Everything, page 10
All 1,214 links from the newsletter, newest first. Page 10 of 25.
Links 451 to 500
Photoroom: Remove Unwanted Objects from Photos
Tool · photoroom.com · Issue #180
Photoroom's AI Retouch tool removes unwanted objects, people, text or watermarks from photos.
Summary
Photoroom's AI Retouch tool removes unwanted objects, people, text or watermarks from photos. Users select a photo and paint over the item, a process the company says takes about two seconds. Results download as PNG, JPEG or WEBP. The tool is aimed mainly at product and e-commerce images, and the web version is free to try, with paid API and Enterprise plans.
DrawingNow: Free Step-by-Step Drawing Tutorials
Tool · drawingnow.com · Issue #180
DrawingNow offers thousands of free step-by-step drawing lessons as video tutorials.
Summary
DrawingNow offers thousands of free step-by-step drawing lessons as video tutorials. Categories include cartoons, manga, animals, landscapes and abstract art, and a kids section targets learners aged 6 to 15. Each tutorial can be printed as a coloring page with explanations. The site is free to browse, and users can log in or sign up.
The Most Misunderstood Concept in Physics
Watch · youtube.com · Issue #179
A July 2023 Veritasium video, credited to Derek Muller and others, presents what it calls one of the most important yet least understood concepts in physics.
Summary
A July 2023 Veritasium video, credited to Derek Muller and others, presents what it calls one of the most important yet least understood concepts in physics. Its explanation draws on work by Carnot, Clausius and England on self-replication and dissipative adaptation, and seven physicists and researchers helped with the topic.
Counting in other bases follows one rule
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #179
Base 10 runs out of single numerals after nine, so ten uses a 1 and a 0
Summary
Counting in other bases follows the same rule: when you run out of numerals, you start again and double up digits.
Two speakers work through counting in bases other than ten. Base ten reuses its digits by adding a leading digit once it runs out of symbols, and the same logic applies to base five (digits 0 to 4) and base sixteen (0 to 9, then A to F). The exchange shows how the count rolls over in each base, with the sequence reaching 1A in base sixteen.
Key points- Base 10 runs out of single numerals after nine, so ten uses a 1 and a 0
- Base 5 has only 0 to 4, so the count doubles up digits after 4
- Base 16 adds A to F as six extra numerals, then doubles up digits too
How to sound more British
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #179
A short TikTok on how to sound more British.
Summary
A short TikTok on how to sound more British.
How to do extraordinary things
Short · instagram.com · Issue #179
A short Instagram post on how to do extraordinary things.
Summary
A short Instagram post on how to do extraordinary things.
Build buy-in in hallways before meetings
Short · instagram.com · Issue #179
Nemawashi means building coalitions outside the meeting room before presenting to leaders
Summary
Build buy-in in the hallways before meetings, and provide value to people rather than self-promoting.
The first part of a series on office politics introduces nemawashi, the practice of building consensus informally before a formal meeting. The speaker says to secure buy-in from people outside the meeting room so a proposal is already supported when it is presented. His second tip is to provide value rather than self-promote, for example by sharing documents or walking colleagues through a hard problem you solved.
Key points- Nemawashi means building coalitions outside the meeting room before presenting to leaders
- Self-promotion puts a target on your back, the speaker warns
- Share documents or walk teammates through the hard problems you have solved
Blockly: Visual Block-Based Code Editor Library
Tool · developers.google.com · Issue #179
Blockly is an open-source JavaScript library for building visual programming editors with drag-and-drop blocks.
Summary
Blockly is an open-source JavaScript library for building visual programming editors with drag-and-drop blocks. The documentation describes APIs, generators and integrations that let it fit into most platforms, and it is built so everyone can engage with visual code. The documentation comes from the Raspberry Pi Foundation, a UK charity, and the page says Google supports Blockly.
Wirecutter: In-Depth Product Reviews
Tool · nytimes.com · Issue #179
Wirecutter is a section of The New York Times that publishes in-depth reviews of a range of products.
Summary
Wirecutter is a section of The New York Times that publishes in-depth reviews of a range of products.
The 8 Lesser-Known Secrets of High Performers
Read · untetheredmind.co · 27 min · Issue #179
Alex uncovers the lesser-known secrets behind the success of high-performing individuals.
