Good Content This Week

Some things never change. It’s the theme of the book of the week, Same As Ever, by Morgan Housel, and in a lot of ways it’s the theme of the conversation between Joe Rogan and The Rock.

We have a tendency to focus on what might change in our life (projecting into the future) and things that are out of control. Rarely are we able to focus on what’s consistently in our control.

For Joe Rogan and The Rock their relentless work ethic is consistently in their control. Unchanged from when they were struggling to make it, to now. As you listen to their conversation you’ll hear why they credit their ability to be disciplined as the main reason for their respective successes.

What are we in control of that isn’t going to change? Lets focus on that. For me, my ability to work, and willingness to sacrifice never fades.

Best of the Week

Favorite, most inspiring, thought provoking content from this week.

JRE Episode #2063 - The Rock

Two guys who are hugely successful and notoriously hard workers talking about all the benefits and no downside to working hard, having focus, and staying disciplined. They also stray into highly controversial topics, like Israel - Hamas. Homelessness. Political corruption and ineffectiveness. It’s a great conversation for anyone.

A Good Article

Obesity Drugs Put These Stocks on a Crash Diet—Now They’re Rebounding - The Wall Street Journal

This article highlights something I’ve been trying to say but have been struggling to do so.

Health is more than your weight. And if you believe you’re going to achieve health by taking an appetite suppressant and just eating less, well you’re just wrong.

There’s too many factors that go into determining someone’s health. Amount and quality of sleep. Stress levels. Activity levels. Being fulfilled. What you eat, how much you eat, and when you eat. And each one is very easily disrupted.

That’s what these other healthcare companies have learned. That when it comes to the health of this country, there’s still going to be plenty of disease and chronic conditions to make money off of.

This new class of “weight-loss drugs” (Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro) can become a $100 billion market, and the rest of the industry will be un-phased. Because they know, what I know.

That losing weight on these drugs is not going to improve our health.

Something to Listen to

Tim Ferriss - Morgan Housel

This episode was the reason I read Same As Ever, by Morgan Housel (the book of the week). I was first introduced to Morgan Housel through the Tim Ferriss podcast a couple of years ago. I immediately liked his pragmatic and realistic approach to money, which inspired me to read his first book (also worth a read), The Psychology of Money. This is just a great conversation filled with funny stories and solid life advice.

A Good Book

Same As Ever: A Guide To What Never Changes, by Morgan Housel

I actually enjoyed this book more than his first book, The Psychology of Money (also really good). While neither one of them really get into the nitty gritty details of money and investing, which is by design, Same As Ever offers more practical advice that can be used across all areas of your life, not just money.

There were a handful of chapters, like Time Horizons and Trying Too Hard, which really hit home for me. This book and Buy This, Not That (read sequentially) have both come at the exact right moment in my life, when after a 5 year work hiatus, I’m starting to put the pieces of my life together and look to the future.

I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone.

Ten Minute (MoveTen) Workout

This workout should take about 10 minutes to complete and requires only a resistance band. You can do the workout once, or multiple times back to back for a longer and more difficult workout.

Feel free to complete this workout 2 - 3 x per week (on varying days, i.e. Mon, Wed, Fri).

Each exercise and prescribed repetitions should be completed before moving on to the next one. Only resting between exercises if needed.

Push up to side plank - 10 reps total

Split leg v-up - 20 reps (10 per leg)

Sumo squat - 15 reps

Russian twist - 30 reps (15 per side)

Resistance band row - 30 reps (15 per arm)

Crunch - 25 reps

Side lunge - 20 reps (10 per leg)

Mt. Climber - 30 reps (15 per leg)

Jumping jacks - 60 seconds

Easy Prep Meal

Salmon asparagus salad (with avocado, red onion, sliced apple, oil, salt and red wine vinegar

Start with wild salmon. I’ve been enjoying frozen wild sockeye salmon from Whole Foods or Sprouts (grocers closest to me). But any wild salmon will do. Try to avoid farmed salmon if you can (more to come on that in later newsletters).

Salmon - Preheat the oven to 425. Lightly coat a 4 oz salmon filet (you can cook more than on at a time if you want) with olive oil and a few pinches of salt. Place the salmon face down, skin up (make sure to salt the skin) on a cooking sheet. Cook for 8 - 10 minutes depending on the thickness of the salmon and how well you like it cooked.

Asparagus - Cut the base of the stems off. Line the asparagus on a cookie sheet lightly covered in olive oil and salt. Cook for 8 - 10 minutes if you’re cooking at 425, 12 minutes if cooking at 350. Thick asparagus will take longer. We always buy thin bunches. You’re looking for bright green color, with some snap.

Put a handful of your favorite greens in a bowl. Slice a ¼ of an avocado. Cut a slice of a red onion and dice it. Slice ½ an apple into thin pieces. Place it all on top of the greens. Lightly coat with 1 tbsp of olive oil, a generous amount of red wine vinegar and a few pinches of salt.

Place the salmon and asparagus on top and repeat the coating of oil, vinegar and salt, just lighter this time.

Enjoy!