Growth can be found in unlikely places
“Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought.” – Albert Szent-Györgyi
Henry Ford was one of the key figures behind America’s industrial rise in the early 1900s.
He had a simple goal: build more cars, build them more efficiently, build them faster and at a lower cost.
But to do that, he needed fresh ideas, so he began looking for them. The automobile industry was in its infancy so the ideas may need to come from elsewhere.
So, Ford started looking outward.
He visited grain mills, breweries, meatpacking plants—any place doing large-scale production. He was in search of inspiration!
The meatpacking industry especially caught his eye. Their disassembly lines—where workers each had one job and repeated it with precision—stood out for their efficiency and flow.
Ford had a lightbulb moment. If meat factories could break down animals step by step, could he reverse that logic and build cars in a similar fashion? Piece by piece, step by step, with each worker focused on a single task?
That spark of inspiration became the moving assembly line.
This innovation would allow for the mass production of vehicles and over time the radical drop in the price giving ordinary people a chance of entering the market.
Ford’s idea would aid in the major development of industry in the U.S.A over the next century allowing it to become the foremost economic and military power in the world.
This week…
Tim Ferriss’ “Muse Business” Idea
At its core, Tim Ferriss’ concept of the “muse business” is about reclaiming your time and building true freedom.
The idea is this: create a small, low-maintenance online business that generates consistent, predictable income without demanding your full attention or constant involvement.
This isn’t about chasing rapid growth, managing a big team, or preparing for a high-stakes exit. The goal isn’t to scale it into a start-up empire or eventually sell it for millions. Instead, it’s about designing a business that quietly runs in the background of your life - efficient, simple, and reliable.
The focus is on creating something that supports your lifestyle rather than takes over your life. A muse business gives you the freedom to spend your time how you actually want to—travelling, exploring new interests, working on passion projects, or just slowing down. It’s a deliberate shift away from the typical hustle mindset, favouring autonomy over ambition for its own sake.
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The Ikea Effect
This cognitive bias refers to a deeper feeling of ownership over something when we are involved in some part or all of its creation.
Think of the satisfaction that washes over you when you stand up that IKEA bookshelf you put together yourself and start to add your books. The fact that you not only invested your time in choosing the bookshelf but in its actual assembly helped you foster a more emotional connection to it.
There are examples of this everywhere, business owners feel it about their company, homeowners about the house they helped design and put together, writers about the characters in the books they write as well as countless other examples.
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The Acquired Podcasts episode on IKEA
Another fine episode by Ben and David. I’ve listened to quite a few episodes since stumbling across the podcast a few months ago!
Book Recommendation…
The story of one man; Viktor Frankl and his experience as a concentration camp prisoner during WW2.
Frankl argues that meaning, not happiness, is what truly drives us. Even in the most brutal conditions, our ability to choose how we respond gives us freedom. This book doesn’t preach; it simply shows what resilience looks like when everything else is stripped away. It's tough, honest, and genuinely life-shaping.
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