Summary
Alex uncovers the lesser-known secrets behind the success of high-performing individuals. The article presents eight of them.
AI, Machine Learning, Deep Learning and Foundation Models Explained
Watch · youtube.com · Issue #178
IBM Technology's Jeff Crume explains how artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning and foundation models differ.
Summary
IBM Technology's Jeff Crume explains how artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning and foundation models differ. The 2024 video traces how these fields developed and covers recent generative AI advances, including large language models, chatbots and deepfakes. It aims to clear up common misconceptions and shows how these technologies affect various fields.
Handle questions you cannot answer
Short · instagram.com · Issue #178
Start with a transition phrase instead of a go-to filler line
Summary
When you don't know an answer, use a transition phrase, explain your thinking briefly, then suggest next steps.
The speaker offers a three-step formula for replying to a question you cannot answer. Begin with a transition phrase, explain your thought process in a few sentences, then suggest next steps. He argues that this approach builds a stronger personal brand at work than stock phrases such as a plain "I don't know".
Key points- Start with a transition phrase instead of a go-to filler line
- Explain your thought process in a few sentences
- End by suggesting next steps, which the speaker says builds your personal brand at work
How to roll up sleeves
Short · instagram.com · Issue #178
A short Instagram post on how to roll up your sleeves like a pro.
Summary
A short Instagram post on how to roll up your sleeves like a pro.
AI can tailor a resume and LinkedIn message
Short · instagram.com · Issue #178
Upload the resume and job description, and ask whether you are ready to apply
Summary
An AI assistant can check your resume against a job, then draft a tailored LinkedIn message to the hiring manager.
The speaker outlines a resume workflow using an AI assistant called Genius Agent. Upload your resume and a job description, and it says whether you are ready to apply and which changes to make. Export the hiring manager's LinkedIn profile as a PDF to draft a connection message. He also recommends You.com for interview prep, which returns company research, practice questions and sample answers.
Key points- Upload the resume and job description, and ask whether you are ready to apply
- Export the hiring manager's profile to PDF and ask for a tailored LinkedIn message
- Ask for company research, practice questions and sample answers before interviews
EU Nutrition Complete Powder Meal Replacement List
Tool · buymeacoffee.com · Issue #178
Mateusz Worotyński's post, dated November 2024, announces a list of meal replacement powders with prices and nutrition details.
Summary
Mateusz Worotyński's post, dated November 2024, announces a list of meal replacement powders with prices and nutrition details. It is meant to help readers choose a suitable replacement. The post is shared through Buy Me a Coffee, which offers an optional tip to the author.
The One-Page Calendar
Read · bigthink.com · 10 min · Issue #178
Astrophysicist Ethan Siegel explains a one-page calendar that shows a whole year at once, so any date can be matched to its weekday by tracing a month along the top and a date down the side.
Summary
Astrophysicist Ethan Siegel explains a one-page calendar that shows a whole year at once, so any date can be matched to its weekday by tracing a month along the top and a date down the side. The author says the layout reuses from year to year, and the month placement follows a predictable pattern with only 14 possible configurations.
The True Scale of Modern Nuclear Weapons
Watch · youtube.com · Issue #177
Science Time explains that modern nuclear weapons are more powerful than those used in World War II, and even a few could cause catastrophic damage.
Summary
Science Time explains that modern nuclear weapons are more powerful than those used in World War II, and even a few could cause catastrophic damage. The video compares US, Russian and Chinese systems, including the B83, which it calls 80 times the Hiroshima bomb, and the Russian RS-28 Sarmat, which it says can carry up to 15 warheads. It concludes that in a nuclear war there are no winners.
Turn your handwriting into a personal font
Short · instagram.com · Issue #177
Choose a template for letters, numbers and symbols, then download it
Summary
You can turn your own handwriting into a personal font using a template, a tablet and an upload to calligrapher.com.
The speaker says a font can be made from his own handwriting using calligrapher.com. He downloads a character template, draws each letter, number and symbol in its own box on an iPad, and uploads photos of the sheet, and the site builds the font. Once installed, it works in video editing software. He presents it as a personal branding tool no one else has.
