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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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February 7th, 2025 | by Kyle Brennan
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Thought of the Week
Self-Reliance: The Last Skill Standing
Ironically, the more the world becomes automated, the more important self-reliance becomes.
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When every task can be outsourced to AI, apps, or some hyper-efficient system, the only real competitive advantage left is you—your ability to make decisions, adapt, and take control of your own life.
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That’s why I spend so much time on things that might look like hobbies but are actually investments in self-reliance:
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- Firefighting: Volunteering as a firefighter forces me to stay calm in chaos, think critically under pressure, and learn hands-on skills like tool usage, building construction, and emergency response.
- Reading non-fiction: History, psychology, personal finance—these aren’t just interesting topics. They’re critical to understanding human nature, making smarter choices, and ensuring I’m in control of my time, money, and mind.
- Fitness and diet: If I don’t take care of my body, I’m outsourcing my health to Big Pharma. Staying strong and mobile means I don’t need pills to function, and I don’t have to worry about whether I’ll physically hold up when life demands it.
- Longevity tactics: Supplements, recovery, sleep optimization—extending my healthspan means I stay independent longer. Relying on the sick-care industry isn’t a strategy.
- Martial arts: Knowing I can handle myself in a confrontation means I don’t need to live in fear. It’s the ultimate form of self-reliance.
The problem with automation is it’s making us too comfortable. It’s removing friction from our lives, which sounds great—until you realize friction is where growth happens.
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The easier life gets, the softer we become.
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AI won’t make you stronger. Apps won’t make you braver. Shortcuts won’t make you more capable.
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Want to future-proof yourself? Seek out discomfort. Do the hard things. Because at the rate we’re going, being human might just become the rarest skill of all.
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What I'm Reading
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One of my favorite morning rituals is cracking open The Daily Stoic and getting a dose of timeless wisdom from the likes of Seneca and Marcus Aurelius. But five weeks ago, my morning routine got a new addition—so did my life.
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My wife and I just welcomed our daughter into the world, which means I’ve swapped one Ryan Holiday book for another: The Daily Dad. A Christmas gift from my brother, this book has quickly become essential reading.
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Holiday blends personal experience with lessons from legends like Theodore Roosevelt, Bruce Springsteen, Queen Elizabeth II, and Toni Morrison, offering daily insights on being the kind of parent your kid deserves. Whether you're a sleep-deprived new parent or a seasoned grandparent, The Daily Dad delivers wisdom, perspective, and just the right nudge to help you show up as your best self.
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My Latest Article
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2024 was a wild ride—promotions, milestones, and a life-changing New Year's Eve when my daughter was born. But for every highlight, there were just as many moments of doubt, frustration, and exhaustion.
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That’s where my green marble notebook comes in. Every year, I jot down the sharpest insights, lessons, and stolen wisdom that help me navigate the chaos. And this year? I couldn’t wait until my birthday to share them.
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From mind hacks and career wisdom to a simple trick that shifts your entire perspective—here are The 20 Best Ideas I Stole in 2024. One of them just might change how you see the world.
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š Read the full list here
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What I'm Watching
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Taylor Sheridan does it again. That man is on a run of successful television like I've never seen (Yellowstone, 1883, Mayor of Kingstown, Tulsa King, 1923, Lioness) and now Landman.
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Set in the boomtowns of Texas, Landman is depicts the oil business and the characters within it seeking fortune. Billy Bob Thornton is incredible as usual, playing Tommy Norris, the general manager of an independent oil company, doing his best to put out fires (literal and figurative). It's a bit slow to start, but I promise the characters and plot lines continue to thicken throughout the ten-episode series. The acting is top tier, with a stacked cast featuring Jon Hamm, Demi Moore, Michael Peña, and Ali Larter.
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There's also a fun little Friday Night Lights Easter egg, where Billy Bob Thornton attends a Permian Panthers high school football game (he played Coach Gary Gaines in the movie depiction).
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What I'm Listening To
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In this episode, Josh discusses his childhood as a chess prodigy and how he learned to train and compete at the highest levels (in multiple domains) by facing fears and overcoming points of weakness.
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One of Josh's most fascinating characteristics is his ability to break down the learning process. For example, he uses a learning method called "beginning with the endgame." Instead of learning different opening moves, how to trap your opponent in the fewest turns, etc — Josh was taught the end game first, just a king and pawn. He mastered the end game, worked backward, and learned the starting moves last. This allowed him to thrive in chaos. When the board didn’t go according to plan, when none of his plays worked — he remembered the end game, and like a north star, it guided him through the chaos while everyone else faltered because the game didn’t follow their well-defined move sets.
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Quote I'm Pondering
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"The finest souls are those who gulped pain and avoided making others taste it."
—Nizariat
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Keith and Kyle sit down to discuss the recent unexplained drone sightings around the country, Søren Kierkegaard's philosophy, social bubbles, and the story of "The Wager."
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Books discussed in this episode:
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Top Books of 2024
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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 33rdĀ Birthday
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Thirty-three was a big one. Mostly because I became a dad. Our daughter was born on New Yearās Eveāāāa fitting arrival for a kid destined to reset everything. Itās been a beautiful, if slightly sleep-deprived blur ever since. Iāve only been āDadā for less than ten months, but if Iām being honest, Iāve 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 ā or a better life. In the age of AI and tweet-sized wisdom, weāve confusedĀ informationĀ withĀ transformation. But thereās a massive difference between knowing what a book says and beingĀ changedĀ by it. The Delusion of Instant Learning In a recentĀ 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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Thereās no difference between a pessimist who says, āOh, itās hopeless, so donāt bother doing anything,ā and an optimist who says, āDonāt bother doing anything, itās going to turn out fine anyway.ā Either way, nothing happens.ā ā āYvon Chouinard, Founder of Patagonia I donāt read much fiction, but Iāve always been hooked on Lee ChildāsĀ Jack Reacher. Heās not your typical …
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