Daily Reader – The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman

January - The Mind Maps Book by Tony Buzan

February – The Great Mental Models (Vol.1) by Shane Parrish

March – Discipline is Destiny by Ryan Holiday

April – The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

May and June – The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene

July – Atomic Habits by James Clear

August – Slow Productivity by Cal Newport

September – Ecclesiastes

October – The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason

November – Proverbs

December – How Successful People Grow by John C. Maxwell

Additional resources on how to read:

• Rules for Reading Well by Jon Fibonacci (Substack post)

• Ryan Holiday’s 3-Step System for Reading Like a Pro (YouTube video)

• How to Read Better (10 Rules from Ryan Holiday) (YouTube video)

• How to Read a Book by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren (Book)

Daily Reader

The Daily Stoic has been around for 10 years, and they just released an updated and expanded edition for the 10th anniversary. Daily readers are easy because they’re simply one page per day. Nobody can use that “I don’t have time” excuse anymore. We all have 2-3 minutes every day - nobody is that busy to not have a couple of minutes. This book is filled with quotes, wisdom, and ideas to improve our lives one day at a time. It can give you something to think about throughout the day or in the evening time.

There’s also The Daily Stoic Journal if you’d like to get daily journaling prompts. A lot of times when we get into journaling, we don’t know what to write about. Well, this companion journal follows along with The Daily Stoic, so you don’t have to figure out what to write about on your own.

Additional Daily Readers:

• New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp

• A Calendar of Wisdom by Leo Tolstoy

• The Daily Laws by Robert Greene

• The Maxwell Daily Reader by John C. Maxwell

January

This book on Mind Maps opened up a new way of creating notes, planning, and organization. Published in 1996, but remember, old is gold. Mind Maps are popular today not only because they’re fun, but because they’re useful - they have stood the test of time. Tony Buzan is the creator of them. In his book, we’ll take a look at why they work so well. We’ll learn about the brain and what makes it function far beyond the norm. We’ll take a look at the difference between note taking and note making.

Schools may have taught us how to take notes, but not make notes. They taught us basic, elementary-level reading, but not reading well. Mind Maps can help us do both. We can become, like Da Vinci in a way, multidisciplinary. To learn and retain more. To organize our lives better. To plan ahead. To become more productive. And more.

For more on Mind Maps:

• You’re Not Dumb: How to Mindmap as a Beginner (YouTube video)

• An Overthinker’s Guide to Mind Mapping (YouTube video)

• The Ultimate Guide to Mind Mapping (YouTube video)

• How to Mind Map with Tony Buzan (YouTube video)

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February

This is book one of a volume of four. It’s also the shortest of the series and is a very easy read with useful mental models. Most people, I think, don’t have a decision “playbook” for their lives. They just go through life making bad choices or suboptimal ones and very seldom make good ones. Mental models are for helping us make the best possible choices. They were popularized by Charlie Munger (long-time business partner and friend of Warren Buffett), who would talk about his mental frameworks in his speeches.

Maybe you’ve heard of them before. Murphy’s Law. Occam’s Razor. Hanlon’s Razor. Circle of competence. And so many more. The idea is to put together a sort of “latticework” of mental models. This is why we went over Mind Maps beforehand to better prepare for the books ahead. Like this one.

For more on mental models:

• Poor Charlie’s Almanack by Charles T. Munger

• Seeking Wisdom by Peter Bevelin

• Clear Thinking by Shane Parrish

• The Great Mental Models Volume 2 by Shane Parrish

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March

Discipline is Destiny is book two of a four part series on the Cardinal virtues (Wisdom, Courage, Justice, Temperance). This one is about Temperance. As usual Ryan breaks this one down into three parts - mind, body, and soul. It’s not just about being disciplined physically, like making your bed and showing up to work on time. its also about being disciplined in our thinking, too. If you take a quick look around, recklessness is everywhere. People drive through red lights and go on social media comments to curse each other.

Some are severely overweight—some, underweight. Maybe you’ve seen the TV show Hoarders, where a house is so full of stuff that you can’t even walk through it. Some people are swamped with credit card debt because they can’t control their spending. Some people are habitually unfaithful. The list goes on. The point is that we could all use more discipline. More discerning in our choices. More self-control. Do you control your body or does your body control you?

For more on discipline:

• Make Your Bed by Ad. William H. McRaven

• The Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey

• Do Hard Things by Steve Magness

• Mastery by Robert Greene

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April

The War of Art is for creators. But we’re pretty much all creators in one way or another. What we must overcome is what Pressfield calls Resistance in order to achieve what we set out to achieve. To write a book, get back into shape, start a new habit, learn to play a new instrument, start a new business. The list goes on... We must learn to overcome procrastination, excuses, and laziness. We must do the work. Unleash the creative part of us and get-r-done.

Ryan Holiday says he rereads this book every time he starts a new project. I’ve read it a few times myself. It’s an easy read with many gems, and I’m confident you’ll also find it valuable.

For more on creativity:

• Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield

May and June

This is, by far, the longest book I’ve read (to be fair, I only read half the chapter on gender roles because I didn’t care for it, but still...). This book is massive - a whopping 624 pages. For that reason, like the 48 Laws of Power we read in 2026, we’ll spend two months completing it. Even then, that’s still about 300 pages per month. It will be easy to fall behind if you’re not disciplined or careful. We’ll learn “how to detach ourselves from our own emotions and master self-control, how to develop the empathy that leads to insight, how to look behind people’s masks, and how to resist conformity.”

A lot of people have a misconception about Robert Greene and his books. They judge the works without reading them. Remember, it’s not always about learning information to use in a toxic sense. Sometimes, it’s about getting into the playbooks other people could be using to try to take advantage of us. Not everything is about control, but instead, to learn and defend yourself.

July

This one is probably the greatest book on habits ever written. We are creatures of habit - people love routines and making repeated choices. We’re comfortable with the familiar. So the question becomes: Are the habits we have serving us or holding us back? It’s always a good idea to reflect (and possibly course correct). Remember, if we aren’t getting better, we’re getting worse. I think we did this one as a book-of-the-month four or five years ago, back before I documented the books publicly. No worries, the best books should be reread.

We’ll learn how to make bad habits ugly and difficult, how to make good habits easy and attractive, and learn about the valley of disappointment. And much more.

August

I like Slow Productivity far more than Deep Work. In fact, I remember that in the middle of 2026, I went on a sort of “digital detox” and read this book - about 80% of it that particular Monday (I’m aware of the irony of that, by the way). This book is a great reminder that many of us can be busy without being productive. That’s a problem for many people. Sometimes, big accomplishments take time. They require a lot of focus, too. We must stop being “yes” men and women. The more things we add to our plates, the more our quality output suffers. One must choose quality or quantity; we cannot have both.

We live in a world obsessed with productivity. Quick, finish the report by Monday. Hurry up. Deadlines. Due dates. Pressure. At what point are we going to realize that many have crossed the threshold of quality output due to high, unrealistic demands on the human body and mind?

Additional recommendations on productivity:

• Deep Work by Cal Newport

• Essentialism by Greg McKeown

September

Traditionally attributed to King Solomon, Ecclesiastes is a philosophical exploration of life’s meaning, the pursuit of happiness, and the inevitability of death. Through reflections on wealth, pleasure, wisdom, and the fleeting nature of existence, it challenges us to consider what truly matters in a world where nothing truly lasts forever. Short, but intellectually powerful.

Ecclesiastes (pronounced ih-KLEE-zee-AS-teez) comes from the Greek word Ekklēsiastēs, meaning “the Preacher,” “the Teacher,” or “one who addresses an assembly.”

The Hebrew title is Qoheleth, often translated as “the Teacher” or “the Preacher.”

In the Bible, Ecclesiastes explores the meaning of life, mortality, happiness, wealth, wisdom, and the temporary nature of human existence.

For more similar themes, check out Proverbs.

October

This classic is just over 100 years old. But just like a lot of philosophy, some principles never lose their value. Not everyone is good with money, and this book has parables that share key wisdom for anyone to learn if they’re willing to pay attention. Not the easiest read since the language is a little “dated,” but still well worth the read.

This book is one of the key reasons that helped me buy a brand-new Corvette Stingray in 2025.

For more on finance:

• The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel

November

Proverbs is a collection of timeless teachings on wisdom, discipline, morality, and human behavior. Through practical advice and thoughtful observations, it explores how our decisions, habits, and character shape the quality of our lives. There are a lot of “one-liners.” Some are actually pretty funny, too. I’m confident you’ll find something worth remembering.

Proverbs (pronounced PRAH-verbs) comes from the Latin word proverbium, meaning “a wise saying,” “a maxim,” or “a short statement expressing a general truth.”

The Hebrew title is Mishlei, derived from mashal, meaning “proverb,” “comparison,” or “parable.”

In the Bible, Proverbs is a book of wisdom literature traditionally attributed primarily to King Solomon. It explores wisdom, discipline, morality, self-control, human behavior, and the consequences of our decisions.

For more similar themes, check out Ecclesiastes.

December

This one, like many others on this 2027 list, is part of a series. We’ll end the year with a short but powerful read to make sure we continue our development journey by going into 2028 strong. I’ve read more of John C. Maxwell than any other author by far. I’m confident you’ll find out why and maybe even get into his other books (there are almost 100 others). This one is about 15 ways to get ahead in life. We’ll learn about being an intentional learner, developing self-awareness, believing in ourselves, setting aside time to reflect, embracing daily discipline, and more.

If there were only one book you read this year, let it be this one.

For more John C. Maxwell recommendations:

• How Successful People Think

• How to Get a Return on Failure

• 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth

Book of the Month 2026

January - How to Read a Book by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren

February - How Successful People Think by John C. Maxwell

March - Stillness is the Key by Ryan Holiday

April - Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

May - 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene (1-24)

June - 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene (25-48)

July - The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin Sharma

August - The Practice of Groundedness by Brad Stulberg

September - Clear Thinking by Shane Parrish

October - Discourses and Selected Writings by Epictetus

November - The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel

December - Letters From a Stoic by Seneca

Pocket notebooks are newer for me. I’ve been using them for around two years, and Field Notes specifically for about two months. So I’m not pretending to be the world’s leading authority on pocket notebooks. But I have used them enough to see why people love them, and I’ve also watched a lot of videos from people who have carried them for years, some for more than a decade.

After using them daily, gifting them to friends and family, and testing different styles, I’ve become convinced of one thing:

A pocket notebook is one of the simplest productivity tools you can own.

The best thing about Field Notes, or pocket notebooks in general, is mobility. They are thin, light, and easy to carry. They do not take up much room, and they do not weigh you down. You can keep one in your pocket, bag, car, or on your desk.

That matters because ideas are easy to lose.

Remember how frustrating it is to have a really good idea you’re trying to recall, but can’t. You forgot. A pocket notebook gives those thoughts somewhere to land. Write them down so you don’t forget.

A pocket notebook is small enough to stay in your pocket (obviously) or maybe in the car, next to your bed, or in the office. For me, it has become a tool for to-do lists, grocery lists, content ideas, reminders, and light planning.

How To Start

1. When you get a new pocket notebook, the first thing I’d recommend is writing your name and the start date inside.

Field Notes have a space on the inside cover for this. It gives the notebook a beginning. You can also number the pages if you want. Field Notes have 48 pages, so some people number them from 1 to 48 and create an index in the back.

Personally, I don’t do either of those things (but you can if you want).

Some people love an index and page numbers because it gives the notebook more structure. That’s fine. But for me, the value of a pocket notebook is that it stays simple. I want to open it, write something down, and keep moving.

Rules

1. Don’t Treat It Like a Newborn Baby

A notebook is meant to be used.

Don’t treat a brand-new notebook like a newborn baby. Bend it. Scratch it. Drop it. Let it get worn out in your pocket. Let the cover fade. Let a few pages get food stains on them. That’s part of what makes it yours.

A well-used notebook should look used. The same way a good book might have bent pages, notes in the margins, or a worn cover, a good notebook should carry evidence that it has been part of your life. Keeping it pristine defeats the purpose.

Use it hard. Tape it back together if you have to. Staple it. Fold pages. Cross things out. Misspell words. Draw something badly. Nobody cares.

The value is not in keeping it perfect. The value is in actually using it.

