Erick Widman

Immigration lawyer, father of three kids, 20+ years married to my amazing Hungarian wife, alpha dog to my vizsla.

[Erick Widman @erickwidman]

@marcportermagee @AlexNowrasteh @grok How will this impact the economy of states with low enrollment?

[Erick Widman @erickwidman]

@chrisfralic I heard he also drove a beater civic to stay under the radar.

[Erick Widman @erickwidman]

“Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working".

—Pablo Picasso

Via @CloudCult newsletter this week.

[Erick Widman @erickwidman]

I think I have unreasonable, insatiable cravings for joy that can make day to day life dissatisfying. But then I remember we humans are high maintenance because we were designed to live off infinite fuel.

[Erick Widman @erickwidman]

I listened to a talk by Eric Schmidt and he summarized nicely why social media is so toxic: it maximizes revenue by maximizing outrage.

[Erick Widman @erickwidman]

Szilvi the vizsla is very serious about daily exercise.

[Erick Widman @erickwidman]

On a walk today I saw a huge hawk circling, looking for something to eat. Nature is brutal: the hawk and family will die if it can't drop at crazy fast speed and eat a mouse (or similar), which is also fast. Yes being a human is hard but we've got it easier than all other creatures.

[Erick Widman @erickwidman]

Google's AI offerings have become the default at our law firm. Since we already have our email and documents (securely) on Google Enterprise "Gmail" and Google Drive, this has helped the AI integration work smoothly for us.

[Erick Widman @erickwidman]

After twelve months reading a few pages a night (sometimes when I couldn’t sleep at 3am) I finished Tolstoy’s War and Peace last week.

I’m persuaded the world would get along better if we take time to appreciate every country’s best art.

[Greg Siskind @gsiskind]

Congrats @USCIS. You'll be current on I-601A waiver cases in ten years at this pace! Side note - What happened to your promise at the HART rollout a year and a half ago to have processing times down to 12 months within a year?

[Erick Widman @erickwidman]

@AliAbdaal I just downloaded your book on Audible. Am looking forward to listening to it!

[Erick Widman @erickwidman]

@goaniniceland @hubermanlab @Cernovich This was my family’s favorite breakfast place growing up. Great memories - esp the coffee cake.

[Erick Widman @erickwidman]

@elonmusk Naturalized Americans - like my wife - are often the most patriotic citizens of the US. Immigrants found companies and create jobs at a much higher rate too. And with baby boomers retiring en masse we need immigrants to fill key positions.

[Erick Widman @erickwidman]

@FitFounder I’m finally going to try taping after your great post here and reading about it in “Breath” book by Nestor. And since Erling Haaland does it that’s the clincher.

[Erick Widman @erickwidman]

@TaylinSimmonds Free - thanks

[Codie Sanchez @Codie_Sanchez]

Peter Thiel founded:

• PayPal
• Palantir
• Founders Fund

& was the first outside money in Facebook.

Here are 7 of his best ideas:

1. Zero to One

In a world where many iterate, Thiel emphasizes originality.

Moving from nothing to something, from 0 to 1, creates unique value.

Are you or truly innovating, or merely improving?

The pioneers get the most. The imitators share the scraps.

2. Contrarian Thinking

Yep, Peter Thiel's also a contrarian.

He believes in going against the grain — questioning prevailing notions.

He likes to ask: Where might the majority be overlooking or misjudging?

Hidden paths often lead to untapped treasures.

3. Definite Optimism

Don't just hope for a better future — plan for it.

Most hope & dream, then wonder why they don't get anywhere.

You need a plan – a blueprint:

• Have a clear vision for your future.
• Reverse-engineer how you'll get there.
• Execute.

Simple, not easy.

4. Competition is for Losers

Being the best in a crowded market? Meh.

Dominating a niche you've carved? Gold.

Monopolies aren't about crushing competition. It's about being so unique, competition becomes irrelevant.

Stop comparing. Start creating.

5. Power Law Dynamics

In the startup world, a few companies outperform all others.

And in venture, these investments generate the lion's share in returns.

• Do your research
• Find outliers
• Make sure you're part of them

Go deep, not wide.

6. The Importance of Secrets

Thiel believes every great business is built around secrets – a truth few people see or acknowledge.

Ask yourself: What important truths do very few agree with me on?

Find these and double down on them.

This is where outsized returns lie.

7. Skepticism about Formal Education

Thiel questions the value of higher education.

He even has a Thiel fellowship where he gives $100,000 to young visionaries who want to build rather than sit in a classroom.

Challenge norms.

Find your own path to wisdom.

Thanks for reading. If you liked this, follow me @Codie_Sanchez for more on business & contrarianism.

[Erick Widman @erickwidman]

@BethMooreLPM Am currently listening to the excellent biography of Benjamin Franklin by Isaacson. Fascinating and entertaining.

[Ryan Holiday @RyanHoliday]

“If a person gave away your body to some passerby, you’d be furious. Yet you hand over your mind to anyone who comes along, so they may abuse you, leaving it disturbed and troubled—have you no shame in that?” — Epictetus

[Tim Ferriss @tferriss]

“Above all, do not lose your desire to walk: Every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness; I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it.” — Søren Kierkegaard

[Erick Widman @erickwidman]

@marshal Thanks for sharing - it’s funny I just realized my mother in law from Hungary lives with us half the year and does the same thing (though I better not call her our personal chef…)