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The Observe and Rapport Newsletter
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A weekly guide of my favorite books, articles, products, and lifestyle habits.
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September 20th, 2024 | by Kyle Brennan
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Hey Everyone - Sorry I've been a bit M.I.A. recently. Work's been super busy so I haven't been able to keep up with my regular reading/writing practice. That said, this week's newsletter is a bit on the lighter side, but I'll be coming back with a vengeance next week!
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Thought of the Week
One day I may be hitting my irons pure, making smart decisions, and avoiding three-putts. The next day, I'm spraying balls into the forest.
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Whenever my game feels slightly "off" for whatever reason, I foolishly attempt to revamp my entire swing, thinking this will fix all my issues.
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Occam's Razor is a principle that states the simplest solution is often the most likely answer.
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Most of the time, my slice isn't due to faulty swing mechanics, but rather that my grip on the club is off, causing a slight misalignment.
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I simply adjust my grip a half-inch, and voila! My game magically turns around.
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But Occam's Razor doesn't just apply to golf. Writer Dickie Bush recently published a similar finding in his daily energy levels. He writes:
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It's funny how my problems seemingly melt away when I:
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- Go to bed early
- Eat single-ingredient foods
- Workout first thing in the morning
It's even funnier how they come roaring back when, for whatever reason, I feel like I've "mastered" these simple habits and can stop doing them.
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Go back to the fundamentals.
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What I'm Reading
This bestseller dispels the myths about starting your own business.
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Small business consultant and author Michael E. Gerber points out how common assumptions, expectations, and even technical expertise can get in the way of running a successful business.
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While I don't have any current plans to launch my own business, I find it super interesting to read about the misconceptions that most people have. I naively thought that if you were passionate and skilled at something, becoming an entrepreneur in that field would be easy. But as Michael Gerber, points out, naivety is the killer of most small businesses.
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Tiny Tricks I'm Adopting
As you may know, I'm a sucker for life hacks. This was a fun read with tons of gems.
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A few of my favorites from the list:
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- Turn off self-view on video calls. Underrated trick to actually focus on the people you're talking to instead of spending most of the time concerned with how you look.
- Build in travel slack: Always add 10% on to the average journey time when factoring when to set off.
- Prepare for gift emergencies: keep a few nice non-perishables on hand: bath stuff, plain taper candles or a pleasing tea towel are all good. If you happen to have recycled wrapping paper or fancy bags, put them in the same place; if not, don’t worry – no wrapping is a valid ecological choice.
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Worth scanning the full list if you find yourself with a few idle minutes this weekend.
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Things You Won't Regret Doing
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Purchase I Can't Recommend Enough
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I have long been a proponent of standing desks and honestly think they should be mandatory in elementary schools and corporate offices.
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While standing for 8+ hours does take some getting used to, I've found virtually all of my lower back issues have vanished since I went 100% standing in 2018.
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I find that when standing vs. sitting, my energy levels are higher, my muscles feel less tight, and I'm more focused when working on complex tasks like writing or data entry.
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I bought the 60" x 30" hydraulic version from Flexispot since it fits perfectly in my office, but you can also customize the desk to fit your personal needs. If I'm not standing, I'll lower the desk about a foot or so and sit on a barstool instead of a chair so I can maintain a good upright posture throughout the day.
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Bonus tip: For better posture and less back pain, adjust your laptop/monitor so that if you drew a straight line from your eyes to the screen it would fall right in the middle.
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Quote I'm Pondering
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“Confidence doesn’t come from knowing that you control the outcome of a given event or moment. It comes from knowing that you control your response to a given event.”
— Ben Bergeron
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Keith and Kyle sit down to discuss the negative effects of the sobriety crisis on the culture, the insanity of “Waifuism”, the unbelievable corruption in the pharmaceutical industry revealed by Calley and Casey Means, Robert Kennedy Jr.’s recent endorsement of Donald Trump, and why it’s important to understand the difference between incentive and intention when forming opinions about large corporations.
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Check Out My Amazon Favorites Bookstore
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Browse my favorite book selections hand-curated by me. I also earn commissions so if you buy anything, those earnings get reinvested right back into this fancy newsletter ;)
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Affiliate Links!
I've had the fortunate opportunity to partner with some great brands that I love. Use the links below to find great hats, sweatshirts, and sunglasses
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- Huega House - 15% off first order with promo code: KYLEBRENNAN. My everyday hat is the Athletic Association in Green & white
- Find the Good Brand - 10% off first order with promo code: OBSERVE. I've been loving my 3 Simple Words Embroidered Hoodie in cream.
- WMP Eyewear - Excellent array of eyeglasses and stylish sunglasses. My favorite are the Sawyer Polarized for $45
- Amazon Storefront - Check out my collection of favorite books, workout gear, and tech tools for work-from-home!
- LMNT - I start every morning with LMNT's electrolyte drink, filled with salt, magnesium and potassium. It tastes delicious and contains zero sugar or any other junk. Try LMNT Risk-Free with a free sample pack (US only).
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33 Life Lessons on My 33rd Birthday
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Thirty-three was a big one. Mostly because I became a dad. Our daughter was born on New Year’s Eve — a fitting arrival for a kid destined to reset everything. It’s been a beautiful, if slightly sleep-deprived blur ever since. I’ve only been “Dad” for less than ten months, but if I’m being honest, I’ve been preparing for the role for over …
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Depth Over Downloads: Why Spending Time with Books Still Matters
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Everyone wants faster information. But no one asks if faster information leads to better understanding — or a better life. In the age of AI and tweet-sized wisdom, we’ve confused information with transformation. But there’s a massive difference between knowing what a book says and being changed by it. The Delusion of Instant Learning In a recent interview, political journalist Ezra Klein admitted he once believed …
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The Jack Reacher Approach to Never Being Caught Off Guard
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There’s no difference between a pessimist who says, ‘Oh, it’s hopeless, so don’t bother doing anything,’ and an optimist who says, ‘Don’t bother doing anything, it’s going to turn out fine anyway.’ Either way, nothing happens.” —Yvon Chouinard, Founder of Patagonia I don’t read much fiction, but I’ve always been hooked on Lee Child’s Jack Reacher. He’s not your typical …
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