What to Read, Watch, Stop Archives

Read, watch, stop:

The Strangest Secret is one of my top favorite books of all time. I’ve recommended it in my blog, and I’m recommending it again. This book is worth a yearly read. “We become what we think about.”

Stop saying no to friends, co-workers, and others… or maybe this one is just for me. When COVID hit, after researching past plagues, I learned that survivors used being away from the masses as key. So, we did. Today, I’m saying yes to meetings, lunches, and conferences; it feels good to be back.

Read, watch, stop:

Happy-Go-Lucky by David Sedaris is a laugh-out-loud read. He’s my favorite satirist.

Stop not leveraging support staff. I used to feel guilty about having others do work I could do. Today, for anything I’m doing, my first question is, “Who else can do this?”

Read, watch, stop:

ITR Economics by brothers Brian and Alan Beaulieu provide a-political insights on current and upcoming economic conditions.

While starting my firm out of my house, I remember being overwhelmed by what was happening at Waco. There has been a docu-drama and a follow-up series on Waco and the aftermath of Waco. I’m not sure it’s worth a subscription to Showtime, but if you are a subscriber, check it out.

Stop worrying and balance in-person or online meetings. One size doesn’t fit all. With COVID in the rearview mirror, I question whether meetings should be held in person or online. We continue to have those meetings online via Teams for daily management huddles. For get-togethers, like our quarterly meeting, where we bring the whole company together to review progress on strategic goals, anniversaries, and celebrations, we hold them in person but also simulcast on Teams. A hybrid approach makes sense.

Read, watch, stop:

Those Bastards by Jared Dillian is a book that was just released, and disclaimer: I haven’t read it. I’ve subscribed to his financial newsletters for years and find him insightful and challenging common opinions and thoughts. If you’re willing to risk $20, give it a shot.

Our firm’s attorney mentioned The Last of Us when we met for a wonderful dinner and a Minnesota Wild game (thanks again, Steve). The Last of Us is intense, entertaining, and binge-worthy. Every episode has a pretty gory scene. If you’re not a fan of gore, learn to fast-forward because the plot is that good.

Stop not taking notes. I use a notebook and pen instead of notes on my phone or laptop for meetings where I want to focus and have no distractions from email or other apps (yes, I know my last post was about digitizing content). While a little old school, I think it shows respect for the others in the room and my written notes always work regardless of battery life.

Read, watch, stop:

The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz is an excellent book for life planning and setting goals. I recommend it without reservation.

Ted Lasso is back for season three. This show is fun, a little offbeat, and has won over ten Emmys.

Stop storing paper documents. Between Scannable and Evernote, anything you need to keep track of on paper is digitized.