2. Have Fun

You shouldn’t feel forced to use a pocket notebook. You shouldn’t feel like its a drag or a burden to use them. Instead, have fun. Put stickers on it. Write random thoughts. Brainstorm ideas. Sketch something. Make lists. Take notes at church. Track workouts. Write down Bible verses, books to read, restaurants to try, places to visit, or habits you’re working on. You can do ALL of those things, too. You’re not limited.

There is no single correct way to use a pocket notebook.

Some people use one notebook for everything. Others separate notebooks by category. One for work, one for church, one for creative ideas, one for tasks. Do whatever makes sense for your life.

For me, Field Notes are mostly for:

• To-do lists

• Grocery lists

• Content ideas

• Quick reminders

• Light planning

But that does not mean I can’t write down a quote or take a few notes somewhere. The notebook is a tool, not a rulebook.

What You Can Use One For:

• To-do lists

• Grocery lists

• Business ideas

• Random thoughts

• Restaurants to try

• Places to visit

• Movies to watch

• Quotes

• Bible verses

• Words to look up

• Books to read

• People’s names

• Workout logs

• Budget notes

• Appointments

• Habit tracking

• Work meeting notes

• Gratitude

• Content ideas

The list can keep going because everyone’s life is different.

My Opinions

1. I prefer dot grid or graph paper.

Blank paper gives you total freedom, especially for drawing, but my writing tends to drift and get crooked. Lined paper is great for writing, but not as flexible for sketches or layouts.

Dot grid and light graph paper give me the best of both worlds. There’s enough structure to keep my writing straight, but enough freedom to draw, map ideas, or organize a page however I want.

2. Avoid Fountain Pens

Depending on the paper, fountain pens can cause a lot of bleed-through. That can be frustrating, especially if you want to use both sides of the page. I’ve found that regular ballpoint pens and gel pens usually work better for pocket notebooks.

I like the Uni Jetstream and the Rotring 600. The Uni Jetstream writes smoothly, and the Rotring 600 is extremely durable. If you work with your hands, are outdoors often, or just want something that can take a beating, the Rotring is a strong option.

3. Plain covers work, but I prefer notebooks with designs

They make the notebook more enjoyable to carry. That might sound small, but it matters. If you like the way something looks, you are more likely to use it.

Field Notes has done a lot of interesting themes, including cities, national parks, birds and trees, and travel-inspired editions. I also like Fabriano, an Italian brand with simple colors and good dotted graph paper. Ro-Biki is another interesting option from Japan, especially if you like better paper.

4. Don’t walk around with sensitive information

Because pocket notebooks go with you in public, be careful what you write in them.

I would avoid writing down:

• Passwords

• Social Security numbers

• Bank information

• Seed phrases

• Private addresses

• Anything you would not want someone else to see

That kind of information belongs somewhere more secure, like a notebook that stays at your desk or in a locked box. A pocket notebook is great for daily thoughts and tasks. It is not the place for sensitive records.

Accessories (Optional)

There are plenty of pocket notebook accessories out there.

Pen loops are useful if you want your pen attached to the notebook, but I don’t love the extra bulk. I’d rather keep a pen in my pocket, bag, or car.

Stencils and rulers can be useful if you like clean lines, symbols, or little layouts. I have a small ruler, but I mostly keep it at my desk.

Leather cases can protect your notebooks, but they can also make them too bulky for pocket carry. Some people love them. For me, they take away part of what makes the notebook useful: simplicity.

Organizational stickers are another option. Some people use colored dots to categorize by subject. That works well if you’re visual, but for me, it just takes up too much time.

Binder clips can help keep a notebook open or closed. I haven’t used them much yet, but I can see the appeal.

In Conclusion

Pocket notebooks are useful no matter what kind of work you do.

You can be a student, creator, business owner, tradesman, veteran, parent, writer, or just someone trying to stay organized. A small notebook gives you a place to catch your thoughts before they disappear.

What matters most is not the paper type, pen, or brand, but that you actually use it.

Carry it with you. Beat it up. Make it yours. Write things down.

Share good tools and ideas with other people when you find them. That’s why I write and share ideas and products with you (:

1. Always Bring a Book with You

Most of us (men) have a simple pat-down before we leave the house. Phone, wallet, keys. Ryan Holiday had mentioned this in his own version of Reading Rules, and I thought it was a great idea. That we should add a book to that list. We could always leave one in the car, too.

There was a really good book I read many years ago called Atomic Habits by James Clear. One of the things I learned about making new habits is to make them easy and attractive. We can’t read a book that we don’t bring with us. When it’s next to us, it’s a lot easier to pick up. You probably know the saying, out of sight, out of mind. So instead of hiding our books away on a shelf or some drawer to be forgotten, we should have them close to us. Nearby at all times, so we can choose to read while we wait.

2. Always Read with a Pen

Reading without a pen is what I’ve done most often, and it’s what most readers that I see do. This, however, is a mistake if our goal is to read actively. A pen allows us to engage with the material. To circle words we don’t know and need to look up. To underline the important lines. To bracket the important paragraphs. To write and ask questions in the margins. We can’t do any of that without some sort of writing utensil. This is one of the downsides to public libraries – we can’t mark them up. We could, I guess, write stuff down on a separate sheet of paper, but that’s not really the same as marking up your own book yourself.

Reading with a pen also keeps us more engaged. The engagement is what helps with remembering what we’ve read. There have been too many instances in the past where I read a book, but within a year or tw,o I couldn’t tell you much about it. Only that I did read it. That’s because I was reading passively. No pen or engagement with the book. But once I learned to engage and do the things mentioned above, I began to retain a lot more information.

3. Read a Variety of Topics

I love listening to music. I almost always have some playlist going on in the background (even now, as I write this, I’m listening to Sleep Token). What happens, though, is that I get tired of listening to the same genre after about an hour or so. I’ll then need to switch it up. I’ll change the rock music over to house. Or I’ll change the house music over to metal. The point is that the same genre gets boring and repetitive. Books may have this effect, too. Well, at least for me. I have to switch it up just like the music. Biography of Lincoln, then a book on business startups. I read Reader, Come Home and then started on Animal Farm. It’s refreshing to change things up.

Plus, we want to be well educated. It’s great to be an expert in a few things, but it’s also beneficial to at least know some of the basics of the other things. What’s really cool is when you start making connections between topics. It helps solidify what you already know and helps you learn new things at the same time. Not a bad combination.

4. Ignore the Popular Slop

You probably heard the phrase before. What’s popular isn’t always right, and what’s right isn’t always popular. This is especially the case when it comes to books. I’ve seen viral posts from people who share that they’ve “read 100 books this year” or some crazy number. But then you look at their list, and it’s smut. Or it’s a book that’s written with generic language – no special or long words. That won’t help you grow much. It’s too easy, and there’s no challenge.

You may like popular stuff. The books probably on display right when you walk into Barnes & Noble. Most of those are not for me. I’m not into fantasy or romance books, so that disqualifies most of them. You’re allowed to read whatever you like, but I purposely avoid the “TikTok pics.” It’s to say that all popular books are trash. I’ve read a few good Best-Sellers. Just use discernment when picking out your next read.

5. Old is Gold

Who’s the oldest philosopher you can think of? Think as far back into history as you can. There are plenty of them. Can you think of one who was known for asking questions? It was Socrates who did so, and so much so that he was put to death for it. Here we are, though, over 2000 years later, using what we call the Socratic method. Because asking questions, it turns out, is a great way to get to the bottom of things. To get to the truth of things.

Not every idea stands the test of time. A lot of what the ancients thought was wisdom turned out later to be foolish. But the ideas that stay true over time are what’s important. There’s a reason Meditations is still read and talked about today. There’s a reason the Bible is the number 1 selling book of all-time.

New books today may or may not be relevant years down the road. We won’t know until much later. But the old ones, the ones written in a different time period but still hold relevance today, those are good books.

6. Festina Lente

Latin for “make haste slowly.” Move quickly, but with care and deliberation. Sort of like the military expression “slow is smooth, smooth is fast.” As it relates to reading, it means we should read cleanly. To read with urgency, but not with sloppiness. Some books are meant to be read more slowly than others. Some faster than others. Fast on the easy parts, slow on the important parts.

If you read quickly and never slow down on the important parts, you won’t remember or understand them. If you read slowly and never pick up speed, you’ll take longer to read more. You’ll be wasting some precious time on the trivial. Balance is key.

7. Read a Variety of Book Lengths

Long books are a challenge. I think the longest book I’ve read so far was The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene. The shortest one is James Allen’s As a Man Thinketh. Books don’t always have to be long to get their point across. Short books can be just as good or even better than long ones. For example, On the Shortness of Life by Seneca is a really good one. It doesn’t take a long time to read it, but the ideas are powerful.

The point in switching up the lengths of books is to challenge ourselves. Long books take time and attention. They’re not easy, especially in today’s world of brain rot. But the point is not just to learn new things, but to get uncomfortable and do hard things. Plus, once you read a long book, it makes the short books much easier. Sounds like a win-win.

8. Converse

In How to Read a Book by Adler and Van Doren, they say a book should be a conversation between you and the author. What is the author saying? What are they proposing? How are they supporting their arguments? These (and others) need to be answered as we read. The margins are there for a reason. The spaces on each page provide us with a place to write things down. We can write down the questions and the answers. The author is talking to us, and in a way, we can talk back.

9. Stop Reading Bad Books

There have been many times that I regret buying a book. They sucked. The authors didn’t know what they were talking about. Or the author contradicted themselves on multiple occasions. I felt betrayed, and it was a waste of money. More importantly, a waste of time. I’ve learned over time that it’s okay to put down a bad book. There’s no point in drudging through it if it’s not valuable to you. Don’t quit a book because it’s hard. That’s a reader-error. If you read the book, and you understand what the author is saying but disagree and have evidence to back your argument, then you have the green light to quit that book. But only after you’ve tried, not before.

10. Write a Book Summary

We can learn when we teach. We can also learn a lot when we write things out. Writing helps us think through things and make sure that our knowledge is organized and well-structured. Look over the notes you left in the margins and the sentences you underlined. Get a refresher of the work and then write a summary after you complete a book.

What was the book about? What all did you learn? Did you learn any new words? What was your favorite quote from the book? How did the book make you feel? Are there any related books? Use these questions to guide your summary, but write whatever you want. This will also help with retention, just like engaging with the work as you read it.

Life is hard. We want and look for ways for it to be easier. Modern technology (let’s say the internet, cell phones, social media apps, television, and computers) has made daily life a little easier. Alarm clocks allow us to get up on time. Television allows us to get up-to-date “news” events around the world. Social media allows us to show off our new car or see what our friends are grilling before the game starts. Computers enable us to play video games, among many other things. That is to say, technology has its benefits.

Technology has provided us with convenience. Productivity can increase (I’m writing this in a Word document, not by hand this time). We can easily access entertainment like Netflix, YouTube, Spotify, etc., and it’s not all that expensive to do so. I’d say it’s more difficult to cancel a subscription than to sign up for one. Convenience is nice because we think it makes life easier. It reduces decision-making. One swipe to move on, double-tap to like, even a “buy now” button. We can just sit back and let the algorithms tell us what we want to watch or shop for. And that’s exactly the problem. This passivity. This carelessness. The giving up of control for entertainment and amusement.

Well, if everyone else is doing it, it’s probably not all that bad, right? I mean, if all my friends jumped off a cliff, I’d probably be the next to jump as well. There’s got to be some sort of reason they’re jumping off – I might as well go. Most people don’t like being left out of things. Why stay off social media when all your friends and family are on it? People might think we’re weird for being different. Why not watch The Kardashians because that’s what’s popular? Surely you don’t want to be the fool at work who doesn’t know the score of last night’s game and how many points the legend scored, right? The peer pressure is real, so we cave. We sign up to watch the shows. We create social media accounts to see what everyone is up to these days. There was a time when short-form content wasn’t really a thing, but today is different. Today, we can scroll endlessly (doomscrolling) and get content from strangers we aren’t even friends with or follow. We’ve become part of the mob.

We feel like we’re connected. That somehow, we’re in this together. But are we? We’re “connected” as friends on social media, but we don’t speak face-to-face anymore. We’ve lost our human connection and substituted it for an electronic one. Also, we don’t write letters anymore. We don’t sit around the table and discuss ideas and debate with real thought and discourse. While we are connected to some extent via the internet and social media, we are now, I believe, the most disconnected society we’ve ever been. The technology we’ve created to bring us together has many times driven us apart. We’ve lost our human connection. We’ve slowly lost our ability to think critically, formulate opinions without fallacies, and focus for an extended period of time without succumbing to distractions.