Key points- Choose a template for letters, numbers and symbols, then download it
- Draw each character in its own box, photograph it and upload it back
- Install the downloaded font file, and it works in any video editing software
Masks hide shame, so ask what they want
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #177
Shame creates cognitive dissonance, which pushes people to build a mask
Summary
Read people by asking what they want you to feel and notice, because masks conceal shame and discomfort.
The speaker suggests a quick way to read someone: ask what they want you to feel about them and what they want you to notice. This reveals the mask people wear, which the speaker says is built to conceal shame. Shame creates discomfort, and the mask follows from wanting to avoid that discomfort in front of others. The speaker also looks at a person's level of self-control.
Key points- Shame creates cognitive dissonance, which pushes people to build a mask
- The speaker also watches how much self-control a person shows
- The better you read people, the more loneliness, shame and suffering you see
A short take on healthy boundaries
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #177
A short TikTok about setting healthy boundaries.
Summary
A short TikTok about setting healthy boundaries.
Siblings never share the same parents
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #177
Parents show up differently for a female child than for a male child, the speaker says
Summary
Siblings raised in one house never get the same parents, because gender, birth order and sensitivity shape each child's experience.
The speaker says siblings never grow up in the same home, even with the same parents. A child experiences a parent as the parent shows up for that child, and parents respond differently to a daughter and a son because of cultural programming. Being born at different stages of the parents' relationship also matters, as do different sensitivities.
Key points- Parents show up differently for a female child than for a male child, the speaker says
- Siblings arrive at different stages of their parents' relationship and lives
- Different sensitivities mean the same parents are still experienced differently
Genially: Interactive Presentations and Learning Content
Tool · genially.com · Issue #177
Genially is a no-code web tool for making interactive content such as presentations, infographics, quizzes, games and escape rooms.
Summary
Genially is a no-code web tool for making interactive content such as presentations, infographics, quizzes, games and escape rooms. It offers an AI builder that creates content from a prompt, real-time co-editing, brand kits, live polls and analytics, plus thousands of templates. The site promotes it for education, business and marketing, and cites over 130 million creations. Sign-up is advertised as free to start, with paid plans listed separately.
TikTok Is Becoming a Job Board for Gen Z
Read · tubefilter.com · 18 min · Issue #177
James Hale of Tubefilter argues that TikTok is becoming a job board for Gen Z.
Summary
James Hale of Tubefilter argues that TikTok is becoming a job board for Gen Z. He cites a TikToker who applied for a media role and was later invited to interview after commenters vouched for her. Per Resume Genius, about one in five Gen Z workers say they have applied for jobs or landed interviews through TikTok. Hale speculates that the platform may add job-search features.
The Secret History of the Vatican's Wealth
Watch · youtube.com · Issue #176
FINAiUS, a channel where the creator researches, writes and produces documentaries alone, presents a film on the Vatican Bank, known as the IOR.
Summary
FINAiUS, a channel where the creator researches, writes and produces documentaries alone, presents a film on the Vatican Bank, known as the IOR. The video describes a web of hidden secrets, unexpected alliances and intriguing mysteries around the Church's finances. The description names God's Banker and The House of Rothschild as sources for the film. The video is free to watch, with optional Patreon support.
Suffering often starts real change
Short · instagram.com · Issue #176
He quotes an old saying: a fool takes no pleasure in understanding, only in his opinion
Summary
People rarely seek understanding for its own sake, and change often starts when suffering peels back a layer.
The speaker argues that most people are not interested in understanding others for its own sake, and quotes the saying that a fool takes no pleasure in understanding, only in expressing his opinion. Many do not notice this, running on autopilot. The speaker says people change when suffering peels back a layer and they seek someone who understands, though that does not mean they will care to understand in return.
Key points- He quotes an old saying: a fool takes no pleasure in understanding, only in his opinion
- People choose what to understand by what is in it for them, he says
- Someone suffers, a layer is peeled, and only then do they want to be understood
How perception can be manipulated
Short · instagram.com · Issue #176
A short Instagram post on the manipulation of perception.
Summary
A short Instagram post on the manipulation of perception.
A pitch works like a plot diagram
Short · instagram.com · Issue #176
Follow the order: big problem, the pain it causes, failed solutions, then your solution
Summary
A pitch works like a plot diagram: problem, pain, failed fixes, solution, success, then next steps.
