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# #313 - You Already Had Them
- URL: https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/313-you-already-had-them/
- Published: 2026-10-19T05:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-19T04:59:59.000Z
- Description: Your values are not a discovery. They are sitting in decisions you made years ago.
- Author: Matt
- Tags: Newsletter

---

##### STUFF I'VE WRITTEN

- [You already had them](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/you-already-had-them/). Three decisions that look unrelated, and the one thing underneath all of them.
- Also this week: [Who is the machine working for?](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/who-is-the-machine-working-for/). My review of Cory Doctorow's new book, and the one question I now ask before handing anything to AI.
- From the Archive: [How to make good decisions. Start by building a good toolkit.](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/decisionmaking/). A toolkit for deciding well. Worth rereading once you know what you are deciding against.

##### STUFF I'M READING

- [A little thank you can go a long way](https://now.temple.edu/news/2026-09-23/little-thank-you-can-go-long-way-new-study-finds?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk). Leaders who say thanks get teams that notice, and thank, each other more.
- [Want to be a lifelong learner? Don't go it alone](https://psyche.co/ideas/want-to-be-a-lifelong-learner-dont-go-it-alone?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk). Most learning comes from peers. A study of apprentices in five trades found almost no teaching.
- [Set a goal](https://theantimba.com/set-a-goal?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk). Sam Parr works back from the three year goal to the next three months.
- [How to think clearly when everything feels like an emergency](https://bigthink.com/work-wise/how-to-think-clearly-when-everything-feels-like-an-emergency?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk). Urgency is a feeling, not a measure of importance. Sort decisions by whether they can be undone.
- [Delegation is an identity problem](https://inc.com/leigh-henderson/delegation-isnt-a-productivity-problem-its-an-identity-problem/91408924?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk). If being the one who handles everything is who you are, no system will make you let go.
- [Your most improbable life](https://kk.org/thetechnium/your-most-improbable-life?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk). Kevin Kelly on aiming to become the most improbable person you can be. Nobody can compete with you there.

##### STUFF I'M LINKING

- What made you happy today? [Let the world know with your own bird.](https://catchabird.com/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk)
- [Mechanical Pencil](https://mechanical-pencil.com/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk). Everyday objects taken apart and illustrated, from the Zippo lid to the click pencil.

**Finally.** [Destroy Any Website](https://destroy.spritefusion.com/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk). Type in any address and shoot it to pieces. Try your own site. 

****BELOW THE FOLD**  
  
****This week:** [Updates from the last seven days](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/weeknote/) and [This Week I Learned](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/twil/) you can buy and live in a UFO.   
  
****Journal prompt:** What was I protecting, every time? [Start writing](https://startwriting.now/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk).  
  
****Work with me:** I coach people at turning points in their career, from their first team to the leadership table. Every engagement starts with a free 30 minute Discovery Session. [Book one here](https://mattrutherfordcoaching.com/?utm%5Fsource=newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=below-the-fold).  
  
****Elsewhere:** [Website](https://mattrutherford.co.uk/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) · [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/matt.rutherford/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) · [Threads](https://www.threads.net/@matt.rutherford?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) · [Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/rutherfordmatt.bsky.social?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk)