Music of the Week
Christopher Stapleton is a country singer-songwriter and guitarist from Kentucky. He dropped out of Vanderbilt to pursue a music career and has not looked back since. His music blends the genres of country, soul country, rock, and bluegrass. Maybe more important is how prolific a songwriter Stapleton is. My favorite songs include Midnight Train to Memphis, Think I’m In Love With You, White Horse, and Watch You Burn.
Quotes of the Week
If you turn problems around into reverse, you often think better. – Charlie Munger
Without a focus, everything becomes a distraction. – Shane Parrish
You are under no obligation to be the same person you were five minutes ago. – Alan Watts
This morning, remind yourself of what is in your control and what’s not in your control. – Ryan Holiday
The difficult is easy, the impossible just takes a little longer. – Coach K
I’ve often felt there might be more to be gained studying business failures than business success. – Warren Buffett
Always remember that to argue, and win, is to break down the reality of the person you are arguing against. It is painful to lose your reality, so be kind, even if you are right. – Haruki Murakami
Spend as little time as possible talking about how other people are wrong. – Tyler Cowen
There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all. – Peter Drucker
It’s easier to avoid commitments than get out of commitments. Saying no keeps you toward the easier end of this spectrum. – Mike Dariano
If I had to do this today, would I agree to it?” It’s not a bad rule of thumb, since any future commitment, no matter how far away it might be, will eventually become an imminent problem. – Tim Harford
Saying no is so powerful because it preserves the opportunity to say yes. – Brent Beshore
People think focus means saying yes to the thing you’ve got to focus on. But that’s not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully. – Steve Jobs
If you don’t guard your time, people will steal it from you. – Pedro Sorrentino
Every time we say yes to a request, we are also saying no to anything else we might accomplish with the time. – Tim Harford
An old friend of mine, a journalist, once said that paradise on earth was to work all day alone in anticipation of an evening in interesting company. – Ian McEwan
Articles of the Week
“From its unique history and architecture to its iconic restaurants and bars, the thriving arts community, south Louisiana landscape and a live music scene like no other, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. ” The 50 best cities in the world in 2025
“And while there are still plenty of old-school joints for gumbo and jambalaya, a new roster of up-and-comers is keeping the food scene fresh.” 52 Places to Go in 2025
“He spends six to eight months on an episode, two months of which will be spent entirely on reading and research. During recording, his mornings are spent improvising on a subject in the studio, and during the afternoons he will continue to read.” The Business of History Is Booming
“Your time is better spent championing good ideas than tearing down bad ones.” Why Facts Don’t Change Our Minds
“If you want better results, then forget about setting goals. Focus on your system instead.” Forget About Setting Goals. Focus on This Instead.
“If someone asks you to do something and your first reaction is “Hell Yeah!”, then do it. If it doesn’t excite you, then say no.” The Ultimate Productivity Hack is Saying No
“Carry a book with you at all times. Every time you get a second, crack it open.” How To Read More — A Lot More
Book of the Week
Right Thing, Right Now: Good Values. Good Character. Good Deeds. is author Ryan Holiday’s latest book, which draws on lessons from historical figures like Marcus Aurelius, Jimmy Carter, Charles de Gaulle, and George Marshall. Each of these figures provides us with examples of “kindness, honesty, integrity, and loyalty we can emulate as pillars of upright living.” The book provided me with a cautionary tale of how life goes sideways when you do not have a moral compass by providing examples of unjust leaders. Other Holiday books worth reading include Discipline Is Destiny: The Power of Self-Control, The Daily Dad: 366 Meditations on Parenting, Love, and Raising Great Kids, The Obstacle is the Way Expanded 10th Anniversary Edition: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph, Ego Is the Enemy, Stillness Is the Key, Courage Is Calling: Fortune Favors the Brave, and The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living.
Podcasts of the Week
It was a busy week for me on the podcast front. I was behind the wheel for half of this for work meetings. As a result, I was able to chew through quite a few Business Breakdown podcasts including Shopify: The E-commerce On-Ramp, Chipotle: Simplicity as the Recipe for Success, Alibaba: A Giant Among Giants, Costco: Relentless Focus on the One Thing, Formula One: The Iconic Motor Sport, Exxon Mobil: An Aging Energy Empire, Blackstone: Beyond Buyouts, Uber: The Undeletable App, The National Football League, Goldman Sachs: Fortune Features the Old, PGA Tour: Playing Under Pressure, Berkshire Hathaway: The Incomparable Compounder, The Business of Sport: NFL, F1, PGA Tour, and The National Basketball Association.
Bonus: Videos of the Week
50 (Short) Rules For Life From The Stoics
Bonus: New Blog Post
2024 Reading List: My 51 Best Books of 2024