The speaker adapts the plot diagram from high school into a pitch structure. The introduction states the big problem, the inflection point the pain it causes, and the rising action the failed solutions. The climax presents your solution, the falling action your early successes, and the resolution your next steps. The speaker illustrates this with a company that raised $1.7 billion.
Key points- Follow the order: big problem, the pain it causes, failed solutions, then your solution
- After the solution, show the successes, then close with the next steps
- The speaker illustrates this with a company that raised $1.7 billion from 2007
How your name shapes your life
Short · youtube.com · Issue #176
A YouTube video on how your name impacts your life.
Summary
A YouTube video on how your name impacts your life.
RANDOM.ORG: True Random Numbers Online
Tool · random.org · Issue #176
RANDOM.ORG provides true random numbers generated from atmospheric noise, which the site argues suits many uses better than pseudo-random algorithms.
Summary
RANDOM.ORG provides true random numbers generated from atmospheric noise, which the site argues suits many uses better than pseudo-random algorithms. Its free tools include number and list randomizers, password and string generators, game and lottery tools, widgets and an API. Prof. Mads Haahr of Trinity College Dublin built the service in 1998. Hosted draw and giveaway services are paid.
IFTTT: No-Code Automation Platform
Tool · ifttt.com · Issue #176
IFTTT is a no-code automation platform that links apps, services and devices through rules called Applets.
Summary
IFTTT is a no-code automation platform that links apps, services and devices through rules called Applets. Users pick a trigger and an action, or enable prebuilt Applets, and Chat Create builds automations from a text prompt. The platform lists more than 1,000 services, including Slack, Gmail, Google Sheets and Philips Hue. It offers a free sign-up, with paid Pro and Pro+ plans raising the automation limits, Pro+ without a cap.
How to Find Your Niche
Read · experimental-history.com · 50 min · Issue #176
Adam Mastroianni argues that everyone has a valuable place in the world, because humans occupy a cognitive niche they can customize in countless ways.
Summary
Adam Mastroianni argues that everyone has a valuable place in the world, because humans occupy a cognitive niche they can customize in countless ways. He names three reasons people fail to find theirs: local roles go unfilled as attention globalizes, finding a fit is treated as purely personal, and some believe a fit is impossible. The essay uses examples such as a professional bridesmaid and underwater pizza delivery.
How Generational Stereotypes Hold Us Back at Work
Watch · youtube.com · Issue #175
Leah Georges, a social psychologist, argues that assumptions people make about other generations, from the Silent Generation to Gen Z, can hinder work and communication.
Summary
Leah Georges, a social psychologist, argues that assumptions people make about other generations, from the Silent Generation to Gen Z, can hinder work and communication. The 11-minute talk, from May 2019, holds that people across generations are more alike than different. The description says she offers tactics for multigenerational workplaces. The talk is free to watch on YouTube.
Weekly short video exchanges deepen friendship
Short · instagram.com · Issue #175
The speaker and three friends send each other a Wednesday video every week
Summary
A weekly one-to-two-minute video exchange with friends keeps connection deeper than text messages.
The speaker describes the Wednesday Waffle, a one-to-two-minute video that they and three friends send each other every Wednesday, updating one another on the past week and what is coming up. The speaker says they have done it for a couple of years and values it as a deeper way to stay connected than texting. They encourage others to start one with their own friends.
Key points- The speaker and three friends send each other a Wednesday video every week
- They have kept it up for a couple of years, and he looks forward to each one
- The speaker suggests recording one for your own friends and seeing what comes back
Filling gaps with self-knowledge shapes how we see
Short · instagram.com · Issue #175
An actor from The Office is quoted explaining projection as the source of wrong assumptions
Summary
When we don't understand someone, we fill the gap with what we know about ourselves, so we see the world as we are.
An actor who played Andy Bernard on The Office says that when we don't understand someone, we fill the gap with what we know about ourselves. Rob Bell's idea that everything is a projection is cited, with the realization that the whole behind the parts makes divisions partly an illusion. They also quote Anaïs Nin: you do not see the world as it is, you see it as you are.