Part 2 – Distractions, Discontent, and Darkness

Distractions, however, are what’s intended. This is because attention is the new currency. If you have the attention, you have the sales. It doesn’t matter what people do or say, as long as they can get paid, they’re perfectly fine with scripting fights, dancing in provocative clothing to sell their OnlyFans subscriptions, or achieving sponsorships from anyone willing to pay. And companies aren’t going to sponsor someone who doesn’t have a large audience. The best way to build an audience in today’s world, it seems, is through entertainment. Some sort of drama – real or artificial matters not. That’s because we’ve learned to want it. We don’t seek knowledge or complex topics to figure out. Most people just want to, as stated earlier, sit back and relax. They want to be entertained. To be amused. But, as Neil Postman’s book title says, we have been spending the last few decades Amusing Ourselves to Death. In the mid-1980’s, he saw, along with many others, the effects of television on society and culture. And they aren’t good.

Television is a monologic communication (one-way). You pick the channel, and whatever is on is what you see. You don’t get to tell the TV what to display. You only get to change the channel. That’s about the extent of the control you have besides turning the volume up or down, or turning the TV off completely. Social media, however, leveled the playing field as it relates to the sharing of content and communication. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X (previously known as Twitter), Substack, YouTube, etc. can be polylogic communication (many voices in the same conversation). “Influencers” who don’t respond to comments or questions would be considered monologic since they aren’t involved in any discourse, but those who post and comment back to commentators could be considered polylogic. So, there’s a complete shift in content being consumed since users can say or post almost whatever they want. Need not fancy lighting, a script, a beautiful or handsome face, make-up, professional-grade cameras or microphones, or a break for commercials.

This is also vastly different from television in the sense that users can chat among themselves in the comments or even converse with the creator of the content. Equally so, creators who can write their own scripts (or not use scripts at all), and can make content about whatever subject they want, the creative space is open to anything from cats playing with Christmas tree ornaments to women thirst-trapping men at the gym in which the woman recording wears skin-tight clothing to lure in men to stare at them and then pretend to get upset at them for doing so. We see fat people overeating because it’s funny. We see young kids pulling pranks on the unsuspecting public. We see recipe videos. How-to videos. Political commentary. Videos on readers’ favorite books. Today, even such content as AI slop. We see clips from TV shows and movies. We see all kinds of things, and even ads in between all of this and more. The point is this: a lot of what we watch is nonsense and offers no intellectual value.

By constantly skimming through short-form content, we never spend time on any particular subject. In the words of Neil Postman, “It may well be that although the American public knows of many things, it knows about very little. Americans may be the most ill-informed people in the Western world.”¹ The most interesting part about this quote is not how true it is, but how old it is. He said this in an interview on C-SPAN in 1988, quite a few years before the social media networks we have today. In his book Amusing Ourselves to Death, he called this phenomenon a “peek-a-boo world,” due to the nature of television “where now this event, now that, pops into view for a moment, then vanishes again. It is a world without much coherence or sense; a world that does not ask us, indeed, does not permit us to do anything; a world that is, like the child’s game of peek-a-boo, entirely self-contained. But like peek-a-boo, it is also endlessly entertaining.”² While he was referring to television in the 1980s, it would be far worse off for social media since we can scroll anytime we want. He thought it was bad 40 years ago, but I could only imagine what he would say today, had he not passed away. Commercials used to be 20 seconds at least, but with the content we have today, we can scroll away in less than 2.

It’s not all that surprising, once you see the effects of television and doomscrolling, that you also see a lot of discontent among those we follow or are close to. There are a lot of people who fill their time with work and important things, but fill the smaller slots of time with nonsense. We used to learn things. We used to write papers and spend time researching. We had to slow down, formulate our arguments, and then prove them with evidence. We had to think about what we thought. We were seeking depth and had the means and environment to do so. We used to spend a lot more time around people, not computers or phones. We lived in a slower world, not a fast one like today. A more natural world instead of an electronic one. We have lost our deep focus, reading stamina, and boredom tolerance. Next time you go out in public, just take a look around. See how many people are on their phones, especially at restaurants, ignoring the person in front of them.

Before we move on to part three, I want to recap what’s been stated so far. To keep it clear and concise, here are my main points:

· Modern life is hard, so we naturally chase whatever appears to make it easier.

· Technology has real benefits: convenience, productivity, affordable entertainment, and instant access to information.

· Convenience reduces friction (one swipe, double tap, “buy now,”) which reduces decision-making and encourages passivity.

· The core danger isn’t technology itself, it’s giving up control for comfort, entertainment, and amusement.

· We adopt tech partly because of conformity/peer pressure. The result is a kind of mob behavior where habits become inherited rather than chosen.

· We tell ourselves we’re more connected, but the argument is that we’re actually more socially disconnected (Less face-to-face conversation and fewer letters. Less table-talk, debate, and real discourse). “Connection” becomes electronic while human connection declines.

· This shift has contributed to a decline in critical thinking, focus, and the ability to form opinions without falling into shallow thinking and fallacies.

· Distraction is designed, because attention is the new currency: whoever captures attention captures money (sales, sponsorships, subscriptions).

· The modern incentive system rewards drama and entertainment, whether real or staged, because that builds an audience fastest.

· People increasingly prefer to be amused rather than educated.

· Television is monologic communication (one-way), but social media “leveled the playing field” for creators. Almost anyone can post anything without needing professional equipment or gatekeepers. The downside is a flood of content—much of it nonsense with little intellectual value (drama, thirst traps, pranks, overeating content, endless clips, AI slop, etc.).

· Constant short-form skimming trains shallow attention. We touch many topics but gain depth in none. We are everywhere but nowhere.

· Postman’s warning about people “knowing of many things, but about very little” is even more relevant now.

· We’ve lost deep focus, reading stamina, and boredom tolerance. You can see it in public: people on phones at restaurants, ignoring the person in front of them.

So, for part 3, we’ll take a look at some of the things we can do to combat these issues.

Part 3 – Reading, Writing, and Regaining Control

At the beginning of part one, I stated that life is hard. That we want it to be easier and look for ways to make it easier. However, life isn’t supposed to be easy. Hard things make us better. Challenges allow us to grow. We should often seek out challenges, not shy away from them. One challenge I could think of right away is probably reading this entire article. Most people don’t finish a YouTube video, even if it’s just a few minutes. So, to read an article for, what, let’s say, maybe ten minutes, is a challenge. If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably much better off than most people who quit before now.

Other than finishing this article, I would start by taking inventory of what you do currently. Your phone will likely tell you how much time you spend on it and where. Which apps you spend a lot of time on. Or think about how much time you spend on Netflix or some sort of televised content. How much brain rot you consume. Next, I would question popular thinking (this I learned from John C. Maxwell in his book How Successful People Think). What’s popular may not be for you. Doing something because it is popular is a mistake. This mistake is one many of us make in our childhood and often carry the same pattern into adulthood. There’s a term for this, argumentum ad populum, which is a logical error that asserts a belief or action is correct or good because it’s popular or a lot of people support it, while ignoring any evidence to support it. This could also be called the bandwagon fallacy. That is to say: something isn’t right just because it’s popular. To begin questioning what’s popular, you could also ask yourself:

· Am I following what’s popular or what’s right?

· Who am I following? Are they the right person to follow?

· Do I find myself constantly on the side of the majority or do I think independently?

· Have I become better or worse from the use of social media?

· Has my ability to focus increased or decreased over the last few years?

· What was the last good book I read? What’s the next book I should read?

· When was the last time I had a good conversation in person?

· When was the last time I wrote a letter? Or anything at all?

· Was I fully present at the last thing I did or was I on my phone the whole time?

· Am I using technology or is technology using me?

I’m sure I could come up with more questions, but I think this is a great place to start your pondering. Introspection is important. Not always comfortable, but necessary.

Once we understand how we spend our time and where we spend our time, we should reevaluate our priorities. We need to learn to scroll less. I could think of no better book on habits than Atomic Habits by James Clear. To borrow from his phenomenal book, we should make scrolling difficult and unattractive. We should make reading and writing easy and attractive. How does one do this? Not immediately. Start small and work up. Let’s say, instead of scrolling before bedtime, we could read a book instead. Place a book near your bed that’s too obvious to overlook. Leave your phone elsewhere. You could leave your TBR (to be read) list in a clear place as well as a constant reminder that there’s more for you to read (view mine here). There’s always more to learn. When you find yourself scrolling, don’t be hard on yourself. Just course correct and do something else. Remind yourself that scrolling is what’s causing you problems. This will quickly make scrolling unattractive if that’s what you truly believe. The key is learning to replace scrolling with something better. I’m using reading as an example here, but it could be something entirely different. I wouldn’t want to mold you into something you aren’t equipped to be. If you like art, then do that.

As far as social media goes, it’s not always about scrolling. Comparison could be a problem for some. Jealousy is still very much a real thing. Not everybody likes it when you post your new car. Not everybody wants to see your graduation or new job post. Some people just need to constantly compare themselves with you. They get upset when you’re “doing better than them.” If that’s you, remember what Theodore Roosevelt once said, that “Comparison is the thief of joy.” Don’t worry about what everyone else has. There’s no need to compete – you’ll never win. There’s always going to be someone with more stuff than you. Or some faster car or whatever. They call this need to get more “keeping up with the Joneses.” Worry about yourself. The more you focus on others, the less you work for what you want anyway. So, keep the priority on yourself, not your competition.

Since we’re talking about scrolling less and comparing ourselves to others less, we should reconnect with real people. Go outside. Meet with friends. Get off the internet and away from technology. Social media connections aren’t real connections. Remember, social media is filled with fake nonsense. Go out and experience something closer to reality (I say it this way because even though people are very real in the sense of them being real people, they can be acting rather fake, but, nonetheless, real connections are good for the soul). Keep your phone in your pocket as much as possible. Resist the urge to keep going back to your phone. Learn to have better conversations.

If you’re going to keep scrolling, which most of us probably will, at least reset your algorithm. Unfollow toxic pages and people. Stop interacting with toxic content. If you’re going to continue with social media, at least use some sort of filtering system. Unfollow the fake news pages. Unfriend the people who share garbage. Remember that you are the one who can control your social media intake, but you have to take control yourself, or your intake will be controlled by the algorithms. Choose wise content to follow and interact with. Follow pages that teach you real things. Follow pages that share good books. Find topics you love and interact with them. Find something intellectual. Find a topic you want to explore and actually explore it.

Reading a book on that topic is a great place to start. Read a few pages per day if you’re not a fluent reader yet. By reading a topic you want to know about, you’re far more likely to read the book. You’ll engage your brain again. You’ll get back to thinking again. Your creative sparks will start lighting up again. It’s cool to know a lot about one subject. To become an expert in something is a great thing. Focus your intention and go deep into that subject. The surface-level stuff isn’t cutting it. We need more. We need better.

Writing is a great thing, too, once you start to journal (or start journaling again). Reading and writing can help our deep focus. Of course, reading consistently will build our reading stamina as well. I’ve been reading for about seven or eight years now, and I can tell you I was not always a great reader. My tolerance was minimal. I grew up hating reading (darn school system). I was a bad writer as well. I hated writing just as much as reading. By now, you can tell I enjoy writing a lot more than I did years ago. But that’s because I’ve learned to love it. I’m not sure how great I am at it, but I surely write better than when I did in school. And there are good reasons for that.

Writing (by hand) forces a person to think about what they’re going to write. There is no autocorrect function in the pens I write with. I have to write out each letter, word, sentence, and paragraph. That not only slows me down, but it also makes me formulate my ideas. It forces me to think. It makes me think about the problems I am addressing and the solutions to provide. I need to reflect on my experiences and see if my solutions are worthy to recommend. That is to say, writing involves depth. It’s not an easy task. I’ve edited my old work before, and I can tell you certainly that good writing is not easy. But, as with anything, we get better with practice and reflective experience. So get to writing.

For your convenience, I’ve also added the main points for part three. They are:

· Life isn’t meant to be easy. Hard things improve you; challenges are opportunities to grow, and you should seek them out rather than avoid them.

· Even sustained reading is a challenge now. Finishing an article (or even a short video) takes focus that most people don’t have.

· Take inventory of your attention. Check your phone stats and habits (apps, Netflix/TV, “brain rot” intake) to see where your time is actually going.

