Iterate Weekly - Issue 79
This week we're looking at Tesla's Optimus Robot, single-purpose devices, the history of the treadmill, the return of Boo Buckets, and the story of Mike Tyson!
Welcome to issue 79 of Iterate Weekly!
Just a reminder that you can always reply to this email or leave a comment on the web version. I read all of them, and I appreciate the feedback, questions, and insights from all of you.
Let’s jump into this week’s stories.
🤖 Tech
Meet Tesla’s Optimus Bot
You know that I’m sucker for all news stories about robots. I’ve written before about these odd machines that are about the size of a small human and hope to alleviate manual labor and medial tasks that humans no longer want to do. It seems like any tech company worth its salt will be promoting some type of robot in the not too distant future.
Well, Tesla’s Optimus bot is progressing nicely and may be ready for prime time in a few years.
Tesla has teased their robot in the past (it was actually just a guy in a suit), but this time the real deal was shown off to a live audience. Optimus is 5-foot-8, weighs 125 pounds, can walk five mph, and lift up to 150 pounds. Sounds like a fairly ambitious teenager if you ask me.
All jokes aside (and jokes are extremely easy with humanoid robots), Elon Musk is hoping that Optimus is the answer to global labor shortages and could make it easier to provide a universal living wage. Hmmm, I don’t necessarily see that happening right away but kudos to Elon for his ambition.
Want to get your hands on one of these droids so you can make it do your bidding? The bad news is that it will likely cost about $20,000 at launch. The good news is that you will likely have about ten years to save up for it before it’s available. And it’s actually hard to tell if $20K is even that expensive for something like this. If it delivers on all of its promises, it almost seems like a bargain at the price of an entry-level sedan.
Do you think that you will own a robot like Optimus within the next decade? Do you want one?
🎓 Education/Productivity
Single-Purpose Devices
I’m a huge fan of new Medium CEO Tony Stubblebine’s writing. A few weeks back, I mentioned him in my story about the future of Coach.me and Tony seems to be easing nicely into his new CEO role while still regularly contributing to several Medium publications.
Anyway, I wanted to highlight a recent piece that Tony penned about the importance of single-purpose devices.
We’re talking about the opposite of the Swiss army knife you see above. Tools that do one thing and only one thing well.
The Kindle is a great example. Yes, technically there are Kindle apps for your computer and your phone, but the reading experience on a dedicated e-reader like a Kindle is just better in my mind. You know that when you pick up your Kindle you are only doing one thing…reading. No videos, no pictures, no chatting, just reading.
Tony also touches on some other physical devices that you may not have considered to be “single-purpose.” Your bed for example shouldn’t be used as a desk. Using it solely for sleep helps to get you in a better night time routine. Certain chairs can be used for certain types of work. You may have a dedicated work computer and a dedicated tablet that’s just meant for fun.
You get the point. I’m a big believer of this concept and am always looking for new single-use devices that can make my positive habits easier to achieve and eliminate any unnecessary stress.
Are there any other good examples of single-purpose tools in your life?
♻️ Health & Environment
History of the Treadmill
If you’re a runner, I highly suggest subscribing to Sam Robinson’s Breakfast Club Newsletter.
Recently, Sam shared a great exploration of the history of the treadmill.
The humble treadmill has become one of the most common exercise machines on the planet. Nearly all modern workout facilities have one. And yet, they all mostly look the same right? Sure, there have been subtle upgrades, but compared to other gym equipment, it still feels downright quaint.
But did you know that the earliest treadmills were actually a source of punishment for prisoners?
In 1818 an English engineer proposed placing prisoners on treadmills as treatment for idleness and to generate productive work. Convicts were forced to trod on a series of steps attached to a circular frame of wood and iron. As they stepped, their body's weight caused the mill to turn, cranking whatever device was attached and compelling the inmate to keep taking steps.
Shifts could last up to six hours—15 minutes on, 5 minutes off, essentially a long interval workout. Prisoners climbed up to 8,500 feet in a day.
