Description: Andrew Osei (Founder of BIGSIX MEDIA and NAV BRANDING) reflects on the complex, codependent concepts of passion and compassion in his personal essay, "The Compassion Hypothesis." He breaks down the three core definitions of passion (Emotion, Love, Suffering) and links them to his experience managing bipolar disorder. Through candid, anecdotal accounts, Osei confronts his "impenetrable" emotional skin and the difficulty of truly 'suffering with' others, relating his emotional defence mechanisms to the Roman soldiers in The Passion of the Christ. The essay concludes with a look at how deep-seated pain and trauma have forced him to build personal "walls of Jericho," defining a philosophy of fierce loyalty and equally fierce retribution.

Key Takeaways:

Themes: Mental health, bipolar disorder, self-reflection, spirituality, trauma, compassion, personal philosophy, self-critique.

Description: Andrew Osei (Founder of BIGSIX MEDIA) sits down to reflect on his 26th birthday and the unexpected journey that led him to entrepreneurship. He shares how his father—a man who journeyed from Ghana to Sierra Leone to start a bakery business and more—instilled an entrepreneurial spirit and the value of market research. This episode explores the "divine intervention" and opportunities found on the uncertain, yet rewarding, path of a creative entrepreneur, contrasting it with the traditional route of higher education.

Key Takeaways: Market research through observation; finding your true calling outside of traditional paths; the enduring influence of family on career choices; and the blessings found in uncertainty.

Themes: Entrepreneurship, family legacy, career pivot, self-discovery, resilience, and creative industries.

Description: Andrew Osei (Founder of BIGSIX MEDIA and NAV BRANDING) documents his multi-month journey of existential reflection, moving from questions about a well-spent youth and entrepreneurial success to his ultimate purpose. He explores the pursuit of serenity versus happiness, the disillusionment of the "hedonic treadmill" as described in the book of Ecclesiastes, and the complex influence of his father's altruism. The entry concludes with his definitive goal: "To be Net Positive"—a commitment to giving time, energy, and money to others.

Key Takeaways: The difference between chasing serenity and pursuing fleeting happiness; the vanity of achievement without contentment; the search for purpose beyond business success; the profound influence of a father's legacy; defining life's purpose as being "Net Positive."

Themes: Existentialism, entrepreneurship, self-reflection, spirituality, father-son relationship, altruism vs. reciprocity, and the search for purpose.

This First Episode of the Mastermind's Journal is all about the intentions we set and the desired outcomes we have in mind. This recording of a journal entry I wrote on September 6th, 2024, details my journey in trying to restore a broken relationship with my father by giving in to his demands. Do you think it backfired? Give it a listen and find out.