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I don’t know all the ways to get our good intentions unblocked. That’s why, whenever I spot someone changing the world via a righteous road less taken, I write it down on a little list. I glance at that list from time to time as a way of expanding my imagination, and now I’m sharing it in the hopes that it’ll do the same for you.

First of all, there’s something to be said for the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi—embracing authenticity and appreciating things for being unique and imperfect. A rare, well-worn leather jacket from the 1970s is a hell of a lot cooler than a brand new one from a standard label bought at a department store, right?

The Japanese approach to cherishing and maintaining one’s possessions—a concept known as mono wo taisetsu ni (cherish your things)—ensures that vintage luxury pieces are often in excellent condition. This cultural respect for belongings translates into a robust market for vintage luxury, where the condition of items remains paramount.

A place is not the sum of the projects and missions unfolding within it. It is about life itself unfolding in a fuller way, dominated mostly by activities that are not comprehended by the logic of specific missions or even the positive sum of all the missions.

my goals of buying things of quality and character, objects with a story to tell

How to Win Friends & Influence People. Essentially, the book can be summed up into five simple steps:

1. Pay someone a genuine compliment. It has to be sincere. It can’t be a fake compliment. 

2. Ask them a question about their favorite subject, which is typically something about themselves. And then just listen, listen, listen, and listen until they’re done talking. 

3. Try and quickly assess their needs.

4. If you were trying to sell something or get something from someone, consider a trial close. Give the person a chance to either lean in or opt out. 

5. Close. The only difference between four and five is the word if in form. 

Every writer who chooses to write in English as opposed to their mother tongue, every filmmaker who leaves their country for Hollywood, every founder who creates a business in the US instead of their own country, may be making an excellent decision from an individual point of view. They are likely to gain more personal influence that way. But they’re also increasing the influence of globalized American culture more than they are helping their own home culture.