· Question popular thinking. Don’t do things just because they’re popular. Recognize argumentum ad populum / the bandwagon fallacy and practice independent thinking.

· Use self-audit questions to drive introspection. Ask yourself who you follow, whether you’re improving, how your focus has changed, what you’re reading, and whether you control tech or it controls you.

· Reevaluate priorities and reduce scrolling. Make scrolling harder and less attractive; make reading and writing easier and more attractive. Start small and build consistency.

· Design your environment to win. Put a book by the bed, keep your phone away, keep a visible TBR list, and replace bedtime scrolling with a few pages of reading.

· Course-correct. When you catch yourself scrolling, refocus on something better.

· Replace scrolling with something meaningful. Reading is one option, but the bigger point is swapping empty consumption for a better activity that fits you (art, etc.).

· Social media can trigger comparison and jealousy. Competing is unwinnable (comparison is the thief of joy). Focus on yourself, not status games or “keeping up with the Joneses.”

· Reconnect with real people and real life. Go outside, meet friends, have in-person conversations, and reduce compulsive phone-checking.

· If you stay on social media, curate it aggressively. Reset your algorithm. Unfollow toxic pages, stop engaging with garbage, filter what you consume, and follow content that teaches and challenges you.

· Go deep, not surface-level. Choose topics you genuinely care about, explore them intentionally, and use books to build real knowledge and expertise.

· Reading and writing rebuild focus and stamina. Consistent practice increases attention span and sparks creativity.

· Journaling (especially by hand) forces depth. No autocorrect, slower pace, more deliberate thinking. Writing becomes a tool for reflection, problem-solving, and clarifying ideas.

· Good writing is hard. It demands thought, revision, and honesty. That’s exactly the kind of challenge that makes you better.

That opening sentence was over-extended on purpose. It’s supposed to be a little bit difficult, because that’s what this essay is about. We love easy sentences. They make for an easy read. But when they get longer and hold various ideas, the author forces you to pay attention, put in a little bit of work, and those longer sentences may offer good insight worth pondering over before moving forward. We like when things are easy. But everything isn’t supposed to be easy. As Seneca said, “Excellence withers without an adversary.” We need to challenge ourselves in some way or face atrophy. The writer who uses AI to write for them starts to lose their writing skills. The video creator who uses AI to write their script starts losing their creative thinking (and originality). Technology is great to own, but not so great when technology owns you. Especially the internet and social media.

The internet has given us access to information and connectivity worldwide. But not all information is good information. We’re drowning in a sea of content, noise, and distractions (There was a time not long ago when restaurants didn’t have screens, and neither did cars, airplanes, and gas station pumps). This is done on purpose, and it’s not for your benefit. This is one of the many reasons why reading has become more challenging for younger generations. We have put the books down to pick up the phones, and can’t seem to get away from them. That’s because social media platforms are designed to get your attention and keep it. They want you on their platforms. They tailor your “feed” to things you like. This is why when you like a video of a cat pouncing on another cat, and share it with a friend, you start being fed more cat videos. Whatever you spend time watching a lot of, and engage with (liking and sharing), you get more of (even the AI slop). When you come across something you don’t like, all you have to do is swipe. Just move your thumb across the screen. It’s that easy. They make it as easy as possible for a reason. It’s not intellectually challenging. It’s so simple that anyone can do it.

What’s not-so-easy is critical thinking, deep conversations, and personal reflection. Those require real work. Real thought. It’s difficult, and since people are tired after working all day, they don’t see a reason for deep thought. They’re searching for rest and relaxation, and though I do advocate for those things, there’s a time and place for everything (see Ecclesiastes 3). If all the work you do is at your job, then it’s highly unlikely you’ll grow as a person. Social media and the internet could be taking a lot more of your time than you realize. That’s one of the top excuses I hear from people today. “I don’t read because I don’t have time” is a lie. We all have the time; we just spend time differently.

There are better alternatives to doomscrolling. I’m not saying to get rid of your social media or internet – I won’t even do that myself. I enjoy a little bit of scrolling through cat videos, and I laugh at the occasional fart videos. To quote Seneca again, “Excess in anything becomes a fault.” He’s talking about the virtue of Temperance, or moderation. So, I am saying to scroll less. To keep doomscrolling at a minimum. This will help free up time for more productive opportunities or, at least, better use of our time. We can:

• Read

• Write

• Art

• Music

• Exercise

• Fellowship

Read

Philosophy, novels, essays, self-help, business, history, and biography books are there for you to read and gain knowledge from. Just don’t read smut. You’re better than that. Don’t just read. Read well. Read often.

Write

You could write an essay or a letter. They don’t have to be good, and they surely don’t have to be published. You could write down your goals and the steps on how to achieve them. You could write in your journal. You could write out your schedule and tasks in a weekly planner. Writing has intellectual benefits, such as helping you clarify your thinking. It can improve your reasoning and logical skills (slowing down to identify propositions and conclusions). Writing out a problem can help break it down into parts, giving you a better view of things.

Art

You could draw, paint (or Painting with a Twist), go to a pottery class, or even search up a tutorial on how to do those things better for next time. Art takes your attention and focus. It could even be a form of therapy for some.

Exercise

You could lift weights, walk around the neighborhood, go on a hike, swim or play sports, or even take a cold plunge. A cold shower, at least. Some sort of physical activity is great for the mind. Fresh air and sunlight are probably good, too.

Fellowship

Get together with others and do something fun. But try to stay off your phones. Have a conversation. It doesn’t have to be a philosophical one. Ask them how they are and what’s going on in their life. Discuss great ideas and avoid gossiping about others. We’re trying to get away from brainrot.

These are just a few of the tools we have against the brainrot culture. We need to get back to pen and paper. We need to get away from screens and endless waves of information.

We need more art, less artificial intelligence.

More exercise, less excessive information.

More fellowship, less fighting with strangers on the internet.

More thinking, less throwing our time away doomscrolling.

More productivity, less propaganda.

Remember, it’s our minds and future at stake. And right now, we’re losing the war on brainrot.

Terms

AI Slop – slang for cheap, mass-produced AI-generated content that’s made to farm clicks and engagement, not to inform or entertain

Brainrot – slang for the feeling that the mind is getting dulled, or “melting” from consuming low-quality, addictive content

Disinformation – wrong information on purpose

Doomscrolling – the habit of endlessly scrolling through content

Misinformation – wrong information, but the person spreading it believes it’s true

Painting With a Twist – “Paint and sip studio where guests drink wine and create art with guidance from artist-entertainers” (Apple Maps About)

Propaganda – information (messages, stories, images, slogans) designed to shape people’s beliefs and behavior
Smut – sexually explicit content, especially in writing

1. The End of Education by Neil Postman

2. Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman

3. Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

4. Recursion by Blake Crouch

5. Casino Royale by Ian Fleming

6. Live and Let Die by Ian Fleming

The first book I completed this year was Neil Postman’s Technopoly after I watched a YouTube video from Jared Henderson. I wanted to read Postman’s other works, which is why I grabbed the ones you see below. I’ve already started Recursion, and I grabbed Dark Matter because of its great reviews. Casino Royale and Live and Let Die are part of a series about James Bond, or 007, at the recommendation of reading from Tristan Tate.

7. The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

8. The Word for World is Forest by Usula K. Le Guin

9. The Trial by Franz Kafka

10. Measure What Matters by John Doerr

11. Neuromancer by William Gibson

12. Young Men and Fire by Norman Maclean

In 2025, I had read The Dispossessed by Le Guin and thought it was… different. Not terrible. A little hard to follow. But I enjoyed it overall, so I grabbed some of her other works. Metamorphosis was cool, so I got another Kafka work. I’m not sure who inspired the other reads - Neuromancer and Young Men and Fire - but I’ve read the first two chapters of the latter, and it’s pretty good so far. For a book about forest fires and young men dying in one, it’s funny. I love Maclean’s writing style.

13. Financial Intelligence by Karen Berman, Joe Knight and John Case

14. Patton’s Prayer by Alex Kershaw

15. Traction by Gabriel Weinberg and Justin Mares

16. History Matters by David McCullough

17. The Hard Thing about Hard Things by Ben Horowitz

18. Inspired by Marty Cagan

Finanical Intelligence, Traction, The Hard Thing about Hard Things, and Inspired are business related reads. I just started a new company and wanted to freshen up on business operations and strategy. Patton’s Prayer is a New York Times Bestseller about General George Patton during the second World War. History Matters is a very short read (selected essays) from the legend David McCullough, who’s done an amazing number of works.

19. The Wager by David Grann

20. The Diary of a CEO by Steven Partlett

21. Polostan by Neal Stephenson

22. Soldier of Destiny by John Reeves

23. Superbloom by Nicholas Carr

The Wager is a story of “shipwreck, survival, and savegry, culminating in a court room that reveals a shocking truth.” The Disary of a CEO is business related for my new business. Sioldier of Destiny is an “original, thought-provoking look at Ulysses S. Grant, Soldier of Destiny evokes the life of the general through his conflicted connection to slavery, allowing readers a clearer understanding of this great American.” Polostan is another work from Neal Stephenson, which I have a few of his already. Superbloom is kind of its own class. It’s about the internet, technology, and how “social media has warped our sense of self and society.” His previous work, The Shallows, was a rough read for me, but I got through it and was glad to have finished it.

So that’s the list.

I hope you find value in it.

The Amazon links are there for you and help support this Substack at no addional cost to you. Or, you could always find cheaper options elsewhere, like ThriftBooks.

Make reading cool.

1. Set Goals

“If a man knows not which port he sails, no wind is favorable.” – Seneca

We need to know where we’re going so we can move in that direction. We don’t want to be aimless. We’ll end up in the same place we started and see no progress.

2. Kaizen (改善)

Japanese for continuous improvement. Get a little bit better every single day. It was Zeno who said, “Well-being is realized in small steps, but is truly no small thing.” Moving in the right direction with consistency is key.

3. Don’t Just Read, Read Well

Most people know how to read, but may not know how to read well. The difference is night and day. You must immerse yourself in the book – underline, star, write in the margins, draw, take notes, extract important information to apply to your own life. Reflect a little bit before moving to the next chapter. Look up the definition of words you don’t know so you understand the author’s message.

4. Essentialism

This comes from the book, Essentialism, by Greg McKeown. We should focus on the essentials and give less attention to the nonessential or the trivial. We waste so much time and effort on meaningless things. This needs to stop.

5. Keep a Commonplace Book

Store your notes, quotes, ideas, etc. in a commonplace book. You won’t remember all your ideas (we always seem to forget the very best ones), and we surely won’t remember everything we read. Write down the important stuff and keep it in one place. You can organize it later, but for now, just get it down.

6. Be Content

“It is not the man who has little, but the one who craves more that is poor.” – Seneca

This mind sound hypocritical coming from someone who bought a new Corvette this year, but rest assured, I was always content with my other cars. They were old cash cars that I took good care of. I’ve always been grateful for them, even though they weren’t new or “cool” and far some sports cars. You probably won’t get more if you’re not grateful for what you have now. Be content with what you have – it could be taken away at any moment.

7. Read at Least 1 Book Per Month

Schools left out crucial information and strategies for success in life. This was done on purpose – you’re supposed to be a slave. You’re supposed to be ignorant. But the good thing is that information can’t always be contained. People a lot smarter than us write books on subjects they know a lot about. We live in a world full of information, and sure, a lot of that information is worthless, but if you can find the right stuff, cling to that. It isn’t a good idea to stop learning or to stop reading.

8. It May Not Be Malice

This one is a mental model. Never attribute malice to what may be attributed to incompetence. It’s called Halnon’s Razor. It means not to default to malicious intent without clear evidence. Sometimes, people just make mistakes. They may not have been trying to harm you.

9. The Map is Not the Territory

Another mental model. Maps can be wrong. Our ideas and plans can be wrong. The events of right now may not represent all of life or the entire story. Life is full of moments, and each moment could be unique. In other words, a bad day doesn’t equate to a bad life. What’s right in front of you may not be the full picture. Zoom out.

10. Give Yourself a Break

Rest is essential to the best performance. Burnout only leads to lower performance and worse decision-making. It’s not weak to want a break from the grind. You’re allowed to take time off. You’re allowed to catch up on your sleep. Our bodies weren’t made for endless grinding. Some of us find this out the hard way.

