Structured Thinking

Structured Thinking I came across The Classical Mind Substack article by chance, and it was such a pleasure to read. I’ve always been interested in this topic, as I’ve long felt that my note-taking skills were, at best, subpar — especially when it came to truly benefiting from my notes later on. I constantly faced the dilemma of making them either too extensive or too concise. Most of the time, I couldn’t properly use my notes and had to return to the original source just to make sense of them. Reading this article felt like seeing all the struggles I’ve experienced over time clearly identified and thoughtfully explained through the different methods presented. The “Classical Notes” sheet, in particular, made perfect sense to me. I strongly relate to the method and its approach, and it convinced me that this is something I should genuinely try. I’ve now subscribed to the Substack, and I’m confident you’ll find something valuable in it as well.

- Pedro

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The Birth Equation

The Birth Equation A good friend recently drew my attention to a website that offers a simple exercise — yet one with many layers: If you were born again, how would your life change on average? Every minute, 251 people are born around the world. Spin the globe and see where you might be born — and you’ll begin to understand what your life could look like in terms of: 1-Life expectancy 2-Child mortality 3-Median income 4-Expected years of schooling 5-Passport power 6-Democracy index Then compare those figures with what you can expect by living in your own country. Sounds like a simple exercise? Now start peeling it like an onion. Reflect on each of these dimensions and the dynamics behind them. It will make you pause and think about many things we often take for granted. I hope you enjoy this simple yet powerful exercise as much as I did. https://www.givingwhatwecan.org/birth-lottery

- Pedro

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Europe’s AI Opportunity: From Regulation to Execution

You don’t have to be America or China to win in AI, says Rishi Sunak https://www.economist.com/by-invitation/2025/07/16/you-dont-have-to-be-america-or-china-to-win-in-ai-says-rishi-sunak From The Economist “As work by Jeffrey Ding of George Washington University shows, the countries that benefit most from these technologies are not necessarily the ones that develop them first, but the ones that adopt them most widely.” I couldn’t agree more with Rishi Sunak’s vision. In this new AI-driven world, the winners will not simply be the inventors — they will be those who adapt fastest and integrate the technology most effectively. It is, in many ways, a 21st-century version of Darwinism. Not survival of the strongest, but again the survival of the most adaptable. Those who integrate this new paradigm into their day-to-day lives — individuals, companies, and nations — will be the ones who succeed. And in this context, Europe has a real opportunity to position itself far more strongly in the emerging global order than many assume. I am often reminded of a quote from a McKinsey presentation on AI implementation in the corporate world: “For every dollar you spend on technology, you should spend five on change management.” Technology alone is not transformation. Adoption is. Culture is. Leadership is. There are rare moments in history that fundamentally reshape the next 50 years. We are living through one of them. Building on the path outlined by Sunak, Europe should focus above all on implementation. Regulation matters — but it must remain a support function, not the driving force. If the legal and regulatory mindset becomes the primary lens through which we approach AI in Europe, we risk missing a historic opportunity. This is not just about competitiveness. It is about rebalancing global power, strengthening Europe’s voice, and increasing the wellbeing of all Europeans. Being proud that our regulation sets the benchmark is not enough if, at the same time, we inadvertently limit our own capacity to innovate and scale. The time to think strategically is now. Let’s not waste it. (text revised by a llm)

- Pedro

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Resilience at Europe’s Edge

An interesting article by Euronews on the economic growth of the Iberian countries — Portugal and Spain. While their performance is not extraordinary, they can still be considered relative outliers within the European context. It’s encouraging to see this development in Iberia. At the same time, it serves as a cautionary reminder of how subdued and fragile growth remains across much of the rest of Europe. If you’re interested in the topic, follow the link below. (text revised by a llm) https://www.euronews.com/business/2026/01/30/why-are-spain-and-portugal-growing-twice-as-fast-as-the-eurozone

- Pedro

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The Path That Is Most Right

“…I have always taken the path that feels most right. The result is never in question for me — only the path you choose to get there. And there is always one that is most right….” The 2014 film A Most Violent Year was a pleasant surprise. It’s a finely crafted movie built around a compelling storyline and richly developed characters. The film immerses you in the business entanglements of a newcomer trying to establish himself in a highly consolidated industry, crowded with players tied to New York City’s criminal underworld. If you’re looking for a strong story, excellent performances, and sharp dialogue, look no further — this is a film well worth your time. (text revise by a llm) https://www.primevideo.com/region/eu/detail/0RE7FX2RDNWT1KHVKZB26OO03M/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r

- Pedro

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When Reality Outdoes Dystopia

Reality sometimes surpasses the most extreme far-fetched dystopian novel.... "If he does the job that he's capable, we can grow at 15%. I think more than that." https://x.com/FoxNews/status/2021195305354428607?s=20

- Pedro

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AI False Positives: Signal vs. Noise

AI is everywhere. In a business context, it feels like every 50 words you read or write, “AI” shows up. But is everything really AI—or are we stretching the term beyond usefulness? This is where the book AI Snake Oil seems valuable. It helps distinguish between what is genuinely pushing the frontier—truly transformative, domain-shifting work—and the vast majority (probably 80%+) of so-called “AI,” which is often just existing tools repackaged under a shinier label: econometrics, statistics, optimization, rules-based systems, and the like. I’ve added the book to my wishlist. Before you decide for yourself, you can also listen to this podcast with the author, which offers a solid preview of the argument. https://podcasts.apple.com/es/podcast/thinkers-ideas/id1450867110?i=1000679081055

- Pedro

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