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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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November 3rd, 2023 | by Kyle Brennan
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Thought of the Week
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Recently, someone asked a great question at a group dinner:
What is the best $100 purchase you ever made?
Damn, I thought, that's a good fucking question...
Items started popping into my head rapid fire, but amidst the stream of $100 purchases I'd amassed over the years - shoes, t-shirts, snazzy accessories, and an ever-evolving assortment of tech gadgets - not a single one of them stood out as having real, lasting value.
The real game-changers, I realized, the items that provided value beyond my wildest expectations, were investments.
Investments into someone, something, or some idea in the future.
Warren Buffett famously says that his best purchase was a public speaking course by Dale Carnegie because the lessons he learned there paid dividends that we would use for the rest of his career.
“That $100 course gave me the most important degree I have. It’s certainly had the biggest impact in terms of my subsequent success,” he says.
A valuable purchase ends up providing far greater value than you expected.
The real lasting buys of your lifetime won't be random purchases subject to the winds of trend or fashion, but entities that appreciate over time.
That's why this question is so intriguing.
It strips away the clutter and gets you to focus on what is truly valuable to you.
As I thought about my answer, the only things that came to mind were things that were risky or unknown at the time. It was the moments and experiences in which I took a leap of faith - either through false confidence, or dumb luck.
In the end, most things matter very, very little. Some things are a loss to gain.
But the website domain that got you to start blogging, or the $100 half-marathon entry fee that got you into running, or a membership to E-Harmony where you met your husband. All of those things could have been a waste. In all likelihood you'd still hate running, you'd have wasted time talking to creeps online, and that website would sit idle for years.
But it's betting on yourself that ultimately provides the most value in the long term.
Improving yourself is the biggest investment.
My best $100 purchases
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What I'm Reading
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When I launched Observe and Rapport, I had no purpose. I knew I wanted a creative outlet but I never intentionally set out to make it a book-focused page or anything like that.
Over time, I realized that books are what encouraged me to start it in the first place - writing, exploring, being curious, and learning new things. Books brought out so much in me that I wanted to encourage others so that they could learn and grow in the same ways I had.
Reading Built to Serve made it all the more clear to me how I should have been looking at it from the outset. In the book, Evan Carmichael @evancarmichael explains how to find your Who, Why, and How so that you can live (and make money) a purpose-driven life.
▪︎Your WHO is what you stand for.
▪︎Your WHY is your most painful experience.
▪︎Your HOW is how you overcame your pain.
Your Who is what you would tell your younger self if you had the chance.
My Who is Encouragement
* Encouragement to try and learn new things (Curiosity)
* Encouragement to work hard and stay committed (Discipline)
* Encouragement to have fun (Enjoyment)
My Why is that I used to be shy, out-of-shape, and scared
My How is that through reading, I was able to learn and change my mental and physical I can encourage others to learn and grow to their fullest potential
If you’re looking to start your own brand, business, or just a unique social media page, start by reading Built to Serve. Evan lays out everything you need to know to identify your passion and make it a mission-built process from beginning to end.
Rating: 4.7 / 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Song I'm Listening To
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Futurebirds are an American indie rock band formed in 2008 from Athens, Georgia, United States. Really liking this song lately.
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Interesting Stat
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A survey from YouGov found that almost 1 in 10 Americans does not own a single physical book. On the other hand, 3% of Americans own more than 1,000 books. And while nearly a third of Americans don’t organize their bookshelves at all, those who do are most likely to sort by genre (22%). Only 10% sort by author, and even fewer (3%) arrange by color
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I have (failing) tried assorting my books by color. Looked cool at first, but now it's gotten too difficult to maintain. I prefer a messy assortment with no rhyme or reason.
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Product I'm Loving
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Yes, I have officially become one of the unbearable influencers with an ice plunge tub. It started with dunking my face in a bowl of ice water in the morning, but it escalated.
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I understand how cringy it is to hop on board this trend. But, when I hear enough influential people like Dr. Peter Attia, Dr. Andrew Huberman, and Dr. Rhonda Patrick continue to hammer the benefits of ice bathing, I can't say no. Ten years ago, when I these same people talking about the benefits of sauna, I dove head first into daily sauna use and noticed really positive effects.
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I'm seeing that same trend surface with ice baths, and based on the evidence, it seems pretty tough to contradict. Wim Hof got me onto breathing exercises, and he very well may get me onto daily ice baths.
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Most of the ice baths on the market are $300+ but this one is a steal at just $99 and it has great reviews, including one from Tim Ferriss, who I trust greatly on most things.
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Quote I'm Pondering
“20 years from now you’d give anything to be this exact age, exactly this healthy, in this exact moment. Take a second to enjoy it.” — Richard Webster
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Keith and Kyle sit down to discuss The Manson Murders, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the current cultural relevance of Dostoevsky’s classic novel “The Idiot”, and Kyle’s new tattoo.
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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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Kyle's Published Work
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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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