How to understand more deeply

In this issue: how to understand more deeply, the freelancer's brain, the other side of fear, and the problem with listening to win

PJ Milani
September 03, 2024

🤔 INTERESTING

Visual metaphor illustration by milaniCREATIVE showing the depth of understanding achieved through reading, doing, and teaching. The image compares the number of books on shelves, with more books representing greater understanding through doing and teaching compared to reading alone…with the most understanding coming from teaching.

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Teaching others teaches yourself.

Chinese proverb

📐 DESIGN

My thoughts from a Q&A on freelancing as a career:

I get asked a lot about freelancing (which is different than running a service business). Freelancing is a viable means to make a living, but it can be quite stressful and I wouldn’t recommend it as a long term career. It’s a great start to build your skills and get the creative reps, but with the mindset to find a transition out of it as quickly as possible.

P.S. I’m trying this video excerpt format out. Would love to know your thoughts!

If you have any specific design questions, please shoot me a reply to this email and I’ll add it to the running list!

🔮 ENCHANTING

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Everything you've ever wanted is sitting on the other side of fear.

-George Addair

Let's walk through that curtain.

🧠 ANALOGY

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When you talk, you are only repeating

what you already know.

But if you listen, you may learn something new.

Dalai Lama

Inspired by Carolyn Coughlin, co-founder of Cultivating Leadership

🤓 WHAT I’M RE-READING NOW (listening)

“Making Numbers Count” by Chip Heath & Karla Starr

One of the must-reads I recommend to students who are interested in thinking more visually is “Making Numbers Count” by Chip Heath & Karla Starr. It’s changed the way I think about how to convey numbers. I’m listening to the audiobook this week to refresh a lot of the golden nuggets.

Specifically, that all numbers should be translated for the human mind to understand it. “If you want to help people understand quickly, define your new concept in terms of something your audience already knows.”

For example compare:

“40% of U.S. adults do not always wash their hands after using the bathroom at home.” [abstract]

with

“2 out of every 5 people you shake hands with may not have washed their hands between using the toilet and touching your hands.” [concrete]

Eek. That second one is maybe TOO concrete! 😆

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