11. Always Say Less than Necessary

This is one of the laws from Robert Greene’s 48 Laws of Power. He explains that the more we talk, the more likely we are to say something stupid. We could end up looking foolish or arrogant as a result. We could lose a business deal or a potential relationship. A lot of talking may also make you appear as if you’re hiding something or trying to cover something up. Suspicions arise, and your power has diminished. As Zeno said, we have two ears and one mouth for a reason. Listen more than you talk.

12. Return the Shopping Cart

If you can’t do the small things, you won’t be able to handle the big things. The shopping cart is easy to return, yet some people don’t do it. This can easily tell a lot about a person. They are cutting corners on the small stuff, which means they could be cutting corners on the big stuff. Don’t be like that. You’re better than that.

13. Attack Debt Relentlessly

If you don’t have debt, then good for you. It’s a great thing to be debt-free! As the Bible says, “The borrower is slave to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7). There is a lot of predatory lending in the world today, especially in the United States. You must be careful of these credit card companies that charge insane interest rates (like 23% or 26% APR or more). This debt keeps people from building real wealth. Get rid of “bad” debt expeditiously. It’s better to pay yourself than it is to pay interest to these companies!

14. Trim the Fat

Most of us have a lot of things we don’t need. Extra clothes. Extra books. Extra stuff. If you haven’t used your stuff in the last year or two, it’s probably best to get rid of it. Donate it. Throw it away. Clean up your living space. It’s not to say to get rid of your emergency supplies, but more about getting rid of the t-shirts and socks with holes in them. Why are you still wearing that?

15. Show Appreciation, Or At Least Tell Them

We probably don’t tell the people around us how much we appreciate them enough. Maybe you do, and that’s good, but I’m willing to bet a lot of us don’t. We’re caught up in the goals and the grind or whatever we’re doing, we forget to say thanks. We forget to show or tell others how much their work and contributions help us. We must stop for a minute and remind them what they mean to us. It doesn’t take much, and a little bit of appreciation can go a long way.

16. Take a Walk

It’s almost always a good idea to get outside and get the body moving. Fresh air is great, too. Disconnect from technology and get back to nature for a little bit. Good ideas come more often to those who walk a lot (philosophers did this).

17. Beware the Mask

Also from Robert Greene, The Laws of Human Nature. A lot of us wear these sort of “masks” and present ourselves as something we aren’t. I really started to see this when I was in middle school. Teachers would change their tone of voice and facial expressions almost instantly. Or how the girls I dated would get around their friends and do the same thing – their pitch changed, the smiles faked, the fake hugs. It was all rather bizarre to me, and I couldn’t really explain it at the time as I can now. But that’s how people are. We have to see through these displays of acting and see what’s real.

18. Actions Speak Louder Than Words

People can say anything they want. Words are easy to come up with. Especially the highly curated speeches with fancy syntax and delivery. People are easily persuaded with the right words and tone. But words are meaningless. Action counts. What you’ve accomplished speaks far more for you than what you say you’re going to do. Anyone can have dreams. Few actually achieve them. Stop talking so much and start doing things.

19. Clean Your Desk

Put another way, Make Your Bed. Start the day off by accomplishing something small and easy. Making your bed, cleaning your desk, cleaning your car, folding the laundry, replacing the shower filter, etc. The key is getting something done early to build momentum for the rest of the day. It’s also nice when things are clean.

20. Stop Procrastinating

“The sure sign of an amateur is he has a million plans and they all start tomorrow.” – Stephen Pressfield, Turning Pro

Does that sound familiar? I’ll start tomorrow. I’ll start again on Monday. We like to put stuff off for another day. It’s easier than doing the work. It satisfies the lazy person (at least for now). This tendency is causing us a lot of problems and unfinished projects. We have to do the work now, not later. I’m writing up this Rules for Life post now, on Christmas morning. I’m not waiting until tomorrow. Neither should you.

21. Be Precise In Your Speech

This Rule for Life comes from Jordan Peterson’s 12 Rules for Life book. Words matter. Choose them carefully. Save the jargon for your colleagues. Be clear when communicating with others. Think about what you’re going to say before you say it – you don’t want to say something foolish.

22. Consult Your Board of Directors

What would Jesus do? What would the expert in this situation do? How would the philosopher think about this situation? What would the leader do if they were in my shoes? Whenever you need help, you can ask for it from someone who can help you. You can also refer to the Bible (lots of great wisdom there). You could refer to your notes. Your books. Your commonplace book. You can look at things from different angles, like the various lenses of the philosophers or experts.

23. Be Good

“No matter what anyone says or does, my task is to be good. Like gold or emerald or purple repeating to itself, ‘No matter what anyone says or does, my task is to be emerald, my color undiminished.’” – Marcus Aurelius

We don’t control what other people say or do or think. We only control ourselves. We can choose to be good in every situation. As Epictetus said, If you want to be beautiful, make beautiful choices. So, a corollary to that, if you want to be good, make good choices. Choose goodness.

24. Respect Your Adversary

It’s no secret that we all face hardships. From toxic environments to angry people, bad weather, sudden car repairs, broken bones, and market crashes, we all face something sooner or later. The key isn’t to shy away and dodge adversities. You won’t get anything done doing that. You surely won’t grow from that. Instead, we should press on. Face what’s in front of us with courage. As Seneca said, “Excellence withers without an adversary.” Problems make us stronger. They make us better. We use our adversaries to grow and learn. They may deserve some criticisms and doubts because of their evil and twisted ways, but at least have a little respect. If they hadn’t challenged us, we wouldn’t be as good as we are today. We may not care for them all that much. We may even chuckle when they receive what they deserve, but at least we can tip our hats.

25. Master Your Judgements

“It’s not things that upset us: it’s our judgements about things.” – Epictetus

Everything doesn’t have to be “good” or “bad.” They can be nothing at all or indifferent. We have a natural tendency to put a label on things, even when it’s not required.

26. Add Value to Others Daily

I have an index card on my minifridge that has bullet points on it. It lists a few ways to add value to others every day. I put it on my fridge so I can view it often. It’s a constant reminder to live life in the service of others. To make others better in any way that I can. Maybe to offer advice or some sort of suggestion, or list options. Maybe it’s offering a book recommendation or a YouTube video to watch. Or a reminder to compliment them (see #15). Maybe offer encouragement. Either way it goes, I want to always give value to others. It’s something I learned from the G.O.A.T. of leadership, John C. Maxwell (whom I got to meet on December 6^th, 2025, right here in my hometown).

1. Control what you can, let everything else go

Also known as the dichotomy of control. This comes from Epictetus, who said that our chief task in life is to separate everything into two categories. Things we control and things we cannot control. Our focus, then, should be on what we can control and to be indifferent to everything else. The more we focus on things outside of our control, he also says, the less control we have. It’s a great exercise anyone can do in just a few minutes. You should try it.

2. Never stop learning

“Always a student” is one of my mottos. The moment we decide that we know enough, it’s only regression from there. If we aren’t getting better, we’re getting worse. As the title of one of Ryan Holiday’s books goes, Ego is the Enemy. None of us knows it all. We can never know it all. To act like it is foolish and a recipe for disaster. It’s best to remain open-minded and willing to explore a variety of topics, especially ones you know little to nothing about. It’s not about learning facts to regurgitate them at everyone else or to pretend to be intellectually superior to others. It’s so we can be smarter and make better decisions. To help contribute back to the world in some way. Living in ignorance makes for a difficult and troublesome life.

3. Focus on what’s important

Too many of us, myself included, prioritize the wrong things. We substitute what matters for what’s trivial. For our careers, we choose income over significance. We choose to argue about nonsense over living in peace. Money over happiness. Looks over character. Spending over saving. Instead of continuing in error, we should reevaluate from time to time what’s important to us and start choosing importance over insignificance.

4. People over profit

It’s one of my business principles. Actually, it’s the principle that stands above all other business principles. Too many cases, I’ve seen, where a person or company chooses profit over the care of people. Although companies focus on profits as they are necessary, most don’t realize they are making less money than they could be. It’s not because of marketing, prices of products and services, or even the products and services themselves. Though all of those things do matter, they don’t matter as much as how 1) company leadership treats their employees, and 2) how employees treat customers. When customers feel like companies care, they will stick with that company for longer than average. It may mean some short-term sacrifices (like profits), but the long-term benefits outweigh them (like more profit over time). Studies have shown this, and this is the primary reason how I predicted the fall of a billion-dollar company years before it happened.

5. Premeditatio Malorum

Latin for the premeditation of evils. One of Seneca’s letters comes to mind – he said something like, “rehearse them in your mind: war, shipwreck, etc,” and in another letter had said, “the unexpected blow lands the heaviest.” It means we need to prepare for things in advance. Prepare for what might not go as planned. In today’s world, we have Murphy’s Law (what can go wrong will go wrong). Traffic changes our arrival time. Storms may cancel outside plans. We can randomly get a flat tire or get sick. Companies lay people off, and maybe we lose our jobs. Maybe we lose power and sit in the dark. Anything can happen. Backup plans and preparation can turn an emergency into an inconvenience. They can soften the blows of hardships. We shouldn’t give ourselves crippling anxiety about potential dangers and obstacles ahead, but we should think forward a little bit and prepare for whatever may come our way. As the saying goes, it’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. Stack up food and clothes. Get a first-aid kit and more batteries. Maybe extra blankets and portable chargers. You never know…

6. Old age doesn’t equal wisdom or understanding

Maybe you were, like me, told to respect your elders when you were young. There’s certainly a level of agreeability – kids shouldn’t go around disrespecting adults without consequences. But what a lot of us miss is that adults don’t always know the answers to the questions we have. You can be an adult, or let’s say a senior citizen, and still be ignorant of things. Older generations don’t know as much about technology and phones, and social media as much as the younger generations. The doctor probably knows a lot of things about the human body and nutrition, but it’s entirely possible that they don’t know it all. Maybe you or I know things they don’t. In our age today, ChatGPT scores higher on tests than most experts in their field. You must be careful of who you listen to. They may be clinging to old information or the status quo and refuse to “get with the times.” Not everybody adapts and continues to learn. Double-check your sources and information. As the military says, “trust, but verify.”

7. Experience is the best teacher

I like teaching and reading. I like watching YouTube videos and listening to music. But I can’t read a book on engines and then go to work on someone’s car. I can’t listen to a rock song and then go play the guitar riffs. Sometimes we hear good advice or write down good ideas, but we never truly understand something until we experience it. It’s a great idea to learn from the experience of others, let’s say, like burning a hot stove. I don’t need to touch the stove myself to know my hand will hurt. I don’t need to murder someone to know I’ll go to jail for many years. With our habits and daily decisions, like money and skills, sometimes we need to learn from experience to get better. As I’ve heard somewhere before, “knowledge is knowing, but wisdom is doing.”

8. Forgiveness is key

Forgiveness isn’t always about the other person. Sometimes, it’s about us. Holding onto a grudge rots a person from the inside out. Don’t let hate or revenge fester on the inside. You’ll end up doing more harm to yourself than what the other person did to you. As Epictetus lectured, “It’s not about what happens to you that matters, it’s about how you respond to what happens.” You could resort to rage and revenge, or you could take a step back and think about the long-term effects of holding it all inside. You could just decide to let it all go. It’s not impossible. You’d be better off forgiving them.

9. Take a walk

We weren’t made to sit inside all day. We weren’t made to sit in traffic so much of our lives. Those things aren’t natural for human beings. Fresh air is wonderful. Connecting with nature is awesome. Letting the blood flow and moving your muscles is great for your body. Walking is how great ideas come to us. Plenty of philosophers came up with great ideas (not all the ideas were great) that we still talk about today. I can’t tell you a single time that I regretted taking a walk. I did catch myself in the rain a couple of times, but I was still glad I got out and got moving. Keep moving. There is a time for stillness, but too much of anything turns bad. Get out and get going.

10. Burnout is not a badge of honor

This one I learned from Essentialism by Greg McKeown. Too many of us think that we need to keep grinding and end up hurting ourselves because of it. As I hinted at in number 9, humans have limitations. Yes, work hard (and equally smart) and work well, but know your limits. If you’re missing out on a lot of time with family and friends because of work, you’re doing it wrong. If you’re slamming three energy drinks a day to stay awake and keep working, you’re doing it wrong (2 is my personal limit). You don’t get an award for burning out. The cons outweigh the pros. You’re allowed rest and relaxation. Your body actually needs it, despite what the common man says.

