift

8

Zoom into the selected area of a photo in the macOS Preview app.

Interesting Reads

28 Pieces of Productivity Advice I Stole From People Smarter Than Me

8 min read

I’ve read my fair share of productivity advice over the last decade or more, but I still found some good tips in this brief collection. Especially this one: “I think Tucker was the guy I stole listening to the same song over and over from. It lets you space out and get into the zone (or flow state).”
The Privacy Nightmare of Browser Fingerprinting

11 min read

Internet activity tracking has become so sophisticated that it’s nearly impossible to completely avoid any sort of tracking while browsing the Web. This article is a crash course on how modern tracking systems work, and a few ways to reduce your digital footprint.
Seeing Like a Software Company

17 min read

I’ve long wondered why large corporations I’ve worked at had numerous processes to do even the simplest thing. It slowed down work and created unnecessary overhead. This post explains the structure. While written from a software engineering perspective, the core ideas are relevant across other organisations.
What Your Cheap Clothes Cost the Planet

16 min read

Before you go on a shopping spree this holiday season, take a few moments to consider whether high-quality and long-lasting clothes would serve you better, both financially and ethically, over dirt-cheap alternatives.

Watch Next

This nerve-wracking yet exhilarating video of a person skiing down Mt. Everest is the ultimate “push beyond your comfort zone” statement.

Want to join my inner circle?

Join a club that pays you back handsomely through knowledge and skills that help you get 1% better every day.

For a one-time fee, yes, not a subscription, you get:

Become a Member