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Good morning to all new and old readers! Here is your Wednesday edition of Faster Than Normal, exploring one short story about a person, a company, a high-performance tool, a trend I’m watching closely, and curated media to help you build businesses, wealth, and the most important asset of all: yourself. 

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Today’s edition:

Cheers,
Alex

P.S. Send me feedback on how we can improve. I respond to every email.

Stories of Excellence

Person: Barbra Streisand

Barbra Streisand is an American entertainment icon. Born in Brooklyn in 1942, she rose to fame in the 1960s as a singer and actress. Her career spans over six decades. She's won numerous awards, including Emmys, Grammys, Oscars, and a Tony. Streisand has sold over 150 million records worldwide. She's known for her powerful mezzo-soprano voice and her roles in films like "Funny Girl" and "Yentl". Streisand is also a director and producer. She's been a vocal advocate for various causes, including women's and LGBTQ+ rights. "I've always had the courage to stand up for what I believe in," she once said. At 81, Streisand remains active in the entertainment industry and philanthropy.

Key Lessons from Barbra Streisand:

• On self-belief: "I am simple, complex, generous, selfish, unattractive, beautiful, lazy, and driven." Streisand's unwavering confidence in her abilities propelled her to success.

• On perfectionism: "I've been called many names like perfectionist, difficult and obsessive. I think it takes obsession, takes searching for the details for any artist to be good." Her attention to detail set her apart in her field.

Read More.

Company: Qantas

Qantas, Australia's national airline, was founded on November 16, 1920, in Winton, Queensland, by World War I veterans Hudson Fysh and Paul McGinness, along with grazier Fergus McMaster. Initially named Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Limited, the company began as an air mail service between outback towns. With £6,370 of initial capital, Qantas operated its first passenger flight in 1922 using an Avro 504K aircraft. Fysh, a former Australian Flying Corps lieutenant, served as the company's first general manager, while McGinness, his wartime comrade, became the chief pilot. By 1929, Qantas had expanded to operate the Royal Flying Doctor Service, solidifying its role in connecting remote Australian communities.

Key Lessons from Qantas

• On branding. Create a strong national identity. Qantas has become synonymous with Australia itself. They've leveraged their "Spirit of Australia" slogan to build deep emotional connections with customers. Your brand should evoke a sense of belonging.

• On partnerships. Collaborate strategically. Qantas' alliance with Emirates allowed them to expand their network without massive capital expenditure. Look for symbiotic relationships in your industry.

Read More.

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Accelerants

High-performance tool

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High-context vs low-context

The concepts of high-context and low-context cultures were developed by anthropologist Edward T. Hall. In high-context cultures, communication relies heavily on implicit understanding and context. In low-context cultures, communication is more explicit and direct. "A high-context communication or message is one in which most of the information is either in the physical context or internalized in the person," Hall explains.

Understanding these differences is crucial in our globalized world. It can significantly impact business communication, negotiations, and marketing strategies across different cultures.

Are you operating in a high-context or low-context environment? How might this affect your communication strategies?

Insights

Tactical reads

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> When exploring the power of reading
The Reading Obsession by The Art of Alchemy (Read it here)

> When making critical leadership decisions
A Leader’s Guide To Deciding: What, When, and How To Decide (Read it here)

1 question

That’s all for today, folks. As always, please give me your feedback. Which section is your favourite? What do you want to see more or less of? Other suggestions? Please let me know.

Have a wonderful rest of week, all.

Recommendation Zone

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I’ve personally used Athyna and recommended them to my Brother, Will, who runs a fashion label, and several close friends running their own businesses. To date, they’ve all had very positive experiences.

If you’re in the market for talent, visit their website to explore options and cover all your hiring needs.

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Alex Brogan

Find me on X, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok

Offshore Talent: Where to find the best offshore talent. Powered by Athyna.

Why Faster Than Normal? Our mission is to be a friend to the ambitious, a mentor to the becoming, and a partner to the bold. We achieve this by sharing the stories, ideas, and frameworks of the world's most prolific people and companies—and how you can apply them to build businesses, wealth, and the most important asset of all: yourself.

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