- Published on
[Blog Roundup] Favorite Posts from 2019
In a nutshell
- Thank you so much for reading!
- I rounded up some favorite posts. Did I manage to spread the gospel of systems thinking and Notion?
- Video editing is hard.
2019
There are only a few days left in 2019.
I’m still here doing what I always do: writing blog posts.
Thanks to all of you, blogging has become a regular habit and I’ve kept it up steadily since September 2019.
To everyone who shared thoughts or suggestions about the blog, thank you. I’m genuinely touched by how happy it makes me to know people are reading my words.
In 2020 I plan to add video on top of the blog. When that happens, please watch without asking, “Who on earth is this for?”
Recommended Posts
Let’s look back on 2019 by category. Turns out the topics are all over the place.
Philosophy
【Philosophy (Sartre)】When Systems Give Rise to Existential Anxiety
【Descartes】Whenever You Question the Obvious, Whisper “I Think, Therefore I Am”
We’ll start with philosophy. That’s what I wrote about early on. Launching a blog with philosophy articles—was I even trying to get page views?
I love both Sartre and Descartes, but if I have to pick, Descartes wins. “Discourse on the Method” is an absolute masterpiece.
Apparently these philosophy pieces have even built a tiny base of OG readers (even though I only started in 2019), so I’d like to keep them going quietly.
Next on my list is Erich Fromm’s “The Art of Loving”.
People have recommended it to me two or three times now, and I still haven’t read it, so I’d like to give it a try. Also, what exactly is the deal with recommending that book—it makes me blush, so please stop.
Onward.
Systems Thinking
The thinking framework of 2019 for me was definitely systems thinking.
【Systems Thinking】Why Do We Drink Too Much? Why Doesn’t Traffic Congestion Go Away?
【Systems Thinking】Why Do the Slightly-Competent Co-workers Quit?
【Systems Thinking】How Did Mercari Accelerate Its Growth?
【Systems Thinking】How to Turn a Weak Soccer Team into a Strong One
Everyone knows logical thinking, but systems thinking—focusing on the relationships between elements and second-order effects—is something every knowledge worker should learn in 2020.
Most of what I wrote draws on “Practical Systems Thinking” (Nobuaki Minato / Kindaikagaku-sha), although so far I’ve only touched on causal loop diagrams.
To see the rest, read the book—or stay tuned in 2020.
Notion
The other pillar is Notion, the lifehack tool that replaced Evernote for me. I started the free trial in August 2019 and it has become the hub of my knowledge base.
【Notion】【Includes a 1-Month Invite Link】Why I Recommend Notion over Evernote for Managing My Life
【Notion】The “Notion Beats Evernote” Series: Building a Book Review Gallery
【Notion】Evernote vs. Notion. Let’s Look at Templates.
【Notion】Evernote vs. Notion. You Can Run Legendary GTD in Notion.
Notion is getting pretty well known now, but back in August 2019 a lot of people were skeptical.
I wholeheartedly recommend it to today’s knowledge workers. For the record, I keep my blog ideas in Notion too.
Economics
Most of these posts were inspired by “Dangerous Marketing Lessons from a University of Tokyo Professor” (Makoto Abe / KADOKAWA), but I did write about markets more broadly as well.
【Transaction Utility Theory】Why Arashi Tickets Aren’t 100,000 Yen but Around 10,000
【Lemon Market】How Not to Get Scammed by a Programming School
【IKEA Effect】The Process of Baking a Cake Is the Tasty Part
【ZOZO】Reading Yahoo’s Acquisition of ZOZO through the Classic Market Text “The Market Is Alive”
I secretly love thinking about strategies for second- or third-place companies—the ones having a hard time. I even considered trying to save Ikinari Steak.
【Yahoo and LINE】The No-Side Phenomenon in Their Management Integration—A Game Change in Mobile Payments
【Ikinari Steak】Saving the Ikinari Steak Chain
Company Spotlights (Tokyo Disney Resort / Honda)
These are the most labor-intensive pieces and only resonate with the core readers. The series on building Tokyo Disneyland—like how Disney raised funds (and locked the designers in a hotel)—is wild, but the title “The Muddy Road to the Kingdom of Dreams” was so bland that the posts bombed.
【Tokyo Disneyland】Part 1 — The Muddy Road to the Kingdom of Dreams
【Tokyo Disneyland】Part 2 — Secrets of the Attractions
【Tokyo Disneyland】Part 3 — The Ideal State of Florida and Tokyo
I want to cover Honda more. I’m basically made of Soichiro Honda and Den Fujita (yes, pronounce it “Den”).
【Super Cub】A Super Cub Was Born Because My Wife Said Yes
【Book Review】The Strange Business Book by McDonald’s Japan Founder Den Fujita, “Jewish Business Practices Move the World Economy”
Goof-Offs (Product Picks / Dad Jokes / Meetings)
Sometimes I write silly posts. Product showcases are basically me waiting for someone to riff on them. Dad jokes will save the world, and everyone wants to look smart in meetings. The scary part of blogging is that it’s hard to tell how badly you’re bombing.
【Trackball Mouse】My Pick Is the Kensington SlimBlade, Also Used by Yasutaka Nakata
【Mobile Battery】A Cheero Power Plus 5 Premium 20000mAh That Charges a 15-inch MacBook Pro
【Dad Jokes】Dad Jokes Will Save the World
【Book Review】“100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings” (Sarah Cooper / Hayakawa Publishing)
2020
In 2020 I’ll probably move toward video. The hero image on this post is a promise that I’ll hustle on filming. Premiere Pro is tough, but look forward to it!