Fear is our true enemy

    At the root of most fear is what other people will think of us. It’s paralyzing. It’s skewing. It distorts the very fabric of our reality – makes us behave in such utterly insane and cowardly ways that it’s hard to even describe.

    - via Ryan Holiday in Courage is Calling

    The older I get, the more I see this every day. Science says we only use about 10% of brains. But that is not what holds us back. We hold ourselves back because we are afraid of looking like a failure.

    Finished reading: Anything You Want by Derek Sivers šŸ“š

    A fantastic quick read that puts you in the right mindset to start a new business. I cannot recommend this book enough to any (current or future) entrepreneurs.

    Book: Built to Move

    Finished reading: Built to Move by Kelly and Juliet Starrett šŸ“š

    While the Starretts are known for movement and mobility, the chapters on breathing and eating are the two that stuck with me for weeks after finishing it.

    Overall the book is filled with many great tips with no gimmicks, supplements, or additional purchases needed.

    Book: Outlive

    Finished reading: Outlive by Peter Attia šŸ“š

    Outlive is about being proactive in your health and doing what you can to try and prevent the Four Horseman of Chronic Disease (heart disease, cancer, metabolic disorders, and neurodegenerative disease). It is a long and detailed read. I would recommend starting with the audio version, and if you want to dig deeper, grab a copy of the print edition later.

    My biggest takeaways:

    1. Heart disease is mostly preventable, and it is baffling that it is still the leading cause of death in the US. The phrase no one dies of a sudden heart attack sounds so wrong initially, but when you realize it was likely 20+ years of bad habits that led to the sudden heart attack, you may want to kick yourself.
    2. Metabolic disorders, like heart disease, are mostly preventable and lead to other issues besides diabetes.

    Recommended Book: Die With Zero

    The first completed book of 2023 is Die With Zero by Bill Perkins (@bp22).

    I heard about this book a couple of years ago, but I thought it was a “fuck the kids and spend it all” kind of book. I was very wrong.

    Instead, the book focuses on the following:

    • Understand how much money you need for the rest of your life and adjust your work habits based on this (slow down when you have enough, find more meaningful work, etc.)
    • Do your best to have amazing experiences sooner than later. We often push things off for the future, but as you age (and your loved ones as well), your ability to enjoy those experiences in a meaningful way diminishes
    • Don’t wait until you die to give money to your children, charities, etc. Like you, a $1 today is far more valuable than a $1 tomorrow.

    The audio version of the book takes about 4 hours (I think) on 1.2x speed and is worth a listen.

    Quick Tip: This All the Hacks interview made me reconsider reading/listening to the book.