Paul Millerd: Solitude and Leadership, Lie Factory, Talent Myth, Corporation History, Mediocre Man
Our curator this week is Paul Millerd (@p_millerd). Paul is the author of The Pathless Path, a self-published book exploring alternative approaches to work and life that has sold over 65,000 copies and been translated into six languages. Before going independent, he spent a decade in strategy consulting at McKinsey and BCG. He's been walking his own pathless path for eight years now.
Please enjoy these words that have mattered to Paul.
Paul's Picks
Solitude & Leadership
I've re-read this essay at least once a year since I first found it. Deresewiecz's call for solitude is even more important in 2023.
The Lie Factory
An entertaining telling of the origins of political consulting and how one firm worked with the American Medical Association to turn public sentiment on universal healthcare from highly favorable to highly unfavorable.
David Whyte on On Being
One of my most-listened to podcasts, with Krista Tippett and David Whyte.
The Talent Myth
In my brief stint working in an executive search firm, helping companies select CEOs and executives, I was shocked at how little anyone seemed to know or be curious about how to select talent.
A Brief History Of The Corporation - 1600-2010
Venkatesh Rao's early writings on organizations and work more broadly were a big influence in my own writing and thinking about my career.
You And Your Research
A speech by Richard Hamming talking about what it takes to do great work and his observation that there is often a disconnect between scientists identifying the most important problems in their field and actually setting up their lives to work on it.
Spotlight on Paul's Work
The Pathless Path
"What I really liked about this book is that it is the opposite of what I anticipated: it has zero hacks or to-do lists. Paradoxically, it has a more methodical, applied method toward reinventing yourself and your career than I have read about anywhere else."
Playing the Self-Publishing Game
A 73-slide deck about the lessons learned self-publishing The Pathless Path.
The Way of Mediocre Man
A provocative essay. You may or may not embrace its message – indeed, you may reject it – but it will make you think hard about your values.