Key points- An actor from The Office is quoted explaining projection as the source of wrong assumptions
- Rob Bell is cited saying that seeing everything as one reveals divisions as partly illusion
- The speaker quotes a French novelist: you see the world as you are, not as it is
How to dry your pants
Short · instagram.com · Issue #175
A short Instagram post on how to dry your pants.
Summary
A short Instagram post on how to dry your pants.
The art of saying no
Short · reddit.com · Issue #175
A Reddit post on the art of saying no.
Summary
A Reddit post on the art of saying no.
Squoosh: Browser-Based Image Compressor
Tool · squoosh.app · Issue #175
Squoosh is a browser-based image optimizer that compresses images while keeping quality high.
Summary
Squoosh is a browser-based image optimizer that compresses images while keeping quality high. Users open an image, compare results across codecs and save the smaller file, with advanced settings for finer control. Processing happens locally, so images never leave the device. The tool is linked to a public GitHub repository under GoogleChromeLabs.
Taski: Decision-Making and Planning Tool
Tool · usetaski.com · Issue #175
Taski is a planning tool that helps users prioritize tasks and make personal or business decisions with built-in frameworks.
Summary
Taski is a planning tool that helps users prioritize tasks and make personal or business decisions with built-in frameworks. Its to-do lists work as checklists, and progress can be exported as an image, Markdown or a document for sharing. More features are planned. It is free for a limited time, and support is requested through donation links.
Craziest Scientific Discoveries You Missed in 2023
Watch · youtube.com · Issue #174
Sideprojects presents a roundup of scientific discoveries from 2023 that the video frames as ones viewers may have missed.
Summary
Sideprojects presents a roundup of scientific discoveries from 2023 that the video frames as ones viewers may have missed. The video, published in August 2023, is sponsored by Foreo, which promotes a discount on its BEAR product. The description also lists about ten other channels, including Biographics, Geographics and Today I Found Out.
Pause, slow down and think the one thing
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #174
Pausing before a complex answer slows the brain down and clarifies thinking
Summary
Pause, slow your speech, and think 'the one thing' under pressure to communicate more clearly.
The speaker offers three tips for communicating clearly. First, pause to slow the brain down before answering a complex question. Second, slow your speaking rate, since speaking too fast can signal nervousness. Third, when overwhelmed, take a breath and say "the one thing," which focuses the mind on distilling what matters into a clear message.
Key points- Pausing before a complex answer slows the brain down and clarifies thinking
- Speaking too fast can signal nervousness, so slow your rate of speech
- In overwhelm, breathe and say 'the one thing' to distill your thoughts
Some quotes to think about
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #174
A short TikTok collecting a few quotes to think about.
Summary
A short TikTok collecting a few quotes to think about.
Infectious positive energy comes with follow-through
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #174
They do what they say they will do and avoid constant victim talk
Summary
People with infectious positive energy follow through, focus on what they can do, and give others full attention.
The speaker says researchers have found consistent traits in people others love being around. Such people follow through on what they say, avoid endless complaining, and focus on what they can do. They give full attention, which means putting the phone away, staying open-minded, and listening even to opposing views. They also validate others' perspectives.
Key points- They do what they say they will do and avoid constant victim talk
- They are present, put the phone away, and stay open to opposing views
- They validate others, which the speaker says shapes how people feel around them
Outlook search folders gather emails without moving them
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #174
A New Search Folder for emails with attachments keeps the messages in the inbox
Summary
Outlook search folders collect chosen emails in one place without moving them out of the inbox.
The speaker shows how to create Outlook search folders, which collect emails matching set criteria without moving them out of the inbox. Examples include all emails with attachments, and a custom search folder that gathers all emails from a specific sender. The custom option lets you choose which folders to search and set criteria such as text, subject, recipients, or dates.
Key points- A New Search Folder for emails with attachments keeps the messages in the inbox
- A custom search folder can collect every email from one chosen sender, such as a boss
- Choose which folders to search, then set criteria like text, subject, sender or dates
Say I understand, then ask an open question
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #174
Repeat their point in your words, like 'money is an important factor for you'
Summary
Answering an objection with an answer shuts down learning, so say 'I understand' and ask an open question back.