11. Most people are brick walls

“It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows,” said Epictetus. So many people argue online (I’ve done it). So many people argue with their coworkers or their spouses. Most of the time, we argue because we think we’re right. Rarely do people admit they are wrong or claim not to know about a subject. They’re afraid to admit they don’t know. They don’t want to be embarrassed. There’s wisdom in admitting you don’t know. You’re not Socrates or anything, but you’re on the right track to start with. “I need to do more research.” When you’re an expert, and you argue with someone who knows less than you about the subject, it’s pretty easy to tell. The problem is when we continue to argue with them, knowing there’s a high probability that they double down and keep pretending like they know what they’re talking about. We only waste our time. It’s best to move along.

12. Money can’t buy happiness, but poverty can’t buy anything

The prosperity gospel and the poverty gospel are opposites, but equally garbage. Money is an essential tool, not being good or bad. When we chase wealth at the expense of everything else, there’s a problem. When we put money above what truly matters, like health, time with friends and family, and joyful activities, we’ve got a problem. As the saying goes, money doesn’t buy happiness. Temporary happiness, maybe, but surely not lasting happiness. Poverty, the inversion of wealth, is also to be avoided. Life is far more difficult for broke people. Broke people struggle to get ahead. There are so many financial traps and loan sharks, and bad habits poor people must overcome to get ahead financially. It’s not easy. We need to find our “golden mean.” We need to make money and create a substantial life. We don’t, however, need to place money so high on our priority list that we forget what truly matters. Most of us know how to make a living, but it takes a lot more than that to make a life.

13. What’s slow will grow, what’s fast doesn’t last

Do you remember that story about the rabbit and the turtle? Long story short, the turtle wins the race, contrary to what most of us would think when comparing a fast animal racing a slow one. The key is that it’s not about speed. It’s about direction and consistency. Slow, steady steps towards the goals you have. Stocks that rise fast usually fall fast, too. The same goes for a lot of businesses. Here one day but gone the next. Other businesses stick around for generations. The person who eats right and works out consistently will see positive changes over time vs the person who eats junk food and works out intensely. Because, again, it’s about consistency, not intensity. Pizza rolls are better when made in the oven vs the microwave. Test that if you want to. I dare you.

14. Social media are just highlights and far from reality

We put whatever we want on social media. Many of us, especially creators, spend a lot of time and attention on what we post. We are creating an image. We are shaping other people’s perceptions. It’s up to each of us to use our discernment and decide what’s real from what’s not. People pretend to wake up in the morning, but all the lights are already on. People can post brand new designer bags, but return them the same day, or they could have borrowed them from a friend. Anyone can fake a smile. Photos are but an instant. They don’t capture context. It’s all just a highlight reel. We do things to make other people like and admire us. It’s unnatural.

15. Actions speak louder than words

“All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” – Proverbs 14:23. Anyone can talk and say whatever they want. “I’m going to start a business,” or “I’m going to get a job,” or “I’m going to subscribe to Jon Fibonacci’s Substack,” but not everybody follows through. It’s so much easier said than done, as the saying goes. Planning is important. Putting together your roadmap is important. You have to plan and figure things out as much as you can before you dive into things. I get that. But too much planning, too much talking, too much dreaming, are all bad. We have to, as some point, stop planning and execute. Do it scared. Do it without fear of failure. Move in the direction of your goals. We can deal with setbacks when we get there. One of my favorite laws in 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene is #9 – Win through action, never through argument. It’s because smart people, and people in power, believe what they see, not what they hear. So… more action, less talking.

16. Social media scrolling is rewiring our brains and decreasing our attention spans

I don’t think most people who started reading this will make it this far into the post, but if you’re here, that’s good. Social media has rewired our brains, and not in the ways you probably want. The endless scrolling through social media platforms has, over time, decreased our ability to pay attention. I’m sure you know this by now. I’m sure you’ve been able to see the difference in your own life. Maybe you struggle to complete books or movies. Maybe you struggle to read long posts without scrolling away to the next one. You need to be careful with social media. The same goes for me, too. We need to be careful. The art of concentration and deep focus has been under attack for some time now. We need to reverse this degeneration. We need to get back into reading and focused attention, and deep study. We need to get back into depth of topics, and not so much variety of topics. This post is specifically for variety, but I have other posts that are about depth. Replace doomscrolling with better habits like reading or writing.

17. Read a variety of books

Many of us grew up with a disdain for reading. Schools don’t teach good books. Much less, schools don’t even teach how to read well. Anyway, if you ever do learn to read well, I have found that reading various topics has its benefits. It’s cool to know different topics and then make connections between those topics. Like leadership and communication, for example. They are different things, but they go together very well. Then you could add body language and micro-expressions. Laws of power. Habits. Again, different things, but all go together like a sort of spider’s web. Knowing one subject is good, but your blade will be a bit duller than the person who knows multiple subjects and can blend them together. Plus, reading a variety is fun. The same type of book over and over is boring, like the same genre of music all day. Maybe you like it, but I can’t enjoy that. I need variety. Depth does matter, as I mentioned in 16, but once depth has been undertaken, we can then seek variety.

18. Have a sense of humor and wit

Good communicators, good leaders, good comedians, good teachers, and good friends all have at least one thing in common. They have humor and/or wit. They can be funny and sarcastic. They can take the tension out of a situation with comedic relief. Even in the Bible, Jesus had a sense of humor, too. Or try Proverbs (like how a nagging wife is like a leaky roof during a storm). There are times to be serious and professional, sure, but there are also times when humor is important. The college professor lecturing, for example. Or the military leader talking over rules with their subordinates. Humor and wit can help deliver the message and get people to remember. Nobody likes boring teachers and boring friends.

19. More people are watching you than you think

People love to gossip. People love to talk about other people when they aren’t in the room. Your name floats around more than you’d think. Trust me, I’ve had plenty of experience in high school, the Navy, and having my first book hit #1 on the Amazon chart back in 2021. It doesn’t take much on your part to get your name out there. Be yourself. Be bold. Do what you do without worrying about how other people will think. We can’t fully control what other people think, no matter how much social media editing and posting we do. Businesses are always looking for more clients or leaders in their business. Curious haters always scroll and look for things to be jealous of. There’s a reason our stories would get 1,000 views but only 20-30 likes. Engagement is one thing, but being seen is another story (pun intended). There are a lot of eyes on you. There are a lot of chats that you don’t have access to. Phone calls, emails, etc., that you don’t see, and you’re there. Use this information wisely!

20. Micro-expressions

I learned a lot more about this in The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene. The tone people use, not just the words people say. The body language people use. The staring into the eyes or the staring away. The speed at which people talk. The amount someone talks. The eye rolls. The fake smiles. The fake “how are you?” questions are asked in a much higher tone. These are messages in themselves and can tell you a lot about a person’s true intentions or feelings. I won’t claim to be an expert at this, but I can tell more often than not when someone is lying or feeling uncomfortable but pretending otherwise.

21. Turn off the television

There’s almost nothing good on television. The news is fake and designed to stir your emotions. Ask yourself why the “news” is always negative. It’s often anti-Republican. It’s not good and certainly not what it used to be. You don’t really learn anything (except maybe anger). You end up wasting so much time. You get bombarded with ads for things you don’t need. YOU EVEN PAY MONEY FOR IT. I’m confident you can find many better things to do than sit in front of the TV for hours on end. I don’t even see how people enjoy sports anymore. With the rise of gambling sites and apps, sports have now become a casino and no longer serve as competition. Too many referees make bad calls to change the outcome of games. It’s all controlled, and there’s just no fun to it or sport to it anymore.

22. Surround yourself with people who bring out your best

“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with,” said Jim Rohn. If you haven’t noticed by now, we start to pick up on people’s mannerisms after some time. We start to use the language other people use. We start to have similar goals and habits. Even if you don’t, let’s say, have a lot of friends you spend time with, you probably do spend a lot of time with coworkers. It works the same way – we start to talk and act like them. It’s a subtle but noticeable thing if you pay attention. The question, then, becomes about what type of people we are friends or acquainted with. Are they people making us better or worse? Are we making other people or worse with our own language and habits? As the Bible says, iron sharpens iron. Are we associating with iron or wooden sticks? We can’t change the people around us, but we can change the people around us (think about that one for a minute before moving on).

23. It’s not that life is short; we just waste a lot of it

There’s a small but powerful book that was put together with some of the letters from Seneca called On The Shortness of Life, in which he said, “It’s not that life is short… we just waste a lot of it…. Life is long if we know how to use it.” He also argues that we put so much effort into guarding our personal property but do very little to guard what’s most precious to us – our time. It’s a great book, and you should read it. It’s a wonderful reminder to, like I mentioned earlier in #3, focus on what’s important. We don’t know when our last day will be. We need to make the most out of today, whether that means enjoying the moment or being productive towards a goal that we have. People die every day, and one day it’ll be our turn. Some of us will get an opportunity to know it’s coming, and we don’t want to be the ones looking back on our lives and regret wasting time on things that didn’t matter. There’s a mental model we have in today’s world called “projection,” and it’s the idea that you’re supposed to project yourself into the future and imagine the things that you could have done. So, luckily for us, we can imagine that and realign our focus today. We can start using our time wisely. We can start again to move towards virtues and away from vices.

24. It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it

If you’ve never read Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People, you should consider reading it. I know it’s old. Okay – classic. It’s one of the earliest books I can think of on communication skills. Everyone says that “communication is key,” but they don’t always know what that truly means. You can have a conversation with someone and never communicate. It’s not always about the message. Sometimes, it’s about how that message is delivered. It’s not what you say that matters as much as how you say it. Tone of voice, volume, and words all matter. You can speak softly even if you’re angry. You can hold back curse words. You can choose your words carefully before speaking. Think about this next time you’re getting into an argument or about to have a tough conversation with someone. It doesn’t have to get nasty.

25. Sometimes people don’t want advice; they just need to be heard

I can only speak for myself here, but as a man, I’m very solution-oriented. You come to me with a problem, and I’m automatically thinking of a book for you to read or some quote to help or inspire you. Maybe I think of some easy steps to get over your problem and fire those off to you. Maybe I ask questions for more details, but it’s often to help me create a solution for you! It took a long time for me to understand that not everybody wants solutions. Not everyone wants awesome quotes or books. Sometimes, people don’t want advice. They just want to be heard. They just want someone to listen. It’s hard to listen. Well, at least for me it is. I’m not used to sitting quietly and paying attention. It takes a lot of work, believe it or not. But, done correctly (or at least not done incorrectly), many will tell you, “thanks for listening.” They somehow feel better already!

26. Never attribute to malice what can be attributed to incompetence

Another mental model. If you haven’t read The Great Mental Models by Shane Parrish, you’re living under a rock. Anyway, so many of us think that when something “bad” happens to us or someone wrongs us in some way, that they did so because they wanted to hurt us. That they somehow planned everything out – they woke up and decided the best way to attack us, and just went with that. Sounds a bit ridiculous, right? Well, as it turns out, not everything is done out of ill intent. Sometimes people just make mistakes. Someone walks by and steps on your shoe. Maybe it’s because they didn’t see you there. The pickles you didn’t want on your chicken sandwich end up on the sandwich. Maybe the lunch rush was a bit rough for the employees, and they got your sandwich mixed up with another. Is it that big of a deal? It is quite possible that people are ignorant as well. Maybe they forgot to put their blinker on before changing lanes. Maybe they forgot your birthday because they were dealing with a crisis at home. Who knows. But one thing is for certain. Everything isn’t an attack on you. We don’t need to play victim all the time. Accidents happen. Nobody is perfect. We need to practice a little bit more forgiveness and a little bit more grace.

27. Progress, not perfection

Zeno, roughly in 300 B.C., said, “Well-being is realized by small steps, but is truly no small thing.” Like we talked about earlier in #13, slow and steady wins the race. Progress should be the focus, not perfection. If you aim for perfection, you will surely be disappointed. Almost nothing we plan goes 100% as it should. We make tiny mistakes every day (also big ones if you ask any of my ex-girlfriends). We didn’t walk as much that day. We eat a little bit too much ice cream on cheat day. We went a few miles per hour over the speed limit (don’t ask me how fast I’ve gone in the Corvette - that’s a forbidden question). Maybe we misspell a word in the corporate email or use the wrong punctuation mark. In any case, setbacks happen. We shouldn’t be too hard on ourselves, especially when it comes to learning new skills. That’s the only way to go on the progress towards mastery – forward. We learn things through trial and error. We learn from the mistakes (hopefully). The main point is that we make some sort of progress, no matter how small. Even if losing money on an investment earns us something to learn, we’ve made progress. Maybe not in the area you wanted, but progress, nonetheless.

