Hello Reader from Austin, Texas.

I finally got COVID! Notes on that at the end. And I'm going to Mexico City for a few days soon.

In this issue: the best LLC to get for a small business, a good show on Netflix, news about friendships, how to recruit more and better people at your company, inspirational quotes, and a bunch more.

Why you’re getting this: I'm Nick Gray and this is my Friends Newsletter. I send this every month to interesting people I’ve connected with and friends I want to keep in touch with. You can un-subscríbe any time and I won't be mad. I won't even be notified!

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Random Links

✏️ What’s the best LLC for a small business?​

Stripe Atlas is good if you plan to raise VC, but I think most people should just make a simple LLC in the state that they live. Here's an article I wrote 2 years ago about the research I did, what I found, and who I used to make my new LLC. Not sponsored, no affiliate, just seemed helpful to share.

✨ Magic for Humans on Netflix​

I have not seen it yet, but from a friend: "This show on Netflix instantly makes me feel good. If you’ve been feeling sad and need a dopamine uptick, this is gold." via my friend Aditi who makes good candles

🤗 How to Have Fun Again ​

An illustrated article from the NYT. "These days I'm more inclined to stay on the couch than rally for an adventure."

🧠 How to triple your employee referral rates, by Sequoia Capital​

Think: “At your last company, if you needed something done last-minute, who was your go-to person?” Article via Mitchell Cohen that talks about how companies can use questions like this to encourage employee referrals to help fill their candidate pipelines.

👶🏻 Reviews for what your kids are into (before they get into it)​

Have kids? This site was recommended on a great podcast (All In). "Reviews for what your kids are into (before they get into it)" Trusted ratings created with families in mind.

🎙️ My podcast episode with Debra: Sh*t I Wish I Knew In My Twenties​

I met Debra 10 years ago when I complimented her dress at Whole Foods in Union Square. She's a TV news reporter and recently interviewed me for her new podcast.

👥 How to Make, and Keep, Friends in Adulthood​

NYT: "A friendship expert shares strategies for finding connection in a lonely, disconnected world." via Lisa Sammataro

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Epic Collection of Quotes

I put all of my favorite quotes into this blog post on my personal site:​

• ​Business Quotes​
• ​Inspirational Quotes​
• ​Love and Relationship Quotes​
• ​Good Ideas and Clear Thinking​
• ​Funny Quotes​

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Most Popular Links

These are some of the most popular links from my last newsletters.

✅ Real Money, Fake Musicians: Inside a Million-Dollar Instagram Verification Scheme​

Ever wonder how some people get verified on Instagram that seem… fake? Here’s how one jeweler paid $25k to turn himself into a fake musician to get verified on Instagram.

🧬 How to effectively wrap a charging cable​

This is legit. "Using this quick and easy method, your cords and charging cables will stay wrapped, won't get tangled, and are very easy to unwrap."

💡 Top 50 productivity hacks chosen by the Internet​

This is "a crowdsourced list of the 50 best productivity hacks." Currently at the top: Shower in the morning. Don't multitask. Get some movement before doing work. Turn your habits into a game. Don't oversleep. Set up a separate profile on your computer to do focused work, and more! via recomendo

💔 Men have fewer friends than ever, and it’s harming their health​

Vox says that the “male friendship recession” is having dire consequences.

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Quotes

"The young man knows the rules, but the old man knows the exceptions."​
​— Oliver Wendell Holmes

Warren Buffett posed a question at the 2002 annual shareholder meeting: "Imagine you offered a 17-year old a free car, any car they wanted. But the caveat was that it had to last them a lifetime..." continued in Sieva's post here, very good thought exercise​

Regarding the phrase "she's a bit much" --

"You mean like a bonus french fry in the bottom of the bag? Like a champagne shower? Like triple texting good news? Like buying coffee for the person behind you in line? Or did you mean 'a bit much' like an unexpected upgrade to business class / or theme parties / or the band pretending to go off stage and then coming back for an unforgettable encore? Perhaps you were referring to that thing of being astonished by a sunset / or how puppies flop around when they learn to run / or the way some people take karaoke really seriously? Maybe you just meant sprinkles / confetti / balloon drops / witty comebacks / generous tips / fireworks / waterslides / serotonin / cherries on top / and the fact that maybe we were put on this planet simply to enjoy ourselves? Then yes, I agree — she is a bit much. Aren't we so lucky she's here?"

Lyndsay Rush as quoted via swissmiss

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The End

Thanks for reading my Friends Newsletter. Here are some personal updates from me:

COVID: I finally got COVID last week! After 2+ years of hosting parties, flying around, and being very social. This was my first time getting it. I got infected from one of my best friends as I drove her home in my car (with the windows up! and no ventilation!). I was lucky. It wasn't bad at all. Just felt like a cold: a lot of sneezing, runny nose, a bit of low energy, and a noticeable increase in appetite. My wearables showed a 1.8F temp spike the first night. I think I'm fine now? Happy to have those healthy antibodies. More notes on my Twitter here about my experience.

Upcoming Travel: Mexico City, Nov 12-15th with friends on a group trip. Then Denver, Nov 23-25 for Thanksgiving.

OK! Have a great rest of your week.

🤠 Nick Gray

p.s. Here's the About Me on my website if you forgot who I am. We met [HOWWEMET GOES HERE].

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