Kevin and Yana have a 1:1 every week. Somebody forgot to make it private. Again.
This week started with both of us convinced it was Thursday. It was Tuesday. Kevin was proud he at least got the first letter right. Yana was ready to throw in the white towel by minute two. Things only got more dramatic from there.
What you’ll overhear:
Europe is on fire, and the elites have tickets. The French are rioting again, but this time Yana thinks it’s not theater. Meanwhile Macron is dancing at a Céline Dion concert. In fairness, the tickets were non-refundable. What was he supposed to do?
The 4% tea tax. Americans once fought a revolution over 4% on tea. Europeans now pay 60% income tax plus 24% VAT and respond with “OK, cool.” Today’s version of revolution would be a Lipton logo with a line through it in your Instagram bio. Brave.
Sanctions package number 67. This is the one that will finally break down the Russian economy. Or so they hope.
Pareto was not a math guy. Turns out the 80/20 rule comes from a sociologist who thought 80% of people are followers. He didn’t say “NPCs”, but he meant it.
Kevin vs. the condo board. 22 yes or no votes. 6 hours. 3 votes done. One neighbor’s cousin Marshall had feelings about parking. Kevin grabbed the mic. Nobody cares what Greta in 7B thinks, and if they say they do, they’re lying to your face.
Why Yana doesn’t work with big banks: “By the time they decide to hire me, I already hate them.”
The black coffee cup story. Kevin gives a friend advice. The friend ignores it, then follows it, then explains it back to Kevin as his own genius idea a month later. Every consultant alive just felt that.
How to kill your darlings. When do you quit a project, and when are you giving up too soon? Fail fast, don’t marry the idea, and pivoting isn’t quitting. Also: two years, a €37 workshop, one Thanksgiving in Costa Rica, and €12,000 in three days.
The stretch goal. Why we both do what we do: people should own their money, and no bank, regulator or passport office should get a vote.
We were an hour and four minutes in before either of us noticed. Sorry to whoever had the next call.
Your turn: what’s the hardest thing you ever killed? Or the thing you should have killed six months ago and still haven’t? Tell us in the comments. We’re eavesdropping.
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