by Kyle Brennan
Over the last 5 years, I’ve read 225 books. And it took me reading those 225 books to realize: 90% of books shouldn’t be books at all — they should be blog posts. On top of that, the total number of books read is a vanity metric. I used to chase that elusive “52 books …
Continue reading "8 Books That Shaped My Worldview (And Why I’m Rereading Them Now)"
Last night, I watched the 1946 classic, It's a Wonderful Life. It's 75 years old. And while there are certainly some oddities from a bygone era, the message of the movie hit me hard. I can now add it to the short list of movies that have made me cry - including Rudy, Marley & …
Continue reading "‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ Isn’t Just a Movie — It’s a Prophecy"
I'm not quick on my feet like some people are. I marvel at how others can be so adept at conversation or think through complex subjects in real-time while speaking eloquently with no stumbles. I can be slow to catch on to certain things. I need time to process. It's probably why I enjoy reading …
Continue reading "Five Mental Reframes That Changed the Way I Look at the World"
It's ok to give up on a book. Your time is your most valuable resource; don't waste it reading books you don't enjoy. There's no sense of pride in finishing a 400-page book that you never enjoyed, or better yet, didn't even understand. Just because the book you're reading is considered a "classic" or a …
A new year presents us with new opportunities. A fresh start. A new chapter. We can start from scratch and re-write the wrongs of last year. Leave those demons back in 2022 and let them drown. This year is your year. This year things will go the way you've been dreaming of. Right? It's common …
Continue reading "Why I Do Year End Reviews (And 6 Questions for Your Review)"
Austrian psychiatrist Viktor Frankl wrote, "When a man can't find a deep sense of meaning, they distract themselves with pleasure." When I'm not doing the activities that fulfill me - writing, hanging out with friends, being active and social - I have a tendency to fall into bad habits. I go into avoidance mode; I …
Lauren and I were sitting at our kitchen table last night, splitting a bottle of red wine when she asked me quite bluntly, "What is your purpose in life?" We tend to get into these deep philosophical discussions from time to time (with the aid of some wine). Every now and then, it's fun to …
In his book Four Thousand Weeks, Oliver Burkeman proposes "...life is just a process of engaging with problem after problem, giving each one the time it requires... the presence of problems in your life, in other words, isn't an impediment to a meaningful existence but the very substance of one" Reading this, I recollected a …
Continue reading "The Wave of Life: Four Thousand Weeks and the Preciousness of Time"
At the Rise for the River benefit concert in Montana just a few months ago, John Mayer interrupted his solo acoustic performance to talk about his 2012 album, Born & Raised. It happens to be one of my favorite albums. When he paused to reflect on the record, John began speaking about his deep love …
Imposter Syndrome: doubting your abilities and feeling like a fraud. I first felt imposter syndrome when I became a starting player in my first varsity game. I felt that same denial on my first day at college, my first promotion, and my first big title and salary increase. While I was accomplishing exactly the things …