The treadmill slowly morphed from torture device to useful fitness gadget during the industrial revolution. To this day, they almost feel like a status symbol of sorts. They show that you’re serious about your physical health while also letting people know that you have enough leisure time to devote to this particular exercise. Plus, they’re usually just pretty expensive machines.
For what it’s worth, I don’t think I’ve run on a treadmill more than a handful of times since living in California. Running outdoors is always my preference and the weather typically cooperates. But maybe I’m due for a treadmill session sometime soon just for nostalgia’s sake.
Can you imagine what the prisoners of yesteryear would say if they saw our treadmills just hanging out in our basements, garages, and spare bedrooms?
Are there any other former punishment devices that we have lying around in our homes?
🛍 Grab Bag
McDonald’s Boo Buckets
With Halloween just around the corner, I thought I’d have some fun chatting about retro Happy Meal toys for just a second.
Yes, you may have heard the rumors too. It seems that McDonald’s is bringing back its beloved Halloween Boo Buckets.
Don’t worry, if you didn’t grow up in America in the late 80s/early 90s, I can give you a quick lesson. McDonald’s Happy Meals were typically served up in crappy little cardboard boxes folded into a house shape. But during the ghoulish holiday season of October, the meals were placed in the fantastic Boo Buckets you see above. Then you could of course re-use the buckets to store all of that sweet trick-or-treat candy you’d be getting on Halloween night. It’s fun for the kids and good for the environment!
There were a few variations but the trio was usually a pumpkin, a witch, and the incredibly superior glow-in-the-dark ghost. If you really want to dive deep (and you should) the fine folks at Nightmare Nostalgia have put together a timeline of the Boo Buckets over 35 years.
Let’s be real, I haven’t eaten at a McDonald’s in probably 20 years and these buckets aren’t going to make me start. But this story still gets me excited. I have many fond memories of these buckets as a kid. They signify the Halloween season like nothing else. And just look at those designs! So simple, yet so beautiful. A real work of art.
If you find yourself near a McDonald’s this month, maybe just peek in and see if you can score a Boo Bucket. Tell them to keep the food and just cut them a deal for the brightly colored plastic container.
Anyone else have fond memories of Boo Buckets?
💬 Quote of the Week
"Everyone has a plan 'till they get punched in the mouth."
-Mike Tyson
📺Content Recommendation
Mike
Last week I told you about Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers and wouldn’t you know it? Hulu sucked me into another one of their sports pseudo-documentaries.
I’m recommending Mike a very fascinating retelling of Mike Tyson’s life.
I thought I new quite a bit about the rise and fall of one of the biggest athletes/celebrities of the 80s and 90s, but I learned a ton from this show. Just to be clear, this apparently wasn’t authorized by Iron Mike himself. All of the characters are played by actors, some liberties may have been taken with some of the actual events. But that’s usually what makes these things so darn entertaining!
The series follows the structure of Mike Tyson’s actually one-man show. You see him on stage basically just telling the story of his life with the help of some slide show photos. And it’s certainly an eventful life at that. Tyson was probably the most recognizable/popular man on the planet for a stretch in the late 80s. He was also maybe the most hated/divisive man in America during a much-publicized rape trial and suspension for biting another man’s ear while in the boxing ring.
If you’re a boxing fan or just lived through the pop-culture sensation that was Mike Tyson, you should watch this show. There are eight relatively short episodes that you can breeze through.
And on side note, recently my company worked on a sponsorship on Mike’s latest endeavor The Hotboxin’ Podcast. Consider it a bonus recommendation if you want to see what Mike is up to these days.
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Thanks for reading, I’ll see you next week!
P.S. - Are you looking for a coach? I’m looking to work with some potential new clients and would love to help you out. Are you struggling with screen addiction? Need some help building positive habits or ditching negative ones? Iterating on a new business idea and need some guidance? If you’d like a free 30-minute consultation chat, feel free to book some time with me here!