The speaker says the habit of answering questions, drilled in at school, undermines persuasion, since objections such as "it's too expensive" rarely reveal the real issue. Their method, which they call Aikido, is to say "I understand," reflect the point back in your words, and ask an open question like "What other criteria will be used in taking this decision?" They say this takes practice, because emotion shuts down thinking.
Key points- Repeat their point in your words, like 'money is an important factor for you'
- Aikido means moving toward the objection to see the real need behind it
- The habit takes repeated practice, since years of school trained us to answer questions
Goblin.tools: Small Helper Tools for Overwhelming Tasks
Tool · goblin.tools · Issue #174
Goblin.tools is a collection of small tools for tasks that feel too big or complicated.
Summary
Goblin.tools is a collection of small tools for tasks that feel too big or complicated. Magic ToDo breaks a task into subtasks, Formalizer changes the tone of text, Judge reads a text for emotion, Compiler turns a brain dump into actions, and Estimator guesses how long an activity takes. The site describes itself as kept free by sponsors, with optional donations, optional accounts and a mobile app priced at $2.99.
Journaling: Get Started the Easy Way
Watch · youtube.com · Issue #173
Carl Pullein presents journaling as a life-changing habit that can improve mental health and preserve a life story.
Summary
Carl Pullein presents journaling as a life-changing habit that can improve mental health and preserve a life story. The 12-minute video explains how to get started. Pullein, who makes productivity content, links to a free productivity course, a free Areas of Focus workbook and a weekly productivity email. He also recommends notebooks and fountain pens, and links a paid Time and Life Mastery course.
Ignore small expenses, raise investing by 1 percent
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #173
Start by investing 5 to 10% of net income, the speaker recommends
Summary
Skip agonizing over small expenses; one yearly rule to raise your investment rate by 1% is worth far more.
The speaker argues that small expenses like coffee matter less than a few big financial decisions. They suggest couples talk about their savings and investment rates, starting at 5 to 10% of net income. Their rule is to raise the investment rate by 1% every December, which the speaker says could be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Key points- Start by investing 5 to 10% of net income, the speaker recommends
- Raise that rate by 1% every December, and it adds up to hundreds of thousands
- Most people who stop buying coffee don't know where the saved money went
An eight-step routine for anxious tasks
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #173
Wake an hour before the screen, make tea, and list three to five anxious tasks
Summary
An eight-step routine picks one anxious task and blocks two to three hours of focus on it.
The speaker shares an eight-step process for doing the right thing. It starts by waking an hour before screen time, then writing three to five of your most anxious or uncomfortable items on paper. For each, ask whether finishing only that would make the day satisfying. Choose one of the yes items and block two to three hours for it, returning gently when distracted.
Key points- Wake an hour before the screen, make tea, and list three to five anxious tasks
- Keep only the tasks that would satisfy you if they were the day's only win
- If you get distracted, gently return to your one to-do, not spiral
Affinity maps get a whole room aligned
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #173
Spotify's design team starts with user talks, market research and written notes, the speaker says
Summary
An affinity map sorts messy research into buckets, getting a whole room on the same page.
The speaker describes affinity mapping, a design method for sorting messy input such as pain points, feature ideas, and feedback into buckets. They credit Spotify's design team with a similar process, starting with user conversations and market research. The speaker uses affinity maps to get a room on the same page, and mentions a free resource on eight sense-making tools.
Key points- Spotify's design team starts with user talks, market research and written notes, the speaker says
- Affinity maps group pain points and feature ideas into organized buckets
- The speaker credits this kind of process with Spotify reaching over 100 million subscribers
Improving 1 percent a day compounds
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #173
A Stanford PhD friend told him 1% daily improvement compounds over 365 days
Summary
Improving 1% a day compounds to about 37 times better in a year, a calculation that got the speaker started.
The speaker recalls a Stanford PhD friend from the early days of Uber Eats who said improving by 1% a day makes you about 37 times better after a year. Checking the math, 1.01 to the power of 365 is about 37. The speaker says this gave them the push to take first steps on their current business, and encourages steady daily improvement toward daunting goals.
Key points- A Stanford PhD friend told him 1% daily improvement compounds over 365 days
- The speaker calculates 1.01 to the power of 365 as roughly 37
- The math gave him the courage to take the first steps on his current business