Welcome back to the 1st Law Newsletter - Friday Edition.

In this email:

• The timelessness of advertising

• The social self

• Quote on comparison

The timelessness of advertising

Technology changes, mediums evolve, designs become more refined, but advertising remains a constant force in our lives. Despite the shifts in how ads are delivered—from print to radio, television to digital—the core principles of advertising remain. This is because humans consistently respond to the same emotional triggers. We desire what is new, exclusive, easier, safer, and better. Appeals to these instincts will always resonate with us.

Other psychological tricks include appealing to:

• FOMO with exclusive deals and timely offers.

• Social proof by displaying testimonials and reviews showing other people have benefited.

• Scarcity by presenting limited and rare products that not everyone can have.

These tactics exploit our natural tendencies and desires, making us more likely to act.

In essence, while the tools and techniques of advertising may change with time, the psychological triggers remain the same. Advertising continues to influence us by appealing to our basic emotions, ensuring its timeless relevance. Keep this in mind as you go through your daily life. How are the ads appealing to your needs and desires? How often do you fall for it? What can you do to resist?

The social self

Personality, derived from the Latin word "persona," means mask or to play a role.

As young children, before we have developed social personalities, we are still the pure essence of ourselves. Untainted by societal influences, we crave simple things like food and our mother's attention. But as we grow and enter the social realm, we start learning from others, imitating behaviors, and trying to blend in. We begin to adopt ideas about what is good or bad from those around us. We don’t want to stand out or seem unusual.

Over time, the essence of who we truly are gets buried under these social pressures and ideas. We start wearing masks, aka personalities. Teenagers often experiment with different personas, trying to see what works. But as we age, our chosen/ most common masks become more ingrained. We all know someone with a permanent frown or a fixed, fake smile— their mask has become their face.

To reconnect with our true essence, we must recognize the masks we wear. Understand that while we can't ignore social norms, we can be aware that these masks exist. However, be cautious about trying too hard to seem genuine; even this can be a form of acting. Striving to be something specific can also become a mask.

Ideas from Invest Like The Best podcast feat. Robert Greene

Quote I Want To Share

I remind myself of this often. It's easy to get caught up in comparing myself to others, but that is not a game I like to play. I focus on my own growth and compare myself only to my past self. I am happy for others and their success, but I strive to keep envy and jealousy at bay.

Thanks for reading!

Lucas