This edition is brought to you by InFlow

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: Donna Karan

Donna Karan, born in 1948, is a renowned American fashion designer who revolutionized women's workwear. She started her career at Anne Klein, where she was fired after nine months but later returned. "The fashion world was something I was familiar with, but working with Anne Klein was rather difficult," Karan recalls. In 1985, she launched her own label, DKNY, focusing on practical yet stylish clothing for professional women. Her "Seven Easy Pieces" concept, which included a bodysuit, tailored jacket, and wrap skirt, became iconic. Karan's designs celebrate the female form, earning her the nickname "Queen of Seventh Avenue." Despite initial struggles, her brand grew into a global empire. Today, Karan continues to influence fashion through philanthropy and her Urban Zen lifestyle brand.

Key Lessons from Donna Karan:

• On going against the grain: "You know, you never want to do for a career what your parents are doing, so the last thing I wanted to do was to be in fashion."

• On having a positive lens: "Delete the negative; accentuate the positive."

Read More.

Company: Boeing

Boeing was founded on July 15, 1916, by William Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Initially named Pacific Aero Products Co., it was renamed Boeing Airplane Company a year later. Boeing, a timber entrepreneur, became fascinated with aviation after seeing a flying exhibition. He built his first plane, the B&W seaplane, with naval engineer George Westervelt. During World War I, Boeing supplied the U.S. Navy with seaplanes. The company's big break came in 1927 when it won a contract to deliver airmail. This led to the development of the Boeing 40, a plane that could carry both mail and passengers, marking Boeing's entry into commercial aviation. By 2024, Boeing had grown into a $70 billion aerospace giant.

Key Lessons from Boeing

• On vision: Don't limit yourself to your current industry. William Boeing saw beyond timber. He recognized the potential of aviation and pivoted his entire career. You might find your true calling in an adjacent field.

• On vertical integration: Control your supply chain. Boeing often acquired suppliers to ensure quality and reduce costs. In 1929, they even bought an engine manufacturer. Consider which parts of your production process you could bring in-house.

Read More.

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Accelerants

High-performance tool

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Scout Mindset

Scout vs Soldier Mindset

A soldier mindset encourages you to defend your positions at any cost.

A scout mindset helps you to recognize when you are wrong and seek out your blind spots.

Be the kind of person who welcomes the truth.

You'll be memorable.

Insights

Tactical reads

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> When examining technology's psychological impact
How Technology is Hijacking Your Mind — from a Magician and Google Design Ethicist (Read it here)

> When exploring cognitive biases in decision-making
Fat Thinking and Economies of Variety (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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