Read or subscribe at michaelwmchugh.com
No. 307 | November 14, 2025
Welcome to this week’s Friday Five—a short dose of insights, inspiration, and favorites to help you start the weekend with clarity and focus.
Music of the Week
Takuya Nakamura, originally from Japan, moved to the U.S. in the early 1990s to study under legendary composer George Russell.
During this time with Russell, Nakamura honed his jazz craft—a foundation that still shapes his music today.
His versatility as both a musician and a DJ allowed him to blur genres, collaborating with legends like Quincy Jones.
Nakamura blends his jazz roots with boundary-pushing electronics.
For more on Nakamura, listen to At the Door, Solar Flame, or Takuya Nakamura (DJ Set) – Elevator Music.
Quotes of the Week
Judge yourself, not others. It’s something I’ve been reflecting on lately—these quotes capture the spirit of turning judgment inward rather than outward.
“Be tolerant with others and strict with yourself.” – Marcus Aurelius
“Let us refrain from passing judgment on others, because we ourselves are in need of judgment.” – Seneca
“If you’re criticized, first ask: Is it true? If yes, fix it. If no, don’t get upset.” – Jeff Bezos
“Judge no one, but do not let yourself off the hook.” – Naval Ravikant
“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” – Leo Tolstoy
“Hold yourself to a higher standard.” — Booker T. Washington
Article of the Week
“It’s Always Day One.” – Jeff Bezos
Amazon was built on a simple principle: customer obsession. Jeff Bezos was fixated on this concept. He knew anything less would mean Amazon was a Day Two, not a Day One, company.
Day One companies have the following traits:
- Relentless focus on customers
- Fast, high-quality decisions
- A culture that celebrates experimentation
- Encouragement of failure as learning
- Decentralized teams
- People who take ownership
- Long-term value over short-term gain
Bezos invented to make things cheaper and better for customers. He treated efficiency and invention as moral obligations. Like Andy Grove, he stayed productively paranoid—and that’s why he kept experimenting. For Amazon, it’s always Day One.
For more on Amazon, Jeff Bezos, and a Day One mindset, check out my article below:
📝 Day One Mindset: Jeff Bezos on Keeping Your Company Alive
Book of the Week
The Red Bull Story: The Unbelievable Success of Dietrich Mateschitz and His Energy Drink Empire tells the story of the Austrian marketing mastermind behind Red Bull.
Wolfgang Fürweger builds a profile of one of the greatest brand builders of the modern era.
He covers how Mateschitz came up with the product in Hong Kong, how marketing was the fuel that propelled Red Bull, why sports are invaluable to the brand, and the business principles of its success.
For more on Red Bull, Mateschitz, and how to build a brand through marketing, read the book below:
📚 The Red Bull Story: The Unbelievable Success of Dietrich Mateschitz and His Energy Drink Empire
Podcast of the Week
Thomas Peterffy is a Hungarian–born billionaire businessman who founded Interactive Brokers.
Before building the company, he immigrated to the US to become an architectural draftsman.
He later became a computer programmer—and eventually bought a seat on the American Stock Exchange, where he helped pioneer the first electronic trading platforms.
For more on Peterffy, Interactive Brokers, and his story, listen to the podcast below:
🎧 Thomas Peterffy: The $80 Billion Founder Who Automates Everything
Enjoyed the read? Hit reply and let me know what stood out—or forward this to a friend who might appreciate it too.
You can also follow along on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