28. Excuses sound good only to those who make them

“You can produce excuses or results, but not both,” goes the phrase (not sure who said it). We can always blame external things, but that doesn’t mean we’re entirely faultless. We can make any excuse in the world, but if you think about it, nobody really cares. You were late because of traffic – makes sense – but your boss doesn’t care about that. They’re upset because now things are behind schedule and messing up the workday. Sometimes, we don’t want to take responsibility for things going south, especially when it’s our fault. We don’t want to look bad in front of other people, especially the boss, right? Well, people respect you more for telling the truth. For owning up to what you control and fall short on. We can make excuses to justify anything – 5 more minutes in bed, one more scoop of ice cream, leave work a little bit earlier than you’re supposed to, over-leverage an investment or trade because we want to get our losses back. We can make any excuse sound sweet (pun intended). But it only sounds good to us. It’ll probably sound ridiculous and pathetic to everyone else. You try telling your personal trainer you couldn’t put the cookies down. See how they respond to that one…

29. Clothes don’t make the person, and looks can be deceiving

Everybody who looks rich isn’t actually rich. Everybody who looks poor isn’t poor. Clothes can change, but the person on the inside is still the same. Remember earlier, in #14, social media is just a highlight reel and far from reality. Most people wear masks – they put on their game face for other people. They want to look nice over being nice. They want to look rich instead of being rich. Character matters more than your clothes. “Shoes don’t make the man,” as the adage goes. The key is being comfortable in whatever you wear because you’re comfortable with who you are. I’ll give you another secret, too: people are going to judge you either way, no matter what you’ve got on. Best to have inner confidence over outward acceptance.

30. You reap what you sow

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” – Galatians 6:7. Many people have different but similar sayings, “what goes around comes around,” or “you get what you give,” but in any case, we reap what we sow. Though only part of the verse, its implications are significant. We plant seeds now and harvest them later. We invest in stock now and sell it years down the road to reap the reward (hopefully). Our future results will depend on the seeds we plant today and the habits we build along the way. As James Clear talked about in Atomic Habits, our body is a lagging indicator of our diet and fitness habits. Our bank account is a lagging indicator of our spending and savings habits. What are we planting right now? Are we setting ourselves up for fruit or failure?

31. Create your own board of directors

Sports players don’t go onto the field or the court without coaches leading from the sidelines. Fortune 500 companies have boards of directors. A restaurant has servers for customers, but managers who oversee operations. Great performers were once good students. They listen to their coaches and experts on how to become better. What to do when they fail, certain skills to work on, and practice techniques. Maybe we call an older relative for advice. Maybe we call a friend our age for advice. It’s easier to give advice than to take it since it’s easier to see a problem from the outside. In short, we all need our own advisors. People who we can count on for help. Maybe that’s a mentor like your coach or boss. Maybe it’s the successful neighbor down the street. Maybe it’s the CPA who does your taxes or the lawyer you have on retainer. Maybe it’s the pastor of your church. Either way, we all need someone in our lives who knows more than we do. They don’t have to be alive, either. We can look up to people who lived by example. Jesus, for example. Marcus Aurelius. Theodore Roosevelt. Rosa Parks. Anyone you find worth replicating. We’re our own person, of course, but we can’t do life alone. We need guardrails. We need people who can help light the path when ours is darkened.

32. You always have the option of not having an opinion

I learned this from Marcus Aurelius. You don’t need to have an opinion about everything. It doesn’t always have to be “that’s good” or “that’s bad.” Sometimes, we can simply say, “I don’t know enough to have an opinion.” We can choose not to have an opinion. Our energy can be better spent focusing on other things than judgments. Our emotions don’t have to be swayed with every headline or news event. There are times when an opinion might matter, but there are also times when an opinion isn’t needed. Or, at least, an opinion that isn’t required for you to say out loud.

But, I promised a long time ago that I would do my best as an educator, and stopping the book-of-the-month doesn’t sit right with me.

So without further delay, here’s the list:

January - How to Read a Book by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren

February - How Successful People Think by John C. Maxwell

March - Stillness is the Key by Ryan Holiday

April - Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

May - 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene (1-24)

June - 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene (25-48)

July - The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin Sharma

August - The Practice of Groundedness by Brad Stulberg

September - Clear Thinking by Shane Parrish

October - Discourses and Selected Writings by Epictetus

November - The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel

December - Letters From a Stoic by Seneca

We’ll be going over how to read, how to think, stillness, laws of power, groundedness, thinking clearly, and Stoic philosophy. A decent variety of topics regarding mindset and personal development.

The last Friday of every month, I’ll be streaming on YouTube for members of the SMS community (unless I reschedule) to go over them briefly before starting the next book.

See you then! (:

Here are some products I recommend for the trader in your family, or if you’re a trader already, some ideas to get yourself for a good start going into 2026.

1. Anti-Blue Light Glasses

These are awesome for those who spend a lot of time in front of screens. Less headaches. Easier to fall asleep (not medical advice, just personal opinion). Cheap.

2. Trading In The Zone by Mark Douglas & Paula T. Webb

One of, if not the best, books for traders. Not about strategy or charts, but about the mind. Right from the founders of the trading psychology space. Very valuable. Great read.

3. Leather Journal Notebook

Great for documenting the trading journey or taking notes. Not a cheap notebook, but one to treasure because of its quality.

Other honorable mentions

4. The Way, The Enemy, The Key Box Set by Ryan Holiday

5. Monthly Planner for 2026

6. Clear Thinking by Shane Parrish

I’m keeping the list short this year.

Quality over quantity.

You can help support this Substack by using the links above at no additional cost to you. Or you can just get them elsewhere, too.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season! (:

2. Leadership in Turbulent Times by Doris Goodwin

3. The Shallows by Nicholas Carr

4. Clear Thinking by Shane Parrish

5. The Great Mental Models by Shane Parrish

6. The Science of Rapid Skill Acquisition by Peter Hollins

7. The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin

8. Philosopher’s Mental Models by Peter Hollins

9. The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason

10. Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

11. How Successful People Grow by John C. Maxwell

12. Ethics 101 by John C. Maxwell

13. The Inner Citadel by Pierre Hadot

14. Thoughts of a Philosophical Fighter Pilot by James Stockdale

15. The Disciplined Trader by Mark Douglas (Reread)

16. Wisdom Takes Work by Ryan Holiday

17. Mastery by Robert Greene

18. Co-Intelligence by Ethan Mollic

19. Abraham Lincoln and Civil War America by William Gienapp

20. Super Thinking by Rene Ruiz

I’ve linked the Amazon products in the titles above, in case you’d like to take a look and/or purchase them for yourself or someone else. You’d be supporting me by doing so at no additional cost to you.

Hopefully, this year has been good for you guys. It’s been fun reading diverse authors and perspectives.

1. It’s Going To Take Longer Than You Think

Trading isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme. Yes, you can make a lot of money quickly, but you can lose it just as quickly, too. You need to slow down and stop trying to rush success. Be patient with yourself. Focus on studying, backtesting, forward testing, learning from your experiences, and watching quality content.

2. It’s Going to Take More Effort Than You Think

You’re not going to want to journal, but you need to. You don’t want to self-reflect, but you need to do that too. How are you going to correct your mistakes if you aren’t aware of what you’re doing wrong? You will get frustrated when you start seeing results but can’t keep them. You know you’ll see improvement, but maintaining the improvement will elude you unless you learn to correct your errors. You can learn to do more of what’s right, but it won’t help all that much if you don’t fix what you’re doing wrong. Put in the work. It takes a long time to learn anything – becoming a doctor, lawyer, etc. It's worth it. Don’t give up.

3. Social Media is a Distraction

There are plenty of course sellers out there. Many of which sell high-ticket courses and PDFs to fund their lifestyle – it doesn’t come from their trading. They rent cars and houses to market the illusion to ignorant people willing to pay for it. Not all successful people are scammers, though. There are legit ones out there. Don’t be so closed off from the shenanigans that you don’t permit yourself to learn. You’ll have to learn from people who can show expertise. If they are consistent and precise, then they are probably worth looking into. Don’t just have one mentor, though. Learn from a basket of them. One might have a better trading model than others, while someone else may have a better understanding of trading psychology. Take the best from the best. Leave everything else behind, especially if it doesn’t work. Don’t try to make it work.

4. Prioritize

There are plenty of distractions out there. Social media, technology, gossip, television shows, reality TV, etc. Cut all of that stuff out. Have no more of it. No more clubbing, wasting time wondering what others are doing, trying to do a bunch of useless stuff. It's over. Prioritize learning, reading, journaling, and your physical and mental health. You’re allowed to take a day or so off from the charts, sure, but don’t stray too far. We’ve got work to do. When you find yourself drifting, just remind yourself of what you’re supposed to be focused on. Then get back to it.

5. Small Steps, Not Large Leaps

Achieve small goals to build momentum. Make your bed in the morning. Do the small things so you’ll be able to better handle the big things. It sounds stupid, but it works. What’s slow will grow, what’s fast doesn’t last. The ones who are successful in anything they do have grown into it. They didn’t become experts overnight. They started just like you, not knowing much, but they worked their way up over time. Like a staircase, one step at a time. Don’t try to prove anything to anyone. Do it for yourself or your family. Do it for a real reason, but avoid trying to prove others wrong. They don’t care. They won’t believe you when you’re successful anyway. Let them stay stuck and struggling. It’s their fault, and you can’t convince them to learn anything. Focus on you. Focus on your steps. The large leaps will come in due time.

6. What You Need to Focus On as a Trader

You’ll get caught up in the idea that strategy is the most important aspect. You’ll think, “If I can just learn to predict the next move, I can make money.” While it sounds right, it’s not. There are three things a successful trader needs. One of them, yes, is strategy. You need a winning strategy. The other two things are risk management and psychology. They are all equally important. Everyone else will have their own opinion on what’s important, but the truth is you won’t see lasting success without having all three. A strategy without the psychological skills to follow it won’t work. A strategy also won’t work if you’re losing too much from bad risk management. You also can’t “out-psych” a bad strategy. Again, you will need to work on all three categories. Don’t get tangled up in the idea that it’s just charts. You have to work on yourself and your money management as well.

If you found this content valuable, consider dropping a like and sharing this with others so they can get value as well. If you’d like to view trading content, my YouTube channel can be found here.

1. Trade Setups Aren’t Always Worth the Risk

You can see a good trade setup forming, and you like how things look, but something doesn’t seem quite right. Maybe you can’t put your finger on it. Something just feels off. You look at your checklist or confirmations, you check various time frames, and whatever other process you use to find trades. You can’t seem to find out exactly why you feel off, but you know you feel this way. What are you supposed to do? Take the trade anyway? It’s foolish to trade with real money without truly understanding the risk behind the trade and why you’re risking that dollar amount or percentage. If it doesn’t align with your plan, don’t risk it. If you like the setup and want to see what happens if you did trade, then you’re allowed to take the trade on a demo account. No, you won’t make real money, but you won’t lose real money either. Don’t overlook that.

2. Trade Setups Might Be Too Much Risk

There’s a great setup fixing to take place. You instantly see the opportunity and feel great about it. But something uneasy takes place. You go to place your order and realize that the stop loss is just too wide. The risk is more than what you’re comfortable with. You have some options: Take the trade and become anxious because you’re not comfortable with the risk. You can make the stop loss smaller and risk getting stopped out prematurely because the stop loss isn’t in the right place. You could find a way to size down, maybe, as in going from NQ to MNQ (E-mini Nasdaq Futures to micro Futures). That could work. But if you’re trading a single micro contract and it’s still too much risk for you, then what are you supposed to do? Take the trade in a demo setting. Again, if you can’t frame risk that you are comfortable with, don’t push the button.

3. Exploring New or Unfamiliar Markets

Most traders stick to one asset class or maybe just one asset. Some of us like to trade only EUR/USD, as an example. At some point, you’re likely to start looking around at other markets. Maybe you notice some big moves happening in other markets, and your favorite one is standing still. It’s natural to become curious, like a cat, and start to wonder if different markets are worth trading. It’s great that you want to venture off. The problem, though, is that you need to understand what you’re trading before you trade it. Although asset classes have similar charts, they may not have the same detailed characteristics.

