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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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October 4th, 2024 | by Kyle Brennan
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Thought of the Week
Singer and songwriter Kim Gordon on the power of going for it:
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"People pay to see others believe in themselves."
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Whenever I watch a live stand-up performance or go to a Knicks game at the Garden, I'm struck by how these performers have devoted their entire lives to what they love.
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They didn’t just find joy in their craft—whether it's comedy, sports, music, or even knife-making—but pursued it with such dedication that the world eventually recognized and rewarded them for it.
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On our podcast, Keith and I call this "Competency Porn."
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It's an evocative term for the satisfaction we get from watching skilled people do what they’re exceptional at - whether it's a TikTok of a guy chopping wood in a forest or a woman stacking cards, there's something captivating about witnessing true mastery.
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I had this experience when watching the Hulu series, The Bear. Watching the main character, Carmy, and his sous-chef, Sydney, chop, dice, zest, and fry these beautiful meals with the camera swooping in over ingredients as they move from stove to pan, to mouth-watering dish - you start to feel like maybe competence is the cure for existential dread—or at least the perfect distraction from it...
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Not all of us will find something we can truly master, but that’s not the point.
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The real magic is in the pursuit—finding something you love and going all in. After all, people pay to see others believe in themselves.
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What I'm Reading
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[Terminal List Series Book #7]
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I'm only halfway through book #7 of Jack Carr's James Reece thriller series and it's already one of the best ones so far.
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In this novel, James Reece is on a race to save our country from a Chinese plot to bring America to its knees, a Silicon Valley tech mogul with unlimited AI computing power and bad motives, and a politician controlled by a foreign power.
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Full review to come next week.
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There's also an Amazon Prime show based on the first novel, called The Terminal List, starring Chris Pratt. Fair warning - it is dark, gruesome, and violent.
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What I'm Watching
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Tim Dillon is one of the funniest comedians alive right now. If you haven't heard of him, his podcast, The Tim Dillon Show is a must-listen. He's also a Long Island native so he has that cynical New York attitude and sense of humor that I find irresistible. He has a unique way of turning horrific news stories, global crises, and the modern state of our crumbling American empire into hilarious soundbites that are surprisingly accurate and well-researched.
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His new show on Netflix is just that. It's a nod to the old Jerry Springer-style programs where he brings out wild guests and pokes fun at just how ridiculous people are these days.
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You can also check out his hour comedy special, A Real Hero, on Netflix.
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2024 National Book Award Finalists
Winners will be announced on Wednesday, November 20th.
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I have not read a single one on this list, but some ones I think look interesting:
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Quote I'm Pondering
In fact, this impatience in dealing with frustration is the primary reason that most people fail to achieve their goals. Unreasonable expectations timewise, resulting in unnecessary frustration, due to a perceived feeling of failure. Achieving the extraordinary is not a linear process.
The secret is to show up, do the work, and go home.
A blue collar work ethic married to indomitable will. It is literally that simple. Nothing interferes. Nothing can sway you from your purpose. Once the decision is made, simply refuse to budge. Refuse to compromise.
And accept that quality long-term results require quality long-term focus. No emotion. No drama. No beating yourself up over small bumps in the road. Learn to enjoy and appreciate the process. This is especially important because you are going to spend far more time on the actual journey than with those all too brief moments of triumph at the end.
Certainly celebrate the moments of triumph when they occur. More importantly, learn from defeats when they happen. In fact, if you are not encountering defeat on a fairly regular basis, you are not trying hard enough. And absolutely refuse to accept less than your best.
Throw out a timeline. It will take what it takes.
If the commitment is to a long-term goal and not to a series of smaller intermediate goals, then only one decision needs to be made and adhered to. Clear, simple, straightforward. Much easier to maintain than having to make small decision after small decision to stay the course when dealing with each step along the way. This provides far too many opportunities to inadvertently drift from your chosen goal. The single decision is one of the most powerful tools in the toolbox.
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Keith and Kyle sit down to discuss the work ethic of Gen Z, fatherhood and parenting, tools for recognizing agency in your peers, and in response to high demand, Keith performs some more classic comedy scenes from memory.
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Books discussed in this episode:
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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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