No. 287 June 27, 2025
Welcome to this week’s Friday Five: insights, inspiration, and a few personal favorites to kick off your weekend.
Music of the Week
This week, I revisited Sevendust—an Atlanta-based rock band known for blending heavy metal with a lot of soul in the vocals. Since forming in the mid-90s, they’ve released countless albums, earned gold certifications, and even landed a Grammy nod. Their sound spans alternative metal, hard rock, and more, though the band just calls it “some kind of heavy.” Lajon Witherspoon’s voice (very unique) and Clint Lowery’s guitar work (he can play) make Sevendust one of the most distinct bands from late-’90s metal.
Quotes of the Week
“You know who’s great? The people that just put a tremendous amount of hours into it. It’s a game of tonnage—how many hours are you going to work?” — Jerry Seinfeld
“Sailing around the world is just sailing to the horizon, over and over again.” — Hugh Howey
“Most people are too loyal to their distractions to ever meet their destiny. Focus requires subtraction.” — Shane Parrish
“You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end… with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality.” — Admiral James Stockdale
“The work you choose needs to have three qualities: it has to be something you have a natural aptitude for, that you have a deep interest in, and that offers scope to do great work.” — Paul Graham
Articles of the Week
Dwight Eisenhower once said, “The urgent are not important, and the important are never urgent.” That mindset led to the Eisenhower Matrix—a simple, powerful system for sorting your to-do list and spending time where it makes sense. In this post, I break down how I apply it in my daily workflow using Trello, what kinds of tasks land in each quadrant, and why this tool has helped me avoid distractions and focus on high-value work.
👉 Read the full article here
Book of the Week
Kingfish U: Huey Long and LSU by Robert Mann
No one shaped LSU, Louisiana, and the nation quite like Huey P. Long. In just four years, the insane Louisiana governor and senator transformed the university from a quiet state school into a national force of nature—academically, athletically, and politically, but mainly athletically. Long personally funded buildings, increased enrollment, rewrote the fight song, and even fired football coaches who didn’t live up to his vision (Long was nuts). But his obsession with LSU and Louisiana came at a price—threatened accreditation, scandals, and prison time for some of his closest allies (it’s amazing he never got caught). Kingfish U is an interesting look at how ambition, ego (Long has tons of it), and politics collided on LSU’s campus—and how Long tried to turn a university into a legacy.
Podcasts of the Week
How I Built This has been in my regular rotation for years, and this week’s lineup was especially good. Guy Raz is one of the best and most relaxed interviewers out there, and his deep-dive conversations with founders remind you that behind every big brand is a wild mix of grit, doubt, luck, and resilience.
These episodes stood out:
- Perfect Snacks: Bill and Leigh Keith – One of the best podcasts I’ve ever listened to. Honest, emotional, and inspiring. You can’t help but root for them.
- Substack: Chris Best & Hamish McKenzie – A fascinating look at how they’re reshaping publishing—and what it takes to bet against the internet giants like Google.
- Wirecutter: Brian Lam – A masterclass in creating trust through product reviews and building a brand with soul.
- WordPress & Automattic: Matt Mullenweg – A quiet visionary with a massive impact on the open web. Matt sounds like the calmest human on planet earth.
- Siete Family Foods: Miguel & Veronica Garza – An incredible story about family, culture, and staying true to your roots as you scale. Their products are delicious.
Enjoyed this? Hit reply and let me know what resonated — or forward to a friend who might like it too.
Until next week,
Michael