Some move at different times than others. Some are more volatile than others. The dollar per point or pip may be different as well. Diving into the deep end unprepared is a recipe for disaster. Nobody starts swimming in the deep end unless you’re in a John Wayne movie. We learn to swim by starting in the shallow end, learning to go further and further out with new knowledge of swimming techniques and a way to float in water without touching the bottom. That, or you’re going to the deep end with floaties on. Floaties are safe. They allow you to relax because you know you’re a lot less likely to drown, because they will keep you afloat. That’s what demo trading is. Learning to trade without drowning.

4. You Already Made Money

Have you ever heard the phrase “you should quit while you’re ahead?” I’m sure we all have. How many times have you been up on the day or the week and then decided to trade again and managed to either lose it all or give back most of your profit? You probably felt frustrated with yourself (or maybe with the market). You may have asked yourself why you took that trade in anger after losing. Why didn’t you stop trading when you were already in profit? If you hit your weekly or daily target, why did you keep going? Greed? Ego? Maybe you’re close to passing a funded challenge.

No matter what the justifications are, you would have been better off not trading anymore and just standing still. You could have locked in the gains, but you didn’t. Switching to paper trading after a good trade or a few good days allows you to still gain market experience but without risking any of your gains. Your ego is telling you to keep going. Your greed is telling you to make more. It wasn’t the market's fault – it was your own.

There are other reasons why someone could trade demo. There’s no shame in that. A lot of educators, including myself, trade demo at times for illustration purposes. Also, we aren’t financial advisors, so we can’t give legal trading advice. Demo trading isn’t legal advice; it’s just studying and learning price action.

When it comes down to first principles, if you’re not comfortable with the setup or the risk, you don’t have to trade it with real money. Nobody is in control of your trading and your risk except for you. Set your boundaries and be unapologetic about them.

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1. Meditations of Marcus Aurelius

Considered “The last of the five good Emperors” by historians, Marcus Aurelius lives on through his private journal that was never intended for publication. He became Roman Emperor in 161 A.D. and would reign for nineteen years before succumbing to what we refer to now as the Antonine Plague. Before his death, on the battlefields and in his private tent, he reflected on his life and way of thinking. He reminded himself of what the “good man” should be and to act accordingly. To keep striving for Eudaimonia (a Greek word that translates to “flourishing,” “happiness,” or “the good life”). The Stoics, Marcus Aurelius being considered one of “The big three,” strived for a better life. A life in accordance with nature. I connected deeply with Marcus and the other Stoics because I like to find ways to improve myself, too.

The world today is full of all types of people. Some are happy while others are angry. Some are depressed and anxious, while others are stress-free and enjoy life. Since we all live only once, and we’re uncertain of how long that will be, it would be a wise choice to improve oneself and consider living life to the fullest extent. It’s not to be remembered in history or to receive superfluous fame (Marcus reminded himself that soon he will forget everyone and that everyone will forget him, too). It’s so that when we get to the end of our lives, we regret nothing. To look back and think that we’ve done all we could do. We took chances, overcame personal fears, and gave value to others. We followed the Cardinal Virtues of Wisdom, Courage, Justice, and Temperance. Journaling and reflecting like Marcus Aurelius is one of many steps to help us do exactly that.

2. Stillness is the Key by Ryan Holiday

I don’t remember how I came across Ryan Holiday. It’s been a few years since I started to read his books. They’re all pretty good, especially the ones that are part of the Stoic Virtue Series. Over the years, I’ve mentioned Stillness is the Key on numerous occasions, and many of my students have also agreed that it was a great read. It’s actually because of Ryan that I was inspired to become a better reader and writer. He has a YouTube channel full of valuable videos on Stoicism, reading, journaling, and other topics. I suggest checking out his channel and finding out more for yourself. For now, let’s come back to what makes Stillness is the Key such a wonderful work.

In a world dominated by technology and speed, Ryan tells us to slow down. To, like Marcus Aurelius, eliminate distractions and focus on what really matters. So many of us today are constantly shifting our attention from one thing to another, never seeking depth. We spend more time scrolling and less time in silence. More time connected to the internet and less time connecting with friends and family. Ryan, through the lens of Stoic philosophy, provides many solutions to overcome the endless waves of information, as well as anger, hoarding, and more.

The book is divided into three main parts: 1 – Mind, 2 – Spirit, and 3 – Body. This well-rounded strategy includes different methods of thinking in addition to practical ways of doing. It’s not just a book – it’s a guide to real transformation and improvement if that’s what you’re looking for. I go back to it from time to time. I think you will, too.

3. The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene

I’ll admit I wanted to put The 48 Laws of Power here, but I decided to go with one of his less popular books. The Laws of Human Nature is the longest book I’ve ever read. It took me a while since I generally read more than one book at a time. When I did get in the mood to read the bigger books, this one was well worth the time and energy. Robert’s style of writing is very dense, but he avoids big words and explains things to a broad audience so the reading is easy and fluid. His examples to back his arguments are taken from a wide range of history and a diverse set of people. It’s no wonder he’s sold millions of copies over the years. They are relatable to most people and offer valuable insight that we can learn and apply.

For example, chapter three is about seeing through people’s masks (the Law of Role-Playing). He talks about paying attention to people’s body language and microexpressions to get a more realistic view of what they think. They may say one thing but believe another. In chapter ten, The Law of Envy, he tells us how “Envy occurs most commonly and painfully among friends,” and goes on to give examples of what envy looks like: Poisonous praise, backbiting, and more.

Overall, The Laws of Human Nature is a book you should read, especially if you enjoyed The 48 Laws of Power. Don’t forget your highlighter and pens, though. You’ll probably be taking quite a bit of notes like I did.

4. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell

In 2022, I was part of a network marketing company (which shut down in 2025), and I was deep diving into leadership. I read more than a dozen books by John C. Maxwell that year. Leadership within the company had serious issues. People were quitting after a short time, customers were complaining, and reputations were being damaged. As I read through the material, I was constantly comparing what I was doing and what the company was doing. There was an alarming realization: We were doing almost everything wrong. The “leaders” in the company weren’t trustworthy. Many of which also lacked credibility. They were focused more on titles and income than on building a stable business through servanthood leadership and good personal values.

I tried voicing my concerns – nobody listened. Eventually, I left the company and started a community on YouTube. I wrote an article warning of what’s coming. I guess it’s pretty cool that I predicted the fall of a billion-dollar company. Anyways, I took what I learned from John C. Maxwell and applied his ideas to my leadership. I’m not perfect, but I do try to add value to people as much as I can (he’s part of the reason why I got on Substack, too). Principles like people over profit, underpromise and overdeliver, and competence have helped me create a community that continues to grow to this day. The members tell me and show me they’re seeing success. That’s all someone like me could hope to achieve - other people winning. A large part of that I owe to John.

If you’re a leader, you need to read his books. Start with The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership.

More Book Recommendations

I wasn’t going to write paragraphs about each one of these, but I still would like to have a list of book recommendations for you. Also, you could follow my public bookshelf @thewallshelf on Instagram. Anyways, here’s the list:

5. Discourses and Selected Writings by Epictetus

6. Letters From a Stoic by Seneca

7. The Art of Living by Sharon Lebell

8. How to Think Like a Roman Emperor by Donald Robertson

9. The Disciplined Trader and Trading in the Zone by Mark Douglas and Paula T. Webb

10. The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel

11. Ethics 101 by John C. Maxwell

12. How Successful People Grow by John C. Maxwell

13. Clear Thinking by Shane Parrish

14. 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson

15. Thoughts of a Philosophical Fighter Pilot by Jim Stockdale

16. Your Next Five Moves by Patrick Bet-David

17. The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman

18. The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

19. Essentialism by Greg McKeown

20. Do Hard Things by Steve Magness

21. Discipline is Destiny by Ryan Holiday

22. The Practice of Groundedness by Brad Stulberg

23. Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

24. Breakfast with Seneca by David Fideler

25. How to be Free by Epictetus

Fear is everywhere. There are thousands of things people can be afraid of: heights, the darkness, dogs, getting into a car accident, and even the fear of investing. There are genuine concerns to make sure we’re physically safe, of course, but many fears are purely psychological. You’re afraid of something because you’ve been conditioned to do so. Fearful actions stem from a fearful mindset.

Psychological fears —> Behaviors based on fear —> Underperformance/failure

In trading, it’s important to recognize the signs of fear. Think back to your trading performance. Have you ever felt your heart beating through your chest? How about sweaty hands? Have you ever stared at the screen and saw an opportunity, but you hesitated and decided not to trade? Have you constantly watched your P&L (profit and loss) instead of watching what the market was doing? Have you ever gotten stopped out and then watched as the market goes the way you wanted? You probably felt angry or disappointed. These are common occurrences for traders and often have a much deeper meaning than what’s only seen or felt on the surface.

If this is happening in your trading, don’t worry, we’ll discuss a few ideas to overcome fear in trading and learn how to make decisions with clarity and control. Once you learn to trade without fear, you’ll be able to execute trades when opportunities are presented instead of being worried about losing. You’ll be able to focus on your plan and not too much on your P&L. You’ll be able to make the best decisions without second-guessing yourself.

So far, we’ve covered what fear is, how to recognize some of the signs, and what it would look like not to have it. Next, we’ll take a look at a few ideas on how to eliminate fear and become fearless. Are you ready? Hit the subscribe button and keep reading.

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1. Trade with a Proven Strategy

In the book Street Smarts by Linda Raschke and Laurence Connors, there’s a good idea on what it takes to be a successful trader. I later named this idea The Successful Trader Trio. In the book, it says,

“Anyone who has read Jack Schwager’s two Market Wizards books will know that there are three components to successful trading: the trader’s psychological makeup, the trading system’s edge, and strict money management.”

In short, a winning strategy is one of the three pillars of trading success. No amount of psychological skills can out-psych a losing strategy. You need to have a strategy that works well over time. You need to be able to trust your system. Without trust, you may feel uncertain, and fear thrives in uncertainty. Traders who trade without fear trust their system, stick to the rules, and execute even after they lose a trade or several trades in a row. Trust is built through experience and focus.

2. Proper Risk Management

As they always say, don’t trade with money you cannot afford to lose. If all you have is in your trading account, it’s no surprise you trade with so much fear and anxiety. Many traders I know, more specifically the good ones, are just like me and have their wealth diversified. They don’t have all their eggs in one basket.

To continue this point, good traders never overleverage their accounts. They always keep risk at a comfortable level. This number will be different for everyone, but consider keeping the risk per trade low. Let’s say 1-2% of the account per trade. This ensures an account does not lose a large portion of it quickly. Losing money fast is a great way to become fearful of taking trades. We want to avoid this as much as possible.

Proper risk management includes small losses and big wins. Fearless traders know that losses are inevitable. Since we know we’ll take losing trades, it’s ideal to minimize them. What is there to fear when the risk is small?

3. Journal

Fearless traders have learned from their mistakes and stay organized. A journal is a good method of accomplishing both. Lazy traders will avoid journaling and find excuses and justifications for doing other things. How are you going to learn from your experience if you don’t have a way of looking back on it? It doesn’t matter all that much what type of journal a trader uses – just that you use one. Although I do prefer the leather ones, a cheap notebook is better than nothing at all.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a good journaler. You’ll get better at it over time, if you practice, of course. Start writing out your ideas. Note how you feel while in a trade and consider why you feel that way. The content isn’t for anyone except you, the writer.

A journal is also good for keeping track of your rules and can help reinforce positive habits. As they say, how you do one thing is how you do everything. Put some effort into your trading journal. Be strict with yourself, but never abusive.

4. Detach from Outcomes

One idea that helped me tremendously from Mark Douglas and Paula T. Webb was the concept of a series of trades perspective. When I was a younger trader, one of my goals was to eliminate losing and only win trades. I’m sure a lot of us have tried this, to want to only win trades. Maybe we looked for some sort of alignment of indicators or some “holy grail” strategy that never loses. Eventually, we’re forced to realize that every system will have losing trades. By switching to a series of trades perspective, we change from trying to win individual trades and focus more so on winning overall after several trades, let’s say 20.

This mindset shift is what allows us to focus on our trading plan and execute without fear. We understand that even if we lose this trade or maybe even this one and the next one, it’s fine. After 20 trades, our system’s math will likely put us in the green. The outcome of individual trades is random. We don’t know if the trade will be a winner or loser until it’s closed. With an edge and risk management, however, the long-term effects of a collection of trades can be predictable and are more trustworthy than